THE GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WORLD BANK AND UN WOMEN, GEARED UP FOR A ONE-DAY DIALOGUE CONSULTATION WITH CSOS ON GENDER ACCOUNTABILITY FRAMEWORK.

In a significant step towards reinforcing gender equality and women’s empowerment, the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, in partnership with the World Bank and UN Women, hosted a one-day dialogue consultation at Brookfields Hotel. The event, themed "Measuring the Impact of Our Commitments to Women and Girls in Sierra Leone," brought together government officials, civil society representatives, and gender experts to discuss pathways for enhanced implementation of the GEWE Act.

Key Stakeholders and Opening Remarks

The consultation witnessed robust attendance, including senior officials from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, such as Director of Planning and Policy Ibrahim Kamara, Director of Gender Marian Goodie Sowonie, and Assistant Directors Dennis Koroma and Harry Mahoi, alongside Bamie Sesay from the Gender Directorate. UN Women was represented by Head of Office Sètchémè Jéronime M. Mongbo and Program Specialist Baindu Massaquoi. Civil society organisation (CSO) representatives also contributed significantly with insights and recommendations.

Chairing the program, Assistant Director Harry Mahoi welcomed the distinguished participants and set the tone for a day of constructive dialogue. In her opening address, Marian Goodie Sowonie, Director of Gender, expressed her gratitude to the World Bank and UN Women for their technical and financial support. She emphasised the importance of the consultation in reinforcing the implementation and monitoring of the GEWE Act, noting that the framework applies to both the public and private sectors. “The GEWE implementation is a roadmap for all public and private sectors specifically designed to consolidate gender equality,” Goodie emphasised, reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to supporting a robust gender accountability framework.

UN Women’s Perspective on Gender Accountability

UN Women Head of Office Sètchémè Jéronime M. Mongbo addressed the gathering on behalf of the global women’s empowerment initiative. She noted the critical role played by CSOS and regional gender activists in shaping effective policies under the GEWE framework. Emphasising Sierra Leone’s resilience and ratified treaties addressing gender inequality, Mongbo discussed the framework’s importance in promoting female participation in political, social, and economic spheres. She highlighted significant policies, including the UN SWAP mechanism and the UN scorecard, which serve as standard-bearers in tackling gender issues and tracking progress towards SDG5. "There are systems designed which are adopted by the UN agencies to tackle gender concerns," she stated, urging participants to actively share their viewpoints.

Government’s Overview of the GEWE Act

Ibrahim Kamara, the Director of Planning and Policy, provided a comprehensive overview of the GEWE Act. Kamara detailed the act’s focus on addressing gender-based concerns, such as women’s representation in governance and participation in public elections, with mandates for at least one female candidate in every three nominations. The act also ensures equal remuneration and treatment for all employees based on competence. His presentation highlighted the strategic importance of the GEWE framework in promoting an inclusive environment within both the public and private sectors.

Additionally, Deputy Chief Director Charles Vandi emphasised the importance of the GEWE Act and encouraged CSO participants to provide constructive suggestions on the framework’s implementation and monitoring measures.

Insights on the Gender Accountability Framework

Program Specialist Baindu Massaquoi from UN Women further elaborated on the gender accountability framework during her presentation. She outlined the framework’s dual focus on monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the GEWE Act achieves its desired impact. Massaquoi highlighted the role of the UN SWAP as a self-assessment tool designed to evaluate progress and challenges in advancing gender equality. She also noted that the UN scorecard serves as a critical indicator for identifying and addressing gender discrimination within various sectors.

Conclusion and Way Forward

The dialogue concluded with a comprehensive plenary discussion that examined the status of gender mainstreaming within CSOS, as well as the customisation of the dual frameworks annexed to the GEWE Act. Participants engaged in a spirited exchange of suggestions and considerations aimed at optimising the implementation of policies designed to address gender inequality in Sierra Leone.

This consultation marks a critical milestone in Sierra Leone’s ongoing efforts to enhance gender accountability and drive sustainable women's empowerment. The collaborative engagement between government agencies, international partners, and civil society organisations underscores the nation’s commitment to a future that is inclusive of gender.

Kelvin Mark Kargbo

SLENA Correspondent

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