UN Women has launched a capacity-building initiative to enhance the implementation of Sierra Leone’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act. This program focuses on strengthening the ability of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to mainstream gender in their policies and operations.
The GEWE Act, which mandates the creation of gender units in all MDAs, aims to promote gender equality across government sectors. Despite progress, there is a recognized need for targeted training to enable these units to function effectively.
The training session, held on Friday, November 22, 2024, at the Sierra Palms Hotel in Freetown, brought together key officials from various ministries. UN Women representative Mariama Gbao highlighted the initiative’s purpose: to equip gender focal points with the skills needed to fully implement the GEWE Act.
“This training ensures that gender is integrated into government policy and practice, fostering a gender-responsive society,” Gbao said. She added that the initiative strengthens the institutional capacity of MDAs to address gender disparities and contribute to the Act’s successful implementation.
Participants welcomed the initiative. Magdalene Bio, Director of Human Resource Management at the Environmental Protection Agency, described it as timely and essential for embedding gender considerations in her ministry. “This training supports our deliberate efforts to recruit more women and address gender challenges,” she said.
Naomi Kadiatu Sesay, Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, echoed these sentiments, noting that the training empowers her to better advocate for gender inclusivity in policies and projects.
This capacity-building program represents a significant step in Sierra Leone’s journey toward gender equality, ensuring that gender issues are integral to government operations and creating a more inclusive society for all.
