The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs has engaged in a high-level meeting with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa to deepen collaboration on gender equality, women’s financial inclusion, and gender-responsive policies.

The discussions took place in Freetown as part of a courtesy visit aimed at supporting Sierra Leone’s efforts to reduce poverty and promote inclusive socio-economic development. Talks focused on integrating gender perspectives into national planning, budgeting, and development programmes to ensure women and girls are not left behind.

Senior officials from the ministry were present, highlighting the importance government places on advancing women’s empowerment and aligning national priorities with regional and global gender goals.

The visiting delegation emphasized its commitment to supporting African countries through policy research, technical assistance, and development frameworks that place gender equality at the centre of economic growth. Key areas of focus included macroeconomic governance, trade opportunities, climate adaptation, and green energy, all viewed through a gender-inclusive lens.

Special attention was given to digital and financial inclusion, with participants stressing the need to expand women’s access to credit, entrepreneurship opportunities, and digital financial services as a pathway to economic independence.

Representatives from financial and government institutions also shared insights on ongoing initiatives, pointing out that limited financial literacy remains a major challenge for many women in effectively using financial products and services.

During open discussions, participants highlighted the importance of capacity building, digital safety awareness, and fintech education, particularly for women in agriculture. There were also calls for stronger coordination among institutions and better alignment of gender-responsive budgeting across government programmes.

The meeting ended with a shared commitment to strengthen cooperation and roll out sustainable, coordinated initiatives aimed at empowering women and addressing long-standing gender challenges across Sierra Leone.