On December 7th and 8th, 2023, the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), with support from the Open Society Initiative for Africa (OSIA), hosted a powerful series of Post-Elections Regional Reflection Dialogues in Bo, Kenema, Makeni, and Port Loko.
Bringing together members of the Young Women in Democracy Forum (YWDF), these dialogues were anchored in the theme:
“Reimagining Young Women’s Participation in Decision-Making and Making Their Voices Count.”
This was more than a debrief—it was a visioning session, a safe space for critique, and a call to action for young women to claim their place in Sierra Leone’s democratic future.
From Reflection to Action
The dialogues provided a dynamic platform for young women to:
Reflect on their experiences during the 2023 Multi-Tier Elections
Share challenges faced, including limited access to candidacy, gender-based barriers, and societal norms
Discuss strategies to increase their representation in local councils, political parties, and policy spaces
Develop actionable plans for future civic and political engagement
Facilitated using participatory methods, the sessions encouraged open, honest conversations about both progress and persistent gaps in young women’s political inclusion.
“We showed up as voters, but we must also show up as leaders. This dialogue helped us see that our voices are not just welcome—they are necessary.”
— Participant, Kenema Dialogue Session
Strengthening the Movement Across Regions
By holding sessions across four key regions, YWDF ensured that insights were gathered from diverse communities—urban and rural, coastal and inland—capturing a national perspective on youth and gender in governance.
Each dialogue culminated in a set of regional recommendations, including:
Increased mentorship programs linking young women with elected female leaders
Advocacy for youth quotas in political party structures
Expansion of civic education focused on leadership, not just voting
Creation of district-level YWDF chapters to sustain momentum
These inputs are now informing YWDF’s 2025–2027 Strategic Plan, ensuring that grassroots voices shape national strategy.
A Foundation for Future Leadership
This initiative built directly on the success of the 2023 Regional Electoral Education Outreach, where over 250 young women were trained ahead of the elections. Now, through reflection, YWDF is closing the loop—learning from experience to build stronger, more resilient leadership pipelines.
As part of CGG’s broader goal to position young women for transformative participation in governance, these dialogues reaffirm a simple truth:
Democracy is not complete until young women are not just present—but leading.
Voices from the Movement
“The dialogue helped me realize that my experience—my story—is political. And it matters.”
— Aminata J., YWDF Member, Port Loko
“We are not waiting for invitations. We are creating our own tables.”
— Fatmata K., Youth Advocate, Makeni
Looking Ahead: The Road to 2028
The reflections from these dialogues are already shaping future initiatives, including:
The First Bi-Yearly Strategy Meeting (March 2025) in Freetown
The 2025 Leadership Training in partnership with AWDF
The ongoing Localization of the WPS & GEWE Agenda at the community level
As Badriatu Turay, National Coordinator of YWDF and 2024 Mandela Washington Fellow, reminds us:
“Let’s debunk societal norms. We can be great leaders if we are ready.”
