Christian Aid Sierra Leone, 4B King Harman Road, CCSL Building, Richmond Grounds, Freetown (2026)

13/08/2026

Celebrating Sierra Leone’s Youth: Innovation, Resilience and Transformation

Yesterday, Christian Aid joined the Ministry of Youth Affairs, MDAs, UN agencies and development partners to commemorate International Youth Day at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Lungi.

The global theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” was complemented by Sierra Leone’s national theme, “Harnessing Youth Innovation and Resilience for National Transformation.”

The celebration provided an important platform to recognise the creativity, resilience, aspirations and contributions of young people to Sierra Leone’s development.

In her keynote address, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development highlighted the importance of creating an enabling environment where young people could turn their ideas, innovations and entrepreneurial potential into meaningful opportunities and contributions to national development.

Discussions throughout the event underscored the need for continued investment in youth entrepreneurship, skills development, innovation, leadership and meaningful participation in decision-making. The EU funded project (YouLead) perfectly aligns with the keynote address delivered by the Honourable Minister focusing on young people's economic empowerment through entrepreneurial opportunities, innovation, skills training and participation in decision-making processes.

Young people were recognised not simply as beneficiaries of development programmes, but as critical actors and partners in shaping Sierra Leone’s future.

The commemoration reaffirmed the collective responsibility of government, development partners, civil society and the private sector to create an enabling environment where young people could innovate, build resilience, access opportunities and contribute meaningfully to inclusive and sustainable national transformation.

11/08/2026

From Ideas to Action: Women Driving Innovation for Lasting Change

The journey from ideas to action has reached an important milestone.

Last week marked the successful conclusion of the Innovation Grant Pitching process under the Women's Land for Peace (Uman, Land En Kol At) Project, with the final district pitch held in Kailahun. The pitching series, which began in Kono and continued through Port Loko and Tonkolili, showcased the creativity, leadership and determination of women's groups committed to transforming their communities.

From 100 applications, 40 women's groups were shortlisted to present innovative, community-led solutions designed to strengthen women's access to land and productive resources, improve livelihoods, build economic resilience, promote peaceful coexistence and support sustainable development.

The proposed innovations reflected local priorities and included climate-smart agriculture, livestock and aquaculture, financial inclusion, food security and value addition, renewable energy for agriculture, and other practical solutions that respond to community needs.
Hosted across the four project districts, the pitching events demonstrated the power of investing in women's leadership and locally driven innovation.

Beyond the competition, the process has provided women with a platform to shape solutions that can contribute to inclusive land governance, stronger local economies and lasting peace.

The Women's Land for Peace Project is funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF) and implemented by Christian Aid Sierra Leone in partnership with Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD), Green Scenery, Women’s Network for Environmental Sustainability (WoNES), and the 50/50 Group Sierra Leone.

07/08/2026

Strengthening Women's Land Rights Through National Policy Dialogue

Meaningful policy reform begins with inclusive dialogue.

Stakeholders from Kono, Kailahun, Port Loko and Tonkolili districts gathered in Freetown this week for the National Stakeholders Policy Dialogue on Women's Land Rights, Peace and Inclusive Governance under the Women's Land for Peace (Uman, Land En Kol At) Project.

Hosted by the 50/50 Group, the project's advocacy partner, in collaboration with other implementing partners, Green Scenery, Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) and Women’s Network for Environmental Sustainability (WoNES), the dialogue brought together government institutions, ministers, a representative from the Parliamentary Gender Caucus, civil society organizations and other key actors to examine the barriers that continue to limit women's access to and control over land.

The discussions focused on strengthening policy engagement, promoting collaborative action and advancing gender-responsive land governance that supports peace, protects women's land rights and expands opportunities for women's social and economic empowerment.

The Women's Land for Peace (Uman, Land En Kol At) Project is implemented by Christian Aid Sierra Leone and its partners with funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF), working to promote peaceful and inclusive land governance and strengthen women's land rights across Sierra Leone.

18/07/2026

Strengthening Capacity for More Inclusive Programmes

Building programmes that leave no one behind requires continuous learning and action.

Through the Irish Aid funded Project (PACE), Christian Aid successfully concluded a two-day Capacity Building Training on Disability Inclusion and Gender Transformative Approach in Programme Implementation for its staff and partners.

The training strengthened participants' understanding of disability inclusion, accessibility and reasonable accommodation while challenging perceptions that contribute to exclusion. It also explored how harmful gender norms and unequal power relations affect development outcomes, equipping participants with practical approaches to promote gender equality, inclusive leadership and meaningful participation.

Participants reflected on how to integrate disability inclusion and gender transformative approaches throughout the programme cycle from planning and budgeting to implementation, monitoring and evaluation to ensure programmes respond to the needs and rights of everyone.

Together, we are strengthening our commitment to delivering inclusive, equitable and impactful development programmes.

13/07/2026

Empowering Youth, Strengthening Partnerships!

Global Youth Network for Empowerment & Development (GYNED) Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD), successfully hosted the Annual Learning and Exchange Visit in Falaba District under the YouLead Project: Catalyzing Youth Leadership in Decision-Making and Economic Life for Inclusive Development, implemented through Christian Aid with funding from the European Union.

The visit brought together youth leaders, civil society organizations, District Youth Councils, vocational training providers, internship beneficiaries, and key stakeholders from Kono and Falaba Districts to share experiences, strengthen partnerships, and promote practical solutions for youth empowerment.

A key highlight was the engagement with the Falaba District Council, reaffirming the importance of collaboration, local ownership, and sustained support in advancing youth participation, leadership, and economic opportunities.

Together, we are building a future where young people have a stronger voice in governance and greater opportunities to thrive.

11/07/2026

Strengthening the Safety and Leadership of Women Human Rights Defenders

Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) are at the forefront of promoting women's rights, peaceful coexistence, and inclusive land governance. Through the Women's Land for Peace (Uman, Land En Kol At) Project, a Training of Trainers (ToT) is being conducted across Port Loko, Tonkolili, Kono, and Kailahun to strengthen the safety, resilience, and protection of grassroots women leaders.

The training equips participants with practical self-protection skills, strengthens their confidence to address human rights challenges, and prepares them to train other women in their communities, reaching an estimated 3,000 women. By fostering solidarity and resilience, the initiative supports women's continued leadership in land governance, natural resource management, peacebuilding, and community decision-making.

The training which started in Port Loko, is now on-going in Tonkolili where our implementing partner Green Scenery is implementing and will continue in Kono and Kailahun with our implementing partners, NMJD and WoNES.

Together, we are creating safer spaces for women to lead, advocate, and contribute to sustainable peace and inclusive development.

07/07/2026

Women Leading Change Through Innovation

What happens when women are given the opportunity to turn their ideas into action?
Communities grow stronger.

Through the Women's Land for Peace Project, funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF) and implemented by NMJD, Green Scenery and WoNES through Christian Aid, women’s groups are competing for innovation grants that will help transform their communities.

From 100 applications, 40 women’s groups have been shortlisted to pitch innovative solutions that improve women's access to land and productive resources, strengthen economic resilience, promote peaceful coexistence, and support sustainable livelihoods across Kono, Kailahun, Port Loko and Tonkolili.

The first Innovation Grant Pitching Event was held on 6 July 2026 in Kono District, where five women’s groups presented their ideas to an independent selection committee. Five more groups in Kono will pitch before the process moves to the other project districts.

The innovation ideas cover a wide range of community priorities, including:

• Climate-smart agriculture
• Animal farming and aquaculture
• Financial inclusion and women's economic empowerment
• Food security and value addition
• Renewable energy for agriculture and
• Other community-led innovations

These pitching events are more than a competition, they are an opportunity for women to lead solutions that can strengthen local economies, improve land access, and build more peaceful and resilient communities.

24/06/2026

Strengthening Partnerships for Greater Impact in Sierra Leone

Christian Aid Sierra Leone was pleased to welcome Temitope Fashola, Head of Impact, and Abass Yusuf, Strategy and Partnership Lead for the West and Central Africa Multi-Country Cluster (WCA MCC), during their visit from Thursday, 12th June to Friday, 19th June 2026.

The visit focused on strengthening strategic alignment, coordination, partnership engagement and impact orientation within the Sierra Leone Priority Country, while reinforcing alignment with the priorities and direction of the WCA MCC.

Throughout the week, the visit created valuable space for face-to-face engagement with the country team, partners, donors and government stakeholders. These discussions deepened shared understanding of strategic priorities, strengthened relationships, built trust and reinforced our collective commitment to delivering meaningful and lasting impact.

We are grateful for the visit and look forward to similar opportunities in the future, as they provide an important platform for collaboration, shared learning and renewed commitment to supporting the most vulnerable communities.

22/06/2026

EU Field Visit to YouLead Project Site in Falaba and Kono Districts

The EU monitoring team has visited the YouLead Project site in Falaba and Kono Districts to assess progress and engage with beneficiaries, local stakeholders, and community structures.

The visit highlighted strong community ownership and a clear understanding of the project, reflecting the effective partnership between the implementing partners GYNED, NMJD and local actors.

EU Finance, Contracts and Audit Officer, Mr. Fanko Marah, noted that the exercise was designed to support compliance and strengthen financial management, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to continuous improvement and accountability.

The team expressed satisfaction with the progress and positive impact of the YouLead Project, describing the visit as a valuable learning experience for all involved.

Empowering communities. Building futures. Delivering impact.

02/06/2026

Once opposed to women owning land, Mohamed Conteh of Fiama Chiefdom in Kono District has become a champion for women’s land rights and a member of the Peace Committee.

His transformation was inspired by the Women’s Land for Peace Project, which not only changed his perspective but also helped resolve a long-standing land dispute between him and his sister. Through mediation led by local women’s groups, the siblings were able to secure equal rights to the plantation left to them by their parents.

This is Mohamed’s story of change, reconciliation, and the power of women’s leadership in building peace and justice.

Christian Aid Sierra Leone

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