Proceedings of the 2nd World Conference on Gender Equality
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Women Empowered for Leadership and Development in Sierra Leone
Dr. Leticia Nkonya, and Mark Mutai
ABSTRACT:
World Vision implemented a Women Empowered for Leadership and Development Project in Sierra Leone in 2014 to 2019. The project aimed at empowering women and increasing their social, political, and economic rights. The project conducted several activities such as behavior change communication activities such as campaigns through radio discussion programs, theater performance, radio jingles, key messaging campaigns using banners, posters, stickers, and dialogues sessions on gender equality; promoted savings group approach to economically empower women and increase their participation and representation in decision-making processes; mentored and trained female political aspirants to enhance their confidence to run for political office; engaged and trained male champions who occupied key positions such as parliamentarians, councilors, civil society leaders to support women and sensitize communities on gender equality; engaged with traditional and faith leaders, civil society actors, election management bodies to challenge deeply held values that excluded women; and conducted adult literacy training that increased confidence and self-esteem of women. The results included increased women’s participation in leadership, civic and political engagement, women were able to take up non-traditional leadership positions that were often dominated by men, women empowerment through increased women’s access to productive economic resources through savings groups and strengthened women’s decision-making. In conclusion, economic empowerment is a crucial component to the promotion of overall women’s empowerment, including their confidence and ability to run for political position and other leadership positions.
keywords: Gender equality, social inclusion, women empowerment, decision-making, transformative change