AYV News, July 22, 2025
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sierra Leone over the weekend convened a high-level media engagement with selected media houses in Freetown to present its newly launched 8th Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2025–2030 and share highlights from its 2024 Annual Report, marking the close of its previous strategic cycle.
Held at the UNFPA Office on Signal Hill in Freetown, the media dissemination event brought together senior editors, reporters, media development partners and UNFPA officials with a shared goal: to raise awareness about the Agency’s renewed priorities and amplify its impact across Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), gender equality and youth empowerment in Sierra Leone.
UNFPA Officer-in-Charge, Ms. Sibeso Mululuma, presented the new CPD and reaffirmed the media’s role as vital allies in achieving transformative results: “As we work to reach every woman, every adolescent, every community, the media will be essential in amplifying voices, challenging harmful norms and holding all of us accountable.”
During the session, Unit Leads unpacked findings from the 2024 Annual Report, showcasing major milestones under the 7th Country Programme, including: Training and graduation of over 480 midwifery students, Surgical repair and reintegration for 200+ obstetric fistula survivors, delivery of $1.4 million worth of life-saving reproductive health commodities, launch of PreSTrack, a mobile tool registering 11,000+ pregnancies, legal and health support to over 552 GBV survivors via One Stop Centres, a 15% increase in demand for modern contraception over the past decade, support for 44 communities adopting bylaws against child marriage and reintegration of 4,300 girls, including those pregnant or with disabilities into school.
The report also outlined steps taken in policy advocacy, including support for the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and operationalization of the GEWE Act, alongside initiatives promoting positive masculinities and menstrual health education.
“We are committed to working hand-in-hand with the media, Government and communities to ensure every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person can reach their full potential,” Ms. Sibeso Mululuma concluded.
In her address via video, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of women, girls and young people, while commending the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for launching its new 8th Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2025–2030.
“This new programme is a reaffirmation of our shared vision and a renewed commitment to the well-being of women, girls and young people in Sierra Leone,” Dr. Isata Mahoi declared. She emphasized that UNFPA has remained a steadfast partner to the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs through the provision of technical expertise, financial support and unyielding advocacy over the years.
Highlighting progress achieved through this partnership, the Minister pointed to enhanced awareness and response mechanisms against gender-based violence, increased youth engagement in decision-making and the promotion of inclusive policies that empower women and girls.
“These achievements are a testament to the power of partnership and the unwavering dedication of both institutions,” she said.
Dr. Isata Mahoi further praised the new Country Programme’s alignment with Sierra Leone’s Mid-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030) which outlines the country’s pathway toward inclusive, resilient and sustainable development.
She expressed optimism that the programme’s focused areas, especially on combating gender-based violence, eliminating harmful practices and empowering women and girls resonate strongly with the core mandate of her Ministry.
“We are confident that over the next six years, UNFPA and the Ministry will continue to advance the rights of women and girls, ensuring that no one is left behind,” Dr. Isata Mahoi concluded.
The Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Kenyeh Barlay, while delivering her keynote address via video, described the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) newly launched 8th Country Programme Document (CPD) for Sierra Leone (2025–2030) as a renewed commitment to national development and human capital advancement.
Kenyeh Barlay commended UNFPA for its long-standing partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, particularly in areas critical to sustainable development, such as maternal and child health, family planning, youth empowerment, gender equality and data for development.
“For decades UNFPA has been an unwavering partner in our national development aspirations,” she said. “Their contributions have yielded tangible and transformative results in the lives of countless Sierra Leoneans.”
She highlighted key areas of UNFPA’s support, including reproductive health services, the training of midwives and family planning initiatives, all of which have empowered women to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures.
Touching on adolescent and youth empowerment, the Minister applauded UNFPA’s work in advancing youth leadership, tackling gender-based violence and creating safe spaces that equip young people with the knowledge and life skills they need to thrive.
She also praised UNFPA’s technical support in population data collection and planning, noting that such efforts have been vital in shaping evidence-based policies and ensuring that no one is left behind in Sierra Leone’s development journey.
On gender equality, Kenyeh Barlay emphasized the importance of UNFPA’s advocacy in challenging harmful social norms and supporting the empowerment of women and girls to participate fully in all spheres of life. “These achievements are not just statistics,” she said. “They represent improved lives, stronger families and more resilient communities.”
She went on to underscore the alignment between UNFPA’s new CPD and Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP).
Kenyeh Barlay described the 8th CPD as a “critical enabler” for achieving the ambitious targets outlined in the national development plan and urged all stakeholders to see the launch as a renewed call to action.
“To the media,” she said, “your role in disseminating this vital information, raising awareness and holding us accountable is indispensable. You are the voice that amplifies our progress and highlights the challenges we must collectively overcome.”
She concluded by encouraging deeper collaboration among development partners, Government institutions and the media to ensure that every individual especially women, adolescents and youth can realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to the prosperity of Sierra Leone.
The event concluded with a dynamic Q&A session, where journalists explored implementation challenges, asked probing questions about accountability and proposed collaboration with UNFPA to expand public engagement on SRHR.
