First Lady Fatima Bio Launches Elsie Initiative Fund

Freetown, Sierra Leone –

The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Fatima Maada Bio, joined the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, UN Women, and partners to launch the Elsie Initiative Fund, aimed at supporting the meaningful participation and leadership of uniformed women in peacekeeping operations.

The initiative, themed “Repositioned to Meaningfully Participate and Lead in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and Support Peacekeeping Operations,” draws inspiration from young survivors, whose stories also inspired the First Lady’s Hands Off Our Girls campaign. It seeks to ensure that no girl is silenced or marginalized because of gender or cultural beliefs.

First Lady Bio highlighted that the fund is part of Sierra Leone’s mission to transition from being protected by peacekeepers during the civil war to becoming peacekeepers themselves.

“Inclusion isn’t a privilege; it’s a right,” she said, emphasizing the importance of empowering women to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with men in leadership and peacekeeping roles. The initiative will include recruitment and promotion initiatives, mentorship programs, scholarships for female officers, skills training, and reforms in delegating roles during peacekeeping missions.

The Elsie Initiative Fund also positions Sierra Leone as a global contributor to international peace, while showcasing its commitment to gender equality and empowerment.

The First Lady urged commanders, international partners, and stakeholders to make space for women to thrive, declaring, “To the women of Sierra Leone, the time for leadership is now.”