Sierra Leone

This community-driven project is aimed at supporting an informed public debate and advocacy on women land ownership rights in the Districts of Kailahun, Kenema and Kono in Eastern Sierra Leone. The project will focus on research, public awareness-raising, building knowledge of communities on human rights and the Devolution of Estates legal framework, thus creating a forum for communities to critically analyze the need to enhance gender fairness and social justice, in the existing land tenure system.

This community-driven project is aimed at supporting an informed public debate and advocacy on women land ownership rights in the Districts of Kailahun, Kenema and Kono in Eastern Sierra Leone. The project will focus on research, public awareness-raising, building knowledge of communities on human rights and the Devolution of Estates legal framework, thus creating a forum for communities to critically analyze the need to enhance gender fairness and social justice, in the existing land tenure system.

This community-driven project is aimed at supporting an informed public debate and advocacy on women land ownership rights in the Districts of Kailahun, Kenema and Kono in Eastern Sierra Leone. The project will focus on research, public awareness-raising, building knowledge of communities on human rights and the Devolution of Estates legal framework, thus creating a forum for communities to critically analyze the need to enhance gender fairness and social justice, in the existing land tenure system.

The main objective of the project was to strengthen national civil society platforms to become more organized, cohesive, confident and effective to bring about social change in their communities. The expected outcomes were: well-coordinated, cohesive and properly managed civil society platforms that are inclusive and gender sensitive; visionary, committed and confident leadership steering these platforms and keeping them functional; a capacity building programme in place that facilitates the strengthening and sustained engagement of the civil society platforms. The project involved activities such as training on conflict transformation and organizational management skills; consultations within and amongst existing coordination platforms of civil society organizations (CSOs), as well as facilitated strategy sessions and retreats, and public meetings aimed at engaging with political decision-makers at national and provincial levels. The project, originally planned to last 24 months from 1st October 2012, was eventually implemented over 35 months, ending 31st August 2015, mainly as a result of the Ebola virus disease outbreak and subsequent crisis The project was relevant, in that it correctly identified the need for improved coordination and enhanced capacity within and among Sierra Leone civil society platforms. It was also relevant in that the training approach that was at the core of the project was well designed and met identified needs.

The main objective of the project was to strengthen national civil society platforms to become more organized, cohesive, confident and effective to bring about social change in their communities. The expected outcomes were: well-coordinated, cohesive and properly managed civil society platforms that are inclusive and gender sensitive; visionary, committed and confident leadership steering these platforms and keeping them functional; a capacity building programme in place that facilitates the strengthening and sustained engagement of the civil society platforms. The project involved activities such as training on conflict transformation and organizational management skills; consultations within and amongst existing coordination platforms of civil society organizations (CSOs), as well as facilitated strategy sessions and retreats, and public meetings aimed at engaging with political decision-makers at national and provincial levels. The project, originally planned to last 24 months from 1st October 2012, was eventually implemented over 35 months, ending 31st August 2015, mainly as a result of the Ebola virus disease outbreak and subsequent crisis The project was relevant, in that it correctly identified the need for improved coordination and enhanced capacity within and among Sierra Leone civil society platforms. It was also relevant in that the training approach that was at the core of the project was well designed and met identified needs.

The main objective of the project was to strengthen national civil society platforms to become more organized, cohesive, confident and effective to bring about social change in their communities. The expected outcomes were: well-coordinated, cohesive and properly managed civil society platforms that are inclusive and gender sensitive; visionary, committed and confident leadership steering these platforms and keeping them functional; a capacity building programme in place that facilitates the strengthening and sustained engagement of the civil society platforms. The project involved activities such as training on conflict transformation and organizational management skills; consultations within and amongst existing coordination platforms of civil society organizations (CSOs), as well as facilitated strategy sessions and retreats, and public meetings aimed at engaging with political decision-makers at national and provincial levels. The project, originally planned to last 24 months from 1st October 2012, was eventually implemented over 35 months, ending 31st August 2015, mainly as a result of the Ebola virus disease outbreak and subsequent crisis The project was relevant, in that it correctly identified the need for improved coordination and enhanced capacity within and among Sierra Leone civil society platforms. It was also relevant in that the training approach that was at the core of the project was well designed and met identified needs.

