By Fatima Kpaka
The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, has concluded a two-day Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) Training Workshop aimed at strengthening the capacity of focal persons across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Held from September 17 to 18, 2026, the workshop brought together focal persons from various government institutions to deepen their understanding of gender-responsive planning and budgeting and enhance efforts to ensure public resources and programmes effectively address the needs of women, men, girls and boys.
The training was facilitated by technical experts from MoGCA and the Ministry of Finance, who provided participants with practical tools and guidance for integrating gender considerations into sectoral planning processes, programme design and budget frameworks.
Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in interactive sessions, case studies and group exercises focused on incorporating gender perspectives into policy formulation, planning, budgeting, implementation, monitoring and reporting. The sessions equipped participants with skills to identify gender gaps, utilise gender-disaggregated data and develop budgets that promote equity, inclusion and measurable development outcomes.
Facilitators emphasised that Gender Responsive Budgeting remains a critical instrument for advancing Sierra Leone’s national development agenda and supporting the implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act. They noted that effective gender-responsive budgeting can help ensure that government investments contribute to reducing inequalities and expanding opportunities, particularly for women and girls.
The workshop also explored mechanisms for improving institutional accountability, strengthening budget-tracking systems and ensuring that development programmes respond to the diverse needs of citizens.
During the training, facilitators encouraged participants to become advocates for gender mainstreaming within their institutions and to apply what they learned to promote more inclusive and responsive governance practices.
MoGCA reaffirmed its commitment to working with development partners, including UNDP through the Spotlight Initiative, to strengthen institutional capacities, promote gender-responsive governance and support Sierra Leone’s drive towards inclusive and sustainable development.
The workshop forms part of ongoing efforts to ensure that no one is left behind in the country’s development process and that public policies and budgets deliver equitable benefits for all citizens.