Five Coastal Districts Join Forces to Advance Gender-Responsive Local Governance in Sierra Leone.

Freetown, Sierra Leone — 17 July 2026 - With support from the Government of Iceland, UN Women, in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs (MoLGCA), the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA), and implementing partners, concluded district stakeholder engagements and popularization activities for the project “Empowering Communities Through Gender-Responsive Local Governance: Building Institutional Capacity for Inclusive Service Delivery” across five coastal districts: Western Area Rural, Moyamba, Bonthe, Kambia and Port Loko.

The engagements brought together local authorities, government representatives, civil society organizations, women’s groups, youth representatives and other community stakeholders.

The initiative aimed to strengthen understanding of the project, promote local ownership and support effective implementation. The sessions also provided an opportunity to formally introduce the implementing partners—ActionAid Sierra Leone, Forum of African Women Educationalists (FAWE), Women’s Advocacy and Agricultural Development Organization (WAADO), and Girls Advocacy Development Network (GADNET)—to district and community stakeholders.

Across the five districts, participants welcomed the project, describing it as timely and relevant to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment at the local level. Stakeholders highlighted the importance of collective action to ensure the project delivers meaningful and sustainable results for women, girls and communities.

Speaking during an engagement in Bradford, Moyamba District, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, expressed appreciation to the Government of Iceland for its continued support to gender equality and to UN Women for its technical leadership in Sierra Leone. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to providing leadership, coordination and oversight for the project.

“Let us popularize this project widely, ensuring that every community understands its purpose and benefits. Gender equality is not a women’s issue alone; it is a national imperative,” she stated.

Representing the Embassy of Iceland in Sierra Leone, Programme Adviser Mohamed Bah commended the strong partnership between the Government of Iceland, the Government of Sierra Leone and UN Women. He called on stakeholders to work together to maximize the project’s impact.

The Deputy Chief Administrator of the Moyamba District Council, Mohamed A. Kabia, welcomed the initiative and encouraged local communities to embrace the project as an opportunity to advance development and inclusion.

During the engagements, UN Women Officer-in-Charge Baindu Massaquoi highlighted the project's expected impact, including strengthening local councils, preventing gender-based violence, and expanding economic opportunities for women and youth.

She noted that 66 enterprises have already been identified to benefit from the project. “The project can only succeed with your partnership,” she said.

Mariama Gbao, the project’s Technical Lead, outlined the project’s objectives and highlighted how Phase I consultations informed the design of Phase II.

Representatives of MoLGCA and traditional authorities reaffirmed their commitment to supporting implementation and encouraging community ownership of the initiative.

The project seeks to strengthen institutional capacity for inclusive and gender-responsive service delivery, expand economic opportunities for women and youth, and advance gender equality at the local level. Through collaboration between government institutions, civil society, traditional leaders and communities, the initiative aims to ensure that no one is left behind.