Overview

Overview

The Sierra Leone Female Parliamentary Caucus (SLeFPaC) is a cross-party forum within the Sierra Leone Parliament focused on advancing women’s political leadership and addressing issues relevant to women parliamentarians and the broader population. The caucus works to identify, discuss, and implement strategies for women’s empowerment, gender equality, and the inclusion of vulnerable groups in development. 
It is a non-partisan caucus composed mainly of women Members of Parliament (MPs) in Sierra Leone’s national legislature.
It brings women parliamentarians together regardless of political party to coordinate efforts on issues affecting women, children, vulnerable groups, and gender equality in governance.
The caucus has evolved over time as women’s representation in Parliament increased. Its work gained prominence especially after reforms and advocacy tied to the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act 2022, which mandated a minimum 30% quota for women in Parliament and other public leadership roles.

History & Development

Although women have participated in Sierra Leone’s legislature for decades, the formalization of the Female Parliamentary Caucus intensified in recent parliaments as gender inclusion became central to national policy and legal reform. Key milestones include:
Increasing female parliamentary representation following the GEWE Act and quota system.
Institutional meetings and inaugurations of caucus leadership at Parliament (e.g., Orange Day celebrations and executive inaugurations).
Partnerships with international democracy and gender equality organizations for training, capacity building, and strategic planning.

Mandate

The caucus’s core mission is to:

  • Create a forum for women Parliamentarians to identify, discuss, adopt and act on issues of shared concern.
  • Mainstream gender perspectives in legislation and parliamentary work.
  • Advocate for policies that benefit women, children, and vulnerable populations across Sierra Leone’s development agenda.

It also engages in non-partisan dialogue and collaborations with civil society and development partners on gender-focused legislative priorities.

To foster a more inclusive and equitable society where women have equal opportunities and play a significant role in decision-making processes. 

    To provide a non-partisan forum for female parliamentarians to identify, discuss, and address challenges affecting women, and to integrate gender considerations into all aspects of development. 

    Aims and Objectives

    The primary objectives include:

    • Strengthening female representation and participation in governance and legislative decision-making.
    • Supporting gender-responsive lawmaking and oversight of gender equality legislation (like the GEWE Act, Sexual Offences Act, etc.)
    • Providing training and capacity building for women MPs on parliamentary procedures and lawmaking.
    • Raising public awareness on gender issues and women’s rights.
    • Mentorship and leadership development for women at community and national levels
    • Promote Solidarity:
    • To foster unity and cooperation among women parliamentarians, regardless of their political affiliations. 
    • Advocate for Women’s Representation: The caucus actively supports initiatives like the GEWE Act, which aims to increase the number of women in Parliament and other decision-making bodies
    • Influence Policy and Legislation: They work to ensure that laws passed in Sierra Leone promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, as evidenced by their collaboration on the GEWE Bill.
    • Provide Legal and Technical Support: Members of the caucus, including those with legal backgrounds, offer expertise and support throughout the legislative process.
    • Mobilize Public Support: They engage in public consultations and outreach to garner support for gender-focused legislation, recognizing the importance of public opinion in policy-making.
    • Bridge Communication Gaps: The caucus helps facilitate dialogue between proponents and opponents of gender equality initiatives, working to build consensus and address concerns.

    Promote Women’s and Girls Rights: More broadly, their actions align with the goal of advancing women’s and girls’ rights in areas such as economic empowerment, education, and protection against discrimination and violence.

    Core Value

    Though not always formally documented, the caucus’s work reflects the following guiding values:

    • Gender equality and empowerment
    • Inclusivity and collaboration across party lines
    • Accountability and good governance
    • Respect for human rights and dignity
    • Commitment to legislative excellence and oversight

    These values are reflected in their consistent emphasis on training, advocacy, and gender-sensitive policy engagement.

    Roles and Responsibilities

    Female MPs, like all MPs in Sierra Leone, are primarily responsible for representing their constituents and advocating for their interests in Parliament. This includes:

    Giving a voice to the voiceless through lawmaking, transparency, accountability, and equitable distribution of resources.

    Making laws for the peace, security, order, and good government of Sierra Leone.

    Scrutinizing the budget and allocating it to various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs)

    : Holding the government accountable and ensuring transparency