The Minister of Youth Affairs, Honourable Mohamed Bangura, who witnessed the signing welcomed the use of U-Report to provide a desirable connection with youths and create an enabling environment for more young people to have a voice in the consultation process of reviewing the policy.

“The introduction of the U-Report platform to review the National Youth Policy will ensure that more young people get the opportunity to provide their insights, aspirations and priorities to shape the youth agenda in Sierra Leone,” said Hon. Mohamed Bangura.

U-Report is a groundbreaking, social messaging tool that enables and empowers people, particularly youths, to speak out and provide their perspectives on a wide range of important issues in their communities. Regular polls and alerts are used to collect real-time responses from an active base of U-Reporters from across the country. More than 145,000 people – mostly youths – are currently registered on the platform and actively participating in communicating challenges and being part of solutions in their communities.

“Since 2014, U-Report has become an innovative and strategic way for UNICEF to engage and solicit the voice of people in finding sustainable solutions for children and young people demonstrating measurable outcomes for UNICEF programming and youth beneficiaries,” said Dr. Hamid El-Bashir Ibrahim, UNICEF Representative.

Thanks to the rapid growth of cell phone connectivity and the availability of mobile phone devices, many young people in Sierra Leone can now easily communicate and network without geographic boundary restrictions.

This new in-kind contribution from Africell will help in the scale-up of U-Report by amplifying the voices of many and reaching more people including marginalised groups and vulnerable communities.

“Africell regards this investment as a strategic contribution to building a healthy, informed and productive generation, which will contribute to economic growth and social inclusion.” said Africell Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shadi Al-Gerjawi.

Young people are encouraged to actively participate in the review of the National Youth Policy by signing up to U-Report through texting the word “JOIN” to 2080. It’s free to join and participate in the platform providing an important opportunity for young people to inform and shape discussions on a new youth policy for Sierra Leone.