By George M.O. Williams
Freetown, April 23, 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), alongside local and international partners, organized a high-level national conference on Wednesday to advance inclusive and sustainable financing for gender equality and peacebuilding in Sierra Leone.
The event which was held at the Lumley Atlantic Hotel in Freetown was supported by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund. The event attracted stakeholders dedicated to empowering women financially and incorporating them into peacebuilding and national development initiatives.
Under the theme “Pathways to Inclusive Financing for Women, Peace, and Security,” the conference sought to develop actionable strategies for sustainable financing that aligns with the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in Sierra Leone. It was part of the project “Localization and Working Together for Peace: Repositioning Women-Focused CSOs for Sustainable Peace in Sierra Leone,” jointly initiated by UN Women Sierra Leone, UNDP, the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, and World Vision International.
The opening session featured strong calls for increased investment in women as peacebuilders, entrepreneurs, and agents of change.
Dr. Isata Mahoi, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing that the initiative aligns with Sierra Leone’s national action plan for women as per UN resolutions. She praised recent legislative reforms that have bolstered women’s roles in decision-making and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering women through policy.
Dr. Mahoi highlighted how national policies are addressing sexual and gender-based violence, expressing confidence that the conference’s outcomes would influence frameworks to enhance women’s financial empowerment.
UNDP Resident Coordinator Sarafine Wakana described the conference as a pivotal moment for advancing women’s financial independence. She acknowledged progress made under initiatives like the Sierra Leone Action Plan but underscored the need to dismantle persistent societal barriers hindering women’s full participation in economic and leadership spheres. “Women must be bold, have access to resources, and be actively engaged in financing processes for sustainable peace and development,” Wakana urged.
Dr. Aisha Ibrahim Fofana, who chaired the occasion, stressed the pressing need to establish a national financial framework to support lasting gender equality. She commended ongoing efforts but emphasized that a collaborative environment was crucial to peacebuilding and the sustainable empowerment of women.
Delegates at the conference were carefully selected to develop a roadmap for a comprehensive financial network supporting women’s roles in Sierra Leone’s peace and development agenda.