The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA), in collaboration with UNDP in Sierra Leone, World Vision Sierra Leone, and other development partners, convened a three-day workshop on “𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏, 𝑷𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚 (𝑾𝑷𝑺)” at the Atlantic Hotel in Freetown.

The workshop is geared towards advancing gender equality and promoting women’s involvement in peace building efforts.

It aimed at fostering dialogue and developing sustainable strategies to finance women-led peace and security initiatives, brought together high-level government officials, parliamentarians, development partners, civil society leaders, and women’s rights advocates.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Dr. Aisha Fofanah Ibrahim, who welcomed participants and underscored the importance of financing the WPS agenda. She emphasized the need for robust policy frameworks that support women’s leadership in peace and security, noting that these issues intersect with the socio-political and economic realities of Sierra Leone.

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UN Resident Coordinator, Seraphine Wakana, delivered the welcome address, commending the government and its partners for their continued commitment to women’s empowerment. She highlighted key gender equality milestones such as the third generation of the Sierra Leone National Action Plan (SiLNAP III) and the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act. Madam Wakana called for increased investment in women’s initiatives, stressing, “Financing women means financing their aspirations and goals.”

Representing the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Mr. Usman Chery Conteh acknowledged the economic challenges facing grassroots women and those in post-conflict settings. He advocated for inclusive economic policies and encouraged stakeholders to support women-led financing mechanisms.

Also speaking at the event, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Mrs. Princess Dugba, recognized women as key yet often overlooked actors in disaster and conflict response, urging more robust financial support across all sectors.

Parliamentarian Mariama Zombo, representing the Female Parliamentary Caucus and speaking on behalf of the President, stressed the importance of multi-sectoral partnerships in financing women. Highlighting that women make up 52% of Sierra Leone’s population and 42% of parliament, she noted that only 20% own businesses—a gap that targeted financing can help close.

Civil society representative and Vice Chair of the CSO Coalition, Emelia Kamara, described women’s financial inclusion as a necessity rather than charity. “It is essential for achieving lasting peace and ending the marginalization of women worldwide,” she said.

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, thanked all guests and partners for their presence and support. She highlighted the government’s commitment to the WPS agenda, noting the implementation of several National Action Plans aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 1325. She outlined legislative and policy achievements such as the GEWE Act (2022), the Customary Land Rights Act (2023), the Public Elections Act (2022), and the Employment Act (2023), all of which aim to support women’s advancement.

Dr. Mahoi also mentioned policies targeting gender-based violence, including the Sexual Offences Act (2019), the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2024), and the National Male Involvement Strategy for SGBV Prevention (2020). She referenced the establishment of one-stop centers for SGBV survivors in seven districts. The minister emphasized the importance of increasing women’s participation in governance and decision-making, noting progress made through the GEWE Act, which has resulted in 30% of MPs, 34 elected councilors, and 23% of police personnel being women. She concluded by applauding development partners for their ongoing support in promoting women’s rights and empowerment.

The first day of the workshop concluded with a panel discussion and deliberations on the progress, challenges, and opportunities related to women’s involvement in peace and security. The second and third days of the workshop focused on recapping the discussions from day one and featured panel presentations from women-led organizations. Participants engaged in collective dialogue to develop strategies for advancing the WPS agenda and securing sustainable financial support for women’s initiatives in Sierra Leone.