The Head of UN Women Sierra Leone Visits the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Minister Kenyeh Barlay to discuss Partnership in Strengthening Gender Mainstreaming at her office at Tower Hill, MoPED.

The meeting highlighted the collaborative commitment between UN Women and the Sierra Leonean government in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The Head of UN Women Sierra Leone, Setcheme Jeronime M. Mongbo, said that UN Women’s responsibility as a UN Agency is to align its endeavors with government initiatives.

She underscored the synergy between UN Women’s work and the Gender and Women Empowerment (GEWE) Act. Mongbo expressed the need to position Sierra Leone as a beacon of gender equality on the international stage.

Mongbo pointed out that while Sierra Leone had achieved notable gains, certain areas required attention. Among these was the collection and updating of gender-related data, crucial for informed policy-making.

During the discussion, Mongbo reiterated UN Women’s responsibility as a UN Agency to align its endeavors with government initiatives.

Emphasizing the importance of gender integration in the nation’s development plan, she underscored the synergy between UN Women’s work and the Gender and Women Empowerment (GEWE) Act. Mongbo expressed the need to position Sierra Leone as a beacon of gender equality on the international stage.

Addressing the challenges that accompany progress, Mongbo pointed out that while Sierra Leone had achieved notable gains, certain areas required attention. Among these was the collection and updating of gender-related data, crucial for informed policy-making.

The Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) commitments were recognized as spanning various aspects of Sierra Leone’s development, necessitating comprehensive integration.

Highlighting the significance of financial backing, discussions touched on funds  commitment to address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) issues.

Further deliberations were anticipated with Statistic Sierra Leone (StatSL) to ascertain the effective implementation of these resources. Mongbo urged Minister Barlay to champion gender equality as a benchmark of international standards.

In response, Minister Barlay conveyed appreciation for UN Women’s invaluable support to her predecessors. She revealed insights into  H. E. the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s Big Five Game Changers and the ongoing preparations for the development of the medium-term national development plan (2024-2028).

Madam Barlay assured a robust incorporation of gender monitoring into the upcoming plan and sought additional funding to enhance gender-related data.

The conversation extended to potential collaborations with international financial institutions. UN Women’s involvement in gender budgeting initiatives, in partnership with the World Bank, was highlighted. Mongbo expressed intentions to engage the African Development Bank (ADB) to expedite gender profiling.

The dialogue encompassed broader topics such as women’s cooperatives and customary land reform, which were positioned as potential subjects for comprehensive studies.

As the meeting concluded, both parties expressed enthusiasm for the progress achieved.

The courtesy call between UN Women Sierra Leone and Minister Kenyeh Barlay underscored the shared commitment to advancing gender equality, emphasizing that integrating gender considerations into Sierra Leone’s development plan will leave a lasting legacy for the nation and the African continent as a whole.