The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA) held a high-level coordination meeting with Both Ends Believing (BEB) and Sierra Leone Without Orphan to strengthen child protection efforts in Sierra Leone.

The meeting focused on reviewing data and integrating digital management systems for Interim Care Centers (ICCs) across the country.

Bringing together key stakeholders from the Planning and Children’s Affairs directorates, the session aimed to advance the Children First Software (CFS) pilot initiative, a system designed to digitize record-keeping and ensure better management of children in interim care. Senior officials, including the Director of Planning and Policy, Ibrahim Kamara; Assistant Director, Harry Mahoi; and Daniel Albert Gbow from the Children’s Directorate, were joined by representatives from Princess Promise Foundation, CFPS, House of Caring S.L, and Divine Heritage, among others.

Assistant Director Harry Mahoi emphasized the importance of data integration in tracking children’s welfare and ensuring their safety. He highlighted how the Ministry is pushing for stronger policies, including placing displaced children in foster homes with proven caregiving records.

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“Every child has the right to be with a family,” Mahoi stressed, adding that the new software will serve as a centralized database for monitoring and safeguarding children from abuse and forced labor.

Discussions also tackled key concerns, such as the need for proper authorization of orphanages, increasing cases of child exploitation, and financial support for children in care. Representatives from various child welfare organizations called for more government oversight on provincial interim homes, particularly on cases involving sexual abuse.

Director of Planning and Policy, Ibrahim Kamara, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to data-driven decision-making to enhance child protection services. He also spoke about efforts to push for the approval of the Child Rights Bill, which aims to strengthen the legal framework for safeguarding children.

As the meeting concluded, participants agreed on the need for closer collaboration, efficient data sharing, and policy enforcement to create a more structured and accountable system for children’s welfare in Sierra Leone.

With this initiative, MoGCA and its partners are setting the stage for a digital revolution in child protection, ensuring that every vulnerable child is accounted for and placed in a safe, nurturing environment.