By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Freetown, Sierra Leone – A diverse coalition of women’s rights advocates, government officials, and development partners gathered on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the Fifty-Fifty Group Complex in Freetown for a high-level conference focused on advancing women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion.
Themed “Bridging the Gap: From Gender Commitment to Economic Justice,” the event was organized by the Fifty-Fifty Group with support from Christian Aid, in partnership with the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) and the Inter-Religious Council (IRC). The forum aimed to translate Sierra Leone’s gender equality commitments into actionable economic reforms that uplift women across the country.
Key highlights of the conference included the launch of new research, the screening of a documentary on women’s economic challenges, and the establishment of a national steering committee to guide long-term strategies for economic justice.
Representing the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Lamin Sesay reaffirmed the government’s dedication to inclusive development. “Our commitment to gender equality must also mean economic equality,” he stated. “We must dismantle the barriers that prevent women from participating fully in our economy.” He emphasized the importance of inclusive policies and transformative partnerships that place women at the center of economic decision-making.
Speaking on behalf of the organizers, Madam Nemata Majeks-Walker, founder of the Fifty-Fifty Group, acknowledged the progress made through legislative frameworks such as the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act of 2023. However, she stressed that significant implementation gaps remain. “We have laws guaranteeing women’s access to credit, land, and financial services. But in reality, women are still largely excluded from these opportunities,” she said.
Majeks-Walker cited the unintended consequences of the rice tax policy, which, though designed to boost local production, ended up raising food prices and disproportionately affecting women and smallholder farmers. “Such examples remind us why policy design and implementation must always consider gender realities,” she added.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Ballay offered a comprehensive analysis of the structural barriers to women’s economic inclusion. She categorized the challenges into three levels:
- Macro level: Gender-blind policy and legal frameworks that overlook women’s specific barriers to finance and resources.
- Institutional level: Gender-neutral policies and financial products that fail to address women’s unique economic needs.
- Micro level: Limited financial literacy, unequal asset ownership, and restrictive social norms that hinder women’s access to banking and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Ballay also highlighted emerging discussions on gender and taxation, referencing a recent debate on removing taxes from processed fish products—a move with significant implications for women traders.
Despite the challenges, participants acknowledged the progress made, particularly the GEWE Act, which mandates equal access to credit and penalizes discrimination in financial services. The conference concluded with a call for stronger collaboration among civil society, financial institutions, and government ministries to ensure that legal commitments translate into real-world impact.
As one participant aptly summarized, “This is not just about gender equality—it is about economic justice, dignity, and the future of our nation.”