The main objective of the project was to strengthen national civil society platforms to become more organized, cohesive, confident and effective to bring about social change in their communities. The expected outcomes were: well-coordinated, cohesive and properly managed civil society platforms that are inclusive and gender sensitive; visionary, committed and confident leadership steering these platforms and keeping them functional; a capacity building programme in place that facilitates the strengthening and sustained engagement of the civil society platforms. The project involved activities such as training on conflict transformation and organizational management skills; consultations within and amongst existing coordination platforms of civil society organizations (CSOs), as well as facilitated strategy sessions and retreats, and public meetings aimed at engaging with political decision-makers at national and provincial levels. The project, originally planned to last 24 months from 1st October 2012, was eventually implemented over 35 months, ending 31st August 2015, mainly as a result of the Ebola virus disease outbreak and subsequent crisis The project was relevant, in that it correctly identified the need for improved coordination and enhanced capacity within and among Sierra Leone civil society platforms. It was also relevant in that the training approach that was at the core of the project was well designed and met identified needs.

The Electoral Justice Principles for Trust in the Electoral Process project sought to raise the integrity standard of the electoral processes in Africa by addressing the relations between the key electoral justice institutions and their relevance and accessibility to the electorate. Its main objectives were to: produce a set of electoral justice principles drafted by a group of chief justices and senior electoral and political leaders from Africa and other continents; and support the implementation of these principles in two African countries. Its intended outcomes were to increase trust in electoral justice authorities; reduce violence related to electoral dispute settlements, and to have political parties, candidates and civil society organizations (CSOs) in the pilot implementation country able to claim, advocate and defend rights for public integrity consultations. The project undertook minimal consultations with the large and dynamic electoral assistance sector and missed opportunities to tap its experience, explore collaboration and develop synergies with other efforts, such as the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security that promote the integrity of elections. The norms themselves were not disseminated as planned so awareness of them is extremely limited and they were not endorsed by any international organization as anticipated. Most of those interviewed felt the principles needed wider consultations and did not have the weight required to make significant changes. The project was not Africa-specific and African involvement was limited primarily to the launch in Ghana and the APEJ-SL. The principles and guidelines were global in scope, and were not tailored to Sierra Leone for the pilot. It also focused on general electoral integrity issues and lacked a clear focus on electoral justice and how specifically this could be achieved through the creation of a steering committee.

The Electoral Justice Principles for Trust in the Electoral Process project sought to raise the integrity standard of the electoral processes in Africa by addressing the relations between the key electoral justice institutions and their relevance and accessibility to the electorate. Its main objectives were to: produce a set of electoral justice principles drafted by a group of chief justices and senior electoral and political leaders from Africa and other continents; and support the implementation of these principles in two African countries. Its intended outcomes were to increase trust in electoral justice authorities; reduce violence related to electoral dispute settlements, and to have political parties, candidates and civil society organizations (CSOs) in the pilot implementation country able to claim, advocate and defend rights for public integrity consultations. The project undertook minimal consultations with the large and dynamic electoral assistance sector and missed opportunities to tap its experience, explore collaboration and develop synergies with other efforts, such as the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security that promote the integrity of elections. The norms themselves were not disseminated as planned so awareness of them is extremely limited and they were not endorsed by any international organization as anticipated. Most of those interviewed felt the principles needed wider consultations and did not have the weight required to make significant changes. The project was not Africa-specific and African involvement was limited primarily to the launch in Ghana and the APEJ-SL. The principles and guidelines were global in scope, and were not tailored to Sierra Leone for the pilot. It also focused on general electoral integrity issues and lacked a clear focus on electoral justice and how specifically this could be achieved through the creation of a steering committee.

The Electoral Justice Principles for Trust in the Electoral Process project sought to raise the integrity standard of the electoral processes in Africa by addressing the relations between the key electoral justice institutions and their relevance and accessibility to the electorate. Its main objectives were to: produce a set of electoral justice principles drafted by a group of chief justices and senior electoral and political leaders from Africa and other continents; and support the implementation of these principles in two African countries. Its intended outcomes were to increase trust in electoral justice authorities; reduce violence related to electoral dispute settlements, and to have political parties, candidates and civil society organizations (CSOs) in the pilot implementation country able to claim, advocate and defend rights for public integrity consultations. The project undertook minimal consultations with the large and dynamic electoral assistance sector and missed opportunities to tap its experience, explore collaboration and develop synergies with other efforts, such as the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security that promote the integrity of elections. The norms themselves were not disseminated as planned so awareness of them is extremely limited and they were not endorsed by any international organization as anticipated. Most of those interviewed felt the principles needed wider consultations and did not have the weight required to make significant changes. The project was not Africa-specific and African involvement was limited primarily to the launch in Ghana and the APEJ-SL. The principles and guidelines were global in scope, and were not tailored to Sierra Leone for the pilot. It also focused on general electoral integrity issues and lacked a clear focus on electoral justice and how specifically this could be achieved through the creation of a steering committee.