Sierra Leone - Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD)

In 2018, WFD launched its Inclusive and Accountable Politics Programme. The programme is focused on promoting transparent and inclusive politics in Sierra Leone through supporting the operationalisation of the Government’s international commitments regarding openness and transparency. The project is supporting the Parliament of Sierra Leone to use Open Government Partnership (OGP) as a tool to promote openness, transparency and inclusion, and will run from 2018 – 2021.

2001: year of first WFD programme

The need for Parliament to make itself accessible to citizens is borne out of the fact that there has been a general perception that the institution seems to be remote, inaccessible and far removed from the people it purports to represent. There has been an ever growing need to respond to this viewpoint, so that Parliament is seen visible and accessible to its constituents. By bringing Parliaments into the openness agenda, it will

Make Parliament accessible to the public and enhance public understanding in parliamentary work;
Create awareness and increase the visibility of the Parliament of Sierra Leone;
Enable strategic engagement between the Parliament and its stakeholders: Development Partners, Civil Society Organizations and Academics for potential collaboration.
Agree on ways of working between Parliament and CSO in supporting the implementation of the Parliamentary Openness Agenda.

This programme is supported through funds from the Commonwealth Partnership for Democracy (CP4D). The programme is focused on promoting disability inclusion in Parliament and Local Councils in Sierra Leone. The project is primarily targeting Parliament to demonstrate leadership in taking concrete steps to raise awareness and integrate disability friendly policy within its operations.

Through this Programme, WFD is collaborating and supporting disability coordination within the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, the Freetown City Council and the Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues (SLUDI).

Country Data

Population:

7.6

Million

GDP:

$4.8

Billion (USD)

GDI per capita:

$490

(USD)

Media freedom:

54/100

(partly free)

Democracy index:

61/100

(partly free)

Key Results

First National Agenda for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the electoral and political process launched involving community groups, political parties and institutions.

Parliament of Sierra Leone makes first breakthrough in creating a platform for using technology to interact with the Parliament.

Stronger disability coordination mechanisms in three institutions (Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender & Children Affairs, Freetown City Council and SLUDI.

WFD has been recognised to serve as a National Steering Committee Member in OGP in Sierra Leone

Implementation

Inclusive and Accountable Politics programme

Underway

Planned end: March 2020

Commonwealth Partnership for Democracy programme

Completed

Planned end: March 2020

News

Group of people posing for a photo while standing

Improving the Sierra Leone Parliament’s access to crucial gender-sensitive data

Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic requires consolidated efforts from all fronts. As democratic representatives of the people, parliaments have the key responsibility of examining policies and their impact on citizens. This is essential in times of a crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2020, WFD launched a project focused on supporting the Parliament of Sierra Leone by improving its access to crucial gender–sensitive data during the pandemic. Gendered statistics are fundamental in understanding how COVID-19 affects different groups in society. For example: are pregnant women able to seek […]

Open parliament: Sierra Leone’s national assembly committed to transparency for all citizens

Openness and transparency are key ingredients of democratic governance. The two promote accountability and trust, which are necessary for the functioning of democracies. WFD recently held a two-day virtual study tour in Sierra Leone to support the country’s Parliament in its commitment to be an open and transparent institution for all citizens. Sierra Leone as […]

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Sierra Leone Parliament: Holds first virtual state opening globally

Since COVID-19 first arrived in Sierra Leone, the Government has taken key measures to counter the pandemic including declaring a state of public emergency, issuing a ban on public gatherings, and travelling, and suspending all religious activities. In Parliament, the Speaker asked political party leaders to only have half of their members in the chambers, […]