Aid, in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone and other partners, has launched the $1.9 million “Women’s Land for Peace” project at the Family Kingdom in Freetown.
The two-year project aims to promote public awareness and understanding of women’s rights to land and the role of key stakeholders in ensuring gender-equitable land ownership. It will be implemented in four districts: Port Loko, Kailahun, Kono, and Tonkolili. The initiative is in partnership with five national organizations: Green Scenery, Network Movement for Justice and Development, Women’s Network for Environmental Sustainability, Barefoot Women Solar Engineer Association of Sierra Leone and 50/50 Group.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Gender and Child Affairs, Isata Mahoi, emphasized the importance of the project in addressing gender inequality. She highlighted that the initiative aligns with International Women’s Day 2025, themed: “For All Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
Minister Mahoi stated that the project empowers women to lead and drive peacebuilding efforts while ensuring gender-transformative land and natural resource management.
Christian Aid’s Country Director, Mattia Koi Dimoh, reiterated the project’s significance in promoting peace through natural resource management. He noted that it would:
Strengthen women-led organizations to challenge gender-based discrimination in land ownership.
Create a peaceful and gender-inclusive environment for land conflict resolution.
Support the implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act and the Land Acts.
Director Dimoh stressed that women’s rights to land must be protected to ensure sustainable peace and development in Sierra Leone.
Seraphine Wakana, the United Nations Country Representative, also spoke at the launch, highlighting the challenges women face in decision-making processes related to land and resource management. She stressed that denying women their land rights is a violation of their fundamental human rights.
“We must not remain silent in the face of these violations,” she said.
In her closing remarks, Wakana called for collaborative approaches and innovative strategies to ensure the project’s success. She reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to working with the government, civil society, and local communities to advance the women, peace, and security agenda in Sierra Leone.
Wakana acknowledged that Sierra Leone has made significant progress in women’s empowerment, with more women breaking barriers in leadership and governance. She referenced the Sierra Leone Third Generation National Action Plan for the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, reaffirming the commitment to enhancing women’s participation in peace and security.
With the launch of the “Women’s Land for Peace” project, stakeholders hope to foster long-term peace, gender equality, and sustainable development in Sierra Leone.