By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, July 8, 2026:The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs has officially opened a three-day National Capacity-Building Workshop for stakeholders and Women, Peace and Security (WPS) focal points, aimed at strengthening Sierra Leone’s monitoring and reporting systems under the Continental Results Framework (CRF).
The workshop, jointly facilitated by the ECOWAS Commission’s Department of Humanitarian and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, brings together national stakeholders to enhance accountability and coordination in advancing women’s participation in peace and security processes.
In her keynote address, the Honourable Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs expressed appreciation to ECOWAS, the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and GIZ for their continued support. She emphasized that the CRF is a vital accountability tool that will improve data collection, strengthen stakeholder coordination, and support evidence-based reporting on progress made in implementing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.
The Minister reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s leadership in promoting women’s rights and peacebuilding, citing key achievements such as successive National Action Plans on UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the enactment of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act, and the Abolition of Child Marriage Act. She noted, however, that sustained implementation, effective monitoring, and stronger institutional collaboration remain essential.
She encouraged participants to actively engage in the training, describing it as an opportunity to build national capacity, strengthen inter-agency collaboration, and enhance the use of the Simplified Continental Results Framework.
The Minister further underscored that advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda is a shared responsibility requiring the collective efforts of government institutions, civil society, the security sector, development partners, and communities. She urged stakeholders to embrace the CRF not only as a reporting tool but also as a strategic instrument for driving accountability and ensuring that women and girls remain central to peacebuilding and sustainable development.
The workshop is expected to strengthen Sierra Leone’s national capacity for monitoring and reporting, improve coordination among key actors, and shape the country’s future approach to implementing the Continental Results Framework in line with regional and continental commitments.