By: Sulaiman Sesay
Sierra Leone is working on a first-of-its-kind national strategy to spot tensions early and prevent them from escalating into violence. The proposed National Prevention Strategy on Conflict Prevention and Sustaining Peace was discussed at a Local Project Appraisal Committee meeting at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Wilberforce, Freetown The initiative is part of the Sustaining Peace and Social Cohesion Through a National-led Prevention Approach in Sierra Leone (SPESOCO) project. It aims to address gaps in existing prevention efforts by improving coordination among institutions and strengthening the country’s ability to identify and respond to emerging threats.
Hawa Sally Samai, Executive Secretary of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), urged government institutions, civil society organizations and communities to work together to protect the country’s peace. Preventing conflict, she said, requires collective action to address disagreements and other issues that could undermine peaceful coexistence. Samai also thanked UNDP for its continued partnership with the Commission and its support for peace building and national cohesion. The strategy is expected to promote peaceful political engagement and greater community participation, while tackling hate speech, misinformation and disinformation.
It will also seek to strengthen relationships among communities and encourage citizens to play a more active role in maintaining peace. The meeting was hosted by UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Kevin Petrini and attended by the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, as well as representatives from government institutions and non-governmental organizations. If adopted, the strategy would provide a shared framework for prevention efforts nationwide helping communities and institutions act on warning signs before disputes become serious.
