UN DEPUTY-SECRETARY GENERAL’S Solidarity Mission to Sierra Leone

Mission Report 14-15 November 2020 UN DSG’s Visit to Sierra Leone | 2

PROGRAMME OF VISIT 14- 15 NOVEMBER 2020

Saturday, 14 November

8:45 am Arrival in Lungi International Airport

11:00- 12:00 am Virtual Meeting with the UNCT

12:05- 12:50 pm Virtual Townhall with the UN Staff in Sierra Leone

2:00- 3:00 pm Virtual Meeting with Development Partners

3:30- 4:30 pm Presentation of the Landslide Memorial Centre Location: Mount Sugar Loaf, Regent, Western Rural District

4:30- 5:00 pm Barefoot Women Project Presentation

5:30- 6:30 am Meeting with Women and Youth Leaders

Sunday, 15 November

7:30- 8:15 am Breakfast meeting with the UN Resident Coordinator

8:45- 9:15 am Brief Session with the First Lady H.E Fatima Maada Bio

9:20- 9:50 am Meeting with H.E. the President, Brig. (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio

9:50- 11:00 am Meeting with H.E. the President, Brig. (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio, H.E. the Vice President Juldeh Jalloh and Members of the Cabinet

11:20- 12:00 pm Press Event: Unveiling of the Youth at Risk Project, Presentation of the UN Socio-economic Response Plan

1:30 pm Departure from Lungi Airport

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DSG AMINA J. MOHAMMED ARRIVES TO SIERRA LEONE’S WARM WELCOME A trip through ‘Land, Air and Sea’

is the highest-ranking UN representative to have arrived in Sierra Leone since its first reported positive case of the COVID-19 in March 2020.

The DSG, who had arrived by air on a special UN flight was ferried across the river to Freetown on board a water taxi. She was then driven to her hotel, where she embarked on virtual meetings, with the UN Country Team, UN staff members, and UN development partners, respectively.

That she had travelled by air, sea and land just to make it to Freetown must have left an impression on the mind of the DSG. She took to Twitter to convey those to her 273,000 followers The UN Resident Coordinator, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Planning saying, “By air and by sea-we arrived to a warm [not pictured] welcome the DSG and her delegation to Sierra Leone welcome in Freetown, Sierra Leone.”

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE--On 14 November The DSG’s visit aimed at looking at progress 2020, the United Nations Deputy Secretary- towards strengthening existing peace and General (DSG), Ms. Amina J. Mohammed arrived stability through the SDGs including COVID-19 in Sierra Leone. It was the fourth leg of her socio-economic response and recovery, the solidarity mission to West Africa and the Sahel contribution of the extractive industry, and having been to Nigeria, Niger, and Mali. addressing issues of gender-based violence.

At the Lungi International Airport, across the The members of the DSG’s delegation river from the nation’s capital, the DSG and her included, Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special delegation were greeted on the tarmac by the Representative of the Secretary-General, Head Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International of the United Nations Office for West Africa and Cooperation, Ms Nabeela Tunis, and Planning and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and Ms. Hannah Tetteh, Economic Development, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai, and Special Representative of the Secretary-General the UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Dr. to the African Union and Head of the United Babatunde Ahonsi. Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), and Dr. Babatunde A. Ahonsi, the UN Resident Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, everyone Coordinator in Sierra Leone. was masked up but beyond the masks, you could sense some excitement on both sides - the DSG

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UN COVID-19 RESPONSE, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE UNCT TO DELIVER ON AGENDA 2030 DSG’s Meeting with the UN Country Team

The DSG met the members of the UN Country Team in Sierra Leone at the Landslide Stabilization Site in Regent, Freetown.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Ms. The DSG commended the UNCT efforts in Amina J Mohammed commended the United advocating for the 2030 Agenda by: providing Nations Country Team (UNCT) members for their technical support to the Government during commitment and dedication to the UN mandate the development of the Medium-Term National amid the difficult challenges during a virtual Development Plan; implementing the SG’s meeting following her arrival to Freetown. reform agenda, including the development of the country’s Cooperation Framework and ensuring DSG Mohammed noted that the pandemic has its alignment with the country’s National Plan, exacerbated the country’s fragile socio-economic and; fostering an integrated approach and action context, and if left unaddressed, might reverse to the situation in the country, and developing the the development and peacebuilding gains UN COVID-19 socio-economic response plan. achieved. She also encouraged the UNCT to coordinate efforts in support of health and socio- The DSG underscored that sustainable economic response to the pandemic. The DSG development is at the centre of UN efforts. also emphasized that the UN COVID-19 socio- She further stressed the importance of fully economic response provides an opportunity to implementing the Cooperation Framework, to strengthen support to the implementation of the ensure greater integration. In turn, the UNCT 2030 Agenda, in the context of the Decade of members gave an update on their respective Action, with focus on recovery and prevention. priority areas and key issues.

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DSG COMMENDS UN STAFF IN SIERRA LEONE FOR RESILIENCE DSG’s Townhall with UN Staff in Sierra Leone

The UN Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Amina J Mohammed commended all UN Staff in Sierra Leone for their resilience and tenacity in ensuring that their Agencies’ mandates are delivered despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The DSG and her delegation emphasized the importance of achieving the Agenda 2030 and Building Back Better during the virtual Townhall. Mr. David Lamin of UNICEF represented the Federation of UN Staff Association in Sierra Leone (FUNSA), while all UN Staff in Sierra Leone joined virtually. FUNSA expressed appreciation and gratitude to the DSG and her delegation for embarking on a solidarity mission to Sierra Leone. FUNSA also mentioned the continuous commitment of UN staff/personnel in Sierra Leone to deliver on the achievement of SDGs, protect and save lives during emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. The Staff Union informed the DSG that staff in Sierra Leone continue to enjoy quality management and During the Virtual Townhall, the UN Staff in Sierra leadership from the UN Country Team and