AYV News, May 4, 2026
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis, has taken a leading role in advancing women’s empowerment in Africa’s tourism sector, delivering a strong showing at the 2nd UN Tourism Regional Congress on Women’s Empowerment in Tourism.
Speaking in her capacity as Chair of the Women in Tourism Leadership Africa Committee (WiTLAC), Minister Tunis participated in a high-level ministerial roundtable where discussions centered on embedding gender-responsive policies into national tourism frameworks and strengthening continental collaboration through WiTLAC.
During her intervention, the Minister highlighted Sierra Leone’s growing focus on the creative industry as a strategic avenue for empowering women and young people. She noted that targeted investments in creative skills development are helping women build confidence, improve professional standards, and better navigate workplace challenges, including harassment within the hospitality sector. According to her, more than 900 women have already benefited from training initiatives introduced by the Ministry.
However, she acknowledged persistent challenges, particularly in accessing finance and improving service delivery standards. She pointed out that the Ministry’s WiTLAC Desk is actively working to bridge these gaps, including facilitating connections between entrepreneurs and financial institutions. During recent activities marking World Creativity and Innovation Day, agencies such as the National Investment Board, National Revenue Authority, and Sierra Leone Commercial Bank engaged with women-led businesses to support their transition from informal to formal operations.
On policy commitments, Minister Tunis underscored the implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act, which mandates a 30 percent quota for women across public and private sectors, alongside provisions for equal pay and inclusive participation. She added that these principles are fully integrated into the country’s 10-year tourism strategic plan.
The Minister further revealed that women make up approximately 90 percent of the Ministry’s leadership, a development she says is inspiring a new generation of female leaders in Sierra Leone.
As part of efforts to sustain the WiTLAC initiative, she highlighted the establishment of a dedicated desk within the Ministry, staffed by three personnel, to coordinate activities and ensure continuity.
Minister Tunis was also expected to launch the WiTLAC Intra-Africa Mentorship Programme during the congress, but the initiative has been postponed to a later meeting scheduled to take place in Seychelles.
