Sierra Leone peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts

Sierra Leone is implementing various initiatives to promote peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and national cohesion through both local youth engagement and international training.

Domestically, organizations are focusing on empowering younger generations. The Men’s Association for Gender Equality – Sierra Leone (MAGE-SL) is training Peace Ambassadors to facilitate dialogue and mediate disputes to prevent violence. Concurrently, the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA) is supporting the ‘Catch Them Young’ initiative, which provides secondary school students with training in ethical leadership and accountability to combat corruption.

On an international level, officials from the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) have enhanced their technical capacity through a specialized seminar in China. This training focused on the intersection of environmental challenges and peace, specifically addressing how disputes over natural resources and land can trigger community tensions. The program aimed to improve the commission’s ability to manage environmental emergencies and prevent resource-based conflicts from escalating.