Advancing Women’s Leadership: Regional Assessment Meetings Spotlight Progress and Challenges in Local Governance
Launch of NeWMaP Sierra Leone Constitution and 2025–2030 Strategic Plan
Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), in partnership with the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs and with support from the Government of Ireland and Trócaire, on 15th August 2025 successfully launched the Network of Women Ministers and Parliamentarians (NeWMaP) Constitution and Strategic Plan (2025–2030) at the New Brookfields Hotel, Freetown.
The event was a milestone moment in Sierra Leone’s gender equality journey, bringing together women ministers, parliamentarians, civil society leaders, development partners, and senior government officials. Together, they committed to advancing women’s leadership, strengthening accountability, and ensuring that the vision of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act translates into tangible outcomes.
The Strategic Plan and Constitution outline NeWMaP’s priorities for the next five years: promoting women’s political participation, equipping female parliamentarians with the tools to lead effectively, and building solidarity across institutions to secure an inclusive and accountable governance system.
Speaking at the launch, Mrs. Bernadette French, CGG’s Director of Programmes, underscored that this was not merely the unveiling of a document but a call to action. She emphasized the urgency of dismantling barriers to women’s participation and urged collaboration among government, civil society, and partners to drive sustainable change.
A high-level panel discussion further explored NeWMaP’s role in advancing gender equality, moderated by Mrs. French. Panelists included:
• Dr. Isata Mahoi, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs
• Hon. Rebecca Yei Kamara, Secretary of the Female Parliamentary Caucus
• Hon. Mariama Bangura, Deputy Chair of the Gender Committee in Parliament
• Hon. Mariama Zombo, Member of Parliament
• Madam I.J. Kabba, Gender Adviser to the President
Panelists highlighted successes such as the GEWE Act and recent social law reforms, while also stressing the need for greater unity, mentorship, and collective influence in national policy spaces.
Development partners, including UN Women, reaffirmed their commitment to providing technical support, while government allies pledged to mentor female leaders and expand opportunities for inclusion.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyeh Barlay, described the Strategic Plan as a roadmap for transformation. She praised President Julius Maada Bio’s leadership in raising women’s representation to 41% in Cabinet and noted that NeWMaP’s agenda aligns with the government’s “Five Big Game Changers.”
As the event concluded, participants called for collective responsibility in ensuring that NeWMaP delivers on its vision, placing women’s voices and leadership at the center of Sierra Leone’s democratic and development agenda.
CGG remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting NeWMaP and other national platforms that promote women’s leadership, strengthen accountability, and deepen inclusive governance
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