Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sierra Leone hosted a high-level media briefing in Freetown, bringing together select media outlets to unveil its newly launched 8th Country Program Document (CPD) for 2025–2030.
The engagement also served to spotlight key achievements from the 2024 Annual Report, marking the conclusion of the agency’s previous strategic cycle.
Hosted at UNFPA’s Signal Hill office in Freetown, the media dissemination event convened senior editors, journalists, development partners, and UNFPA representatives to spotlight the agency’s renewed strategic priorities. The gathering aimed to elevate public awareness and reinforce UNFPA’s impact in advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), promoting gender equality, and empowering youth across Sierra Leone.
UNFPA Sierra Leone’s Officer-in-Charge, Ms. Sibeso Mululuma, formally introduced the 8th Country Program Document (CPD), emphasizing the indispensable role of the media in driving transformative change. “As we strive to reach every woman, every adolescent, every community,” she stated, “the media remains a powerful force in amplifying voices, confronting harmful norms, and ensuring accountability across all levels.”
During the session, Unit Leads presented key findings from UNFPA Sierra Leone’s 2024 Annual Report, highlighting transformative achievements under the 7th Country Program. These included the training of over 480 midwifery students, with 283 successfully graduating in surgical repair and reintegration support for more than 200 obstetric fistula survivors and the delivery of $1.4 million in essential reproductive health commodities.
The launch of PreSTrack a mobile application that registered over 11,000 pregnancies marked a leap in digital health innovation. Additionally, over 552 survivors of gender-based violence received comprehensive legal and medical assistance through One Stop Centers. The report also noted a 15% rise in demand for modern contraception over the past decade, support for 44 communities enacting bylaws against child marriage, and the reintegration of 4,300 girls, including those pregnant or living with disabilities, into formal education.
The report also detailed UNFPA’s policy advocacy efforts, notably its support for the enactment of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act. These legislative strides were complemented by initiatives fostering positive masculinities and expanding menstrual health education, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to gender justice and inclusive development.
Delivering her remarks via video, Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, reaffirmed the Government’s unwavering commitment to promoting the rights and well-being of women, girls, and young people. She commended UNFPA for the launch of its 8th Country Program Document (CPD) for 2025–2030, describing it as a powerful step forward in advancing inclusive development and gender equality in Sierra Leone.
At a high-level media engagement in Freetown, senior government officials commended UNFPA Sierra Leone’s newly launched 8th Country Program Document (2025–2030) for its alignment with national development priorities and its transformative impact on health, gender equality, and youth empowerment.
Kenyeh Barlay, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, described the CPD as a “critical enabler” of national progress. She highlighted UNFPA’s longstanding contributions to maternal health, family planning, youth leadership, and data-driven policy-making. She called on media and development partners to amplify awareness and deepen collaboration.
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