The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA) has intensified efforts to strengthen Sierra Leone’s national response to gender-based violence (GBV) through a broad stakeholder consultation on the proposed National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence (NAP-GBV).

The national consultation and validation workshop, held in the Western Area Urban, brought together representatives from Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, civil society organisations and GBV response organisations.

The engagement provided stakeholders with an opportunity to review the proposed action plan and offer strategic recommendations aimed at improving its effectiveness, coordination and implementation across the country.

According to the Ministry, the consultation forms part of a wider process to ensure that Sierra Leone’s response to GBV is informed by the realities and priorities of communities across the country.

The national engagement follows regional consultations conducted in Kenema, Bo, Makeni and Port Loko, allowing inputs from various districts to be incorporated into the proposed NAP-GBV.

MoGCA says the process is expected to strengthen collaboration among key institutions and improve coordinated efforts to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.

The development of the action plan is being positioned as an important step towards establishing a more coordinated and comprehensive national framework for addressing GBV and ensuring that interventions reflect both national priorities and district-level needs.