The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA), in collaboration with development partner Trocaire and other stakeholders, has intensified efforts to strengthen women’s representation in governance through a high-level strategic engagement in Freetown focused on the Network of Women Ministers and Parliamentarians (NEWMaP).

The meeting brought together government officials, civil society actors, and gender advocacy organisations to review policies, coordination frameworks, and interventions aimed at enhancing women’s leadership, mentorship, and participation in decision-making at all levels.

Representing Trocaire, senior officials including Women’s Empowerment Programme Technical Lead Sudie Austina Sellu, GBV and Inclusion Technical Lead Maurice Pewa, Global Advisor on Social Norms and Women’s Empowerment Laurelle Mbaraza, and Business Development and Grant Manager Sara Leicester participated in the discussions.

Chairing the session, Sahr Kendema of the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) stressed the importance of sustained partnerships in advancing women’s political participation and strengthening gender equality initiatives across the country.

Related News

The Coordinator of the NEWMaP Secretariat, Hannah Lahai Robinson, provided an overview of the network’s mandate, noting that it was established to strengthen coordination among women leaders in government and local councils. She explained that its strategic plan, launched in August 2025, is designed to enhance collaboration, advocacy, and policy influence on gender equality issues.

NEWMaP representative Maxwella Sesay highlighted the network’s communication and outreach efforts, including the use of digital and media platforms to promote the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act and to showcase ongoing initiatives supporting women’s leadership and participation in public life.

From the civil society perspective, Bob Lamin of Rainbo Initiative outlined ongoing interventions to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), including the establishment of one-stop centres in Bombali, Port Loko, and Kambia districts. He also pointed to community-based economic empowerment initiatives such as Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) aimed at strengthening women’s livelihoods.

Chief Director of MoGCA, Charles Vandi, commended Trocaire and CGG for their continued support to women’s empowerment initiatives, noting the need to revitalize NEWMaP to respond more effectively to emerging challenges affecting women in leadership and society.

Delivering keynote remarks, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, reaffirmed government’s commitment to expanding women’s representation in governance, describing NEWMaP as a key platform for coordination and collective action among women leaders.

She emphasized the need to revive and strengthen the network to ensure effective collaboration among female ministers, parliamentarians, and councillors in advancing gender equality and inclusive governance.

Dr. Mahoi also highlighted persistent barriers facing women in politics, including discrimination, limited support systems, and societal constraints, noting that stronger partnerships are essential to overcome these challenges.

She further outlined priority areas for action, including the convening of a national women’s conference to assess progress on gender equality, increased funding for MoGCA programmes, stronger media engagement for advocacy, and enhanced institutional support for NEWMaP.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment from stakeholders to deepen collaboration and accelerate efforts aimed at improving women’s participation in governance and leadership across Sierra Leone.