By Ibrahim Sesay
The Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), in collaboration with the United Nations, on Monday, October 20, 2025, held a one-day dialogue with Civil Society Organizations to reflect on the impact of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) investments in Sierra Leone. The engagement, held at the ICPNC office in Freetown, brought together representatives from Government institutions, development partners and Civil Society groups to share lessons learned, celebrate success stories and identify challenges in the implementation of peacebuilding initiatives across the country.
In her opening statement, Executive Secretary of the ICPNC, Hawa Samai, emphasized that the dialogue was intended to evaluate ongoing peace efforts and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders. “We’re here to see what issues are going on in Sierra Leone in terms of peace and social cohesion and how we could work together better to complement not just our work but yours,” she said. She added that Sierra Leone could learn from the experiences of neighboring countries such as Ghana while showcasing its own achievements and identifying areas that require improvement.
Hawa Samai underscored that peacebuilding is a continuous process requiring the collective effort of all Sierra Leoneans. “Peacebuilding is an everyday issue,” she stated. “We want to move Sierra Leone from negative peace to positive peace, where citizens can sleep and wake up knowing they live in a peaceful country. That journey starts with each of us.” She also called for stronger coordination among partners to prevent duplication of efforts and ensure equitable distribution of peacebuilding resources nationwide.
The Deputy Head of the UN Peacebuilding Support Office, Awa Dabo, praised Sierra Leone’s Civil Society groups for their contribution to sustaining peace, describing them as vital partners in the country’s stability. “No matter how much the UN or Government does, the frontline actors are Civil Society. They know the communities and the issues,” she remarked. “Peacebuilding is not just about funding; it’s about partnerships and shared responsibility.” She also warned about emerging threats to peace, including misinformation, disinformation and growing youth frustrations, urging stakeholders to prioritize youth inclusion and collaboration among Government, Civil Society and the private sector.
Civil Society representatives shared notable achievements made possible through PBF-funded projects. Umu Kamara, representing the Prevention First Initiative, highlighted her organization’s work with commercial motorbike riders to transform them from “agents of violence” into “agents of peace.” “Between August and September this year alone, we trained over 1,600 bike riders across five districts,” she said, explaining that participants received training in advocacy, negotiation and conflict resolution. She added that riders learned to understand the consequences of violence and adopt peaceful methods of settling disputes.
Echoing this success, Patrick Batilo Kpaka, Public Relations Officer of the Bike Riders Union, said the training had significantly improved public perception of riders. “People used to see us as lawless and uneducated,” he noted. “But through these trainings, the narrative has changed. We now see ourselves as peace ambassadors.” He urged that the program be extended to all districts, stressing that Sierra Leone’s 1.5 million riders play a key role in maintaining community stability.
Abu Bakarr Jalloh, Head of Programs at Focus 1000, shared how community dialogues and parenting education have reduced violence in communities. “We engaged over 2,400 parents and caregivers on positive parenting,” he said. “When dialogue starts in the home, it spreads to the community.” He added that the organization also trained adolescents and facilitated dialogues between youth and the police to promote mutual understanding.
From Caritas Freetown, Eliza Sillah, Head of Programs, discussed lessons from the Youth in Politics and Peacebuilding project, which involved persons with disabilities. “We engaged over 2,000 persons with disabilities in five districts through civic education, community dialogues and skills training,” she said, noting that their participation proved their ability to contribute meaningfully to peace and development when given the opportunity. She further highlighted the need for deeper engagement of persons with disabilities in rural areas to ensure that peacebuilding efforts address their specific needs.
Participants identified several emerging risks to peace, including drug abuse, hate speech, youth unemployment, mental health challenges and delays in funding project implementation. The dialogue concluded with a strong call for sustained collaboration among Government, Civil Society and international partners to strengthen social cohesion and ensure long-term peace across Sierra Leone.
The Calabash Newspaper is Sierra Leone’s leading English‑language news platform—established in 2017 to deliver trusted coverage of politics, culture, health, and more to audiences both at home and abroad.
