UN Sierra Leone Weekly Highlights - March 3-7.

UN PBF Women's Land for Peace project launched.

During the week, UN Resident Coordinator Seraphine Wakana thanked the UN Peacebuilding Fund for remaining steadfast in support towards gender equality and women empowerment in Sierra Leone. She did so at the launch of the project on "Women's Land for Peace", focusing on Women Leading Transformative Pathways to Peace Through Natural Resources Management. Speaking at the event held at the Family Kingdom in Freetown, she said that in the current context of the shrinking global funding landscape, the UN is keen to see the impact of the project in the communities in the target districts, in addition to the inspiring stories of change by the women.

She reiterated the UN's commitment to working with the government, partners, civil society, the community, and the women of Sierra Leone to advance the women's, peace, and security agenda as guided by the Sierra Leone Third Generation National Action Plan for the Implementation of the United Nations Security Council 1325 and related instruments. The key implementing partners for the 24-month-long project include Green Scenery, Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD), Women's Network for Environmental Sustainability (WoNES), 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone, Barefoot Women Solar Engineer Association of Sierra Leone and IDT Labs.

It will be implemented by the Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, the National Land Commission, Local and Municipal councils, the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion ICPNC, -Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).

UN Salone Cooperation Framework to address women & girls' challenges.

The new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, which the UN Country Team in Sierra Leone started implementing in January this year until 2030, will be used as a roadmap to address the challenges faced by women and girls and other development priorities in Sierra Leone.  It was the message of the UN Resident Coordinator Seraphine Wakana at this year's International Women's Day celebration held in Freetown under the theme "For All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment."  She said that with the new document, which complements the national priorities in the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024-2030), the UN in Sierra Leone is committed to addressing these challenges through various initiatives. She noted specific programs aimed at economic empowerment, including the ChangeMakers program launched by UN Women, which focuses on gender equality and youth empowerment. Additionally, the GOLA-REAP (Resilience, Empowerment, Access, and Peacebuilding) project, which was launched recently for Sierra Leone and Liberia, aims to enhance sustainable livelihoods and economic resilience in border communities.

The RC said these efforts are further strengthened through partnerships with local organisations. She emphasised that as the UN turns 80 this year, its commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment remains firm, even stronger than before. She called on all to stand up for women's rights and an equal world for all women and girls. 

To accelerate progress on SDG 5, Madam Wakana emphasised the need for an all-hands-on-deck approach, including the Government, Civil society, private and public sectors, development partners, and the community. She also reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to creating a society where every woman and girl can enjoy their rights, live free from violence and discrimination, and have equal opportunities to thrive.

UNDP RR discusses unlocking Sierra Leone’s tourism potential with Egyptian Envoy. 

During the week, UNDP Sierra Leone was honored to host H.E. Rasha Soliman, Egyptian Ambassador to Sierra Leone, for a productive meeting with Resident Representative, Fredrick Ampiah and senior management, marking a key milestone in advancing South-South Cooperation, focusing on shared priorities. They explored ways to boost tourism through improved ferry transportation and hospitality services, leveraging Egypt’s renowned expertise to unlock Sierra Leone’s tourism potential. Discussions also explored potential capacity-building initiatives to strengthen Sierra Leone’s Foreign Service, empower persons with disabilities, and support women parliamentarians in leadership and governance. Additionally, both parties examined broader development cooperation opportunities to drive economic growth and social inclusion.

UN Network on Migration & MoPED develop National Plan for Global Compact.

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, in collaboration with the UN Network on Migration and supported by IOM Sierra Leone, held a national consultative session in Freetown recently, aiming to develop a National Implementation Plan for the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) and establish a National Coordination Mechanism for Migration in Sierra Leone. Representatives from various sectors discussed enhancing inter-ministerial coordination and policy implementation. Supported by funding from the European Union, the session focused on maximizing migration benefits while addressing its challenges. The outcomes will guide a sustainable GCM National Implementation Plan, aligning closely with Sierra Leone's national development priorities.

WFP celebrates African Day of School Feeding in Karene District.

The 10th African Day of School Feeding was celebrated at Khulafai Rashideen Primary School in Sierra Leone’s Karene District, organized by the World Food Programme (WFP). The event, attended by the German Ambassador, Iceland’s Head of Mission, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, and other partners, highlighted the importance of school feeding programme in promoting education, nutrition, and agricultural development.

With the theme: “A Decade of Nourishment: Celebrating the Past, Securing a Just Future.,” the celebration showcased the success of the Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) model, which connects school meals to local farming. Khulafai Rashideen, one of 384 schools benefiting from the programme, demonstrated how locally sourced, Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potatoes (OFSP) and fresh vegetables provide nutritious meals for students while supporting smallholder farmers. A key highlight was the unveiling of an improved kitchen with fuel-efficient stoves and storage facilities, enhancing meal preparation safety and sustainability.

The event emphasized stakeholder collaboration, with government officials and international partners reaffirming their commitment to supporting school feeding programme. These initiatives align with the African Union’s goals of improving food security, reducing poverty, and fostering economic growth. The celebration served as a call to action for continued investment in school feeding as a pathway to resilient, inclusive societies, showcasing the transformative power of community, government, and partner collaboration. The event also served as a key milestone in evaluating the progress made over the past decade in implementing school feeding programmes across the continent and reaffirming commitments to sustaining and scaling up these initiatives.

UNFPA discusses 2025 priorities with Min. of Health's senior leadership.

UNFPA recently held a consultative meeting with the senior leadership of the Ministry of Health in Freetown to discuss priorities for 2025 and ensure alignment with the Ministry's vision for the health sector. The consultation emphasized the strengthening of policy, legal, and financing frameworks to ensure improvements in RMNCAH outcomes. Key priorities included enhancing family planning services through supply chain management and demand generation, improving maternal health outcomes through SRH Service Integration youth and adolescent responsive SRH services, midwifery services, prevention and management of obstetric fistula, and Maternal & Perinatal Death Surveillance & Response (MPDSR), and Digital Health & Innovation