Stakeholders in Moyamba, Kailahun and Falaba Districts on September 5, 2025, officially identified nine Chiefdoms for the rollout of the second phase of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, a program dedicated to ending violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Sierra Leone.
The selection, announced this week, was made after a rigorous process guided by data from the Sierra Leone Police Family Support Units (FSU) and other sources. The chosen Chiefdoms are:
Falaba District (Kabala, Sept. 1): Mongor, Neya and Sulima
Moyamba District (Bo, Sept. 3): Korri, Kagboro and Ribbi
Kailahun District (Bo, Sept. 4): Luawa, Yawel and Malema
The Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, who took part in the Falaba consultations, praised the three districts for meeting the eligibility criteria. She stressed that while Spotlight 2.0 will operate directly in the selected Chiefdoms, its positive effects are expected to ripple across the entire districts and support Sierra Leone’s broader gender equality agenda.
“This Initiative promotes a comprehensive and transformative approach to eliminating violence against women and girls. It is not just about intervention; it is about systemic change,” Dr. Isata Mahoi stated.
The rollout builds on the achievements of the first Spotlight Initiative (2018–2023), the world’s largest targeted investment to end gender-based violence.
Spotlight 2.0 will run for four years and pursue reforms under four outcome areas:
- Strengthening the enabling environment for prevention and response.
- Tackling root causes and preventing violence.
- Expanding access to high-quality, survivor-centered services.
- Supporting civil society to lead sustainable social movements.
Chiefdoms were chosen based on validated parameters such as:
– Prevalence and incidence of gender-based violence (GBV).
– Accessibility to GBV services.
– Presence of marginalized or vulnerable groups.
– Community readiness and stakeholder support.
– Security and operational feasibility.
– Legal and policy gaps under customary law.
– Existing coordination mechanisms.
– Cultural and social norms, including harmful practices.
Spotlight Initiative 2.0 will be implemented by four UN agencies (UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and UN Women), working in partnership with local stakeholders.
– UNDP: Strengthening national laws and policies on sexual and gender-based violence.
– UNICEF: Shifting harmful social norms through community engagement.
– UNFPA: Leading survivor-centered services and providing long-term care.
– UN Women: Empowering Civil Society Organizations to drive change.
At the national level, the Rainbo Initiative will complement those efforts by supporting advocacy and coordination.
Sierra Leone continues to grapple with alarming levels of gender-based violence. National statistics reveal that:
– 81% of women experience violence.
– 53% face intimate partner violence.
– 83% have undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The Spotlight Initiative 2.0 was officially launched on July 8, 2025, in Freetown by the Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh. The Government and partners remain optimistic that by the end of this program, Sierra Leone will record a significant decline in violence against women and girls, paving the way for safer, more equitable communities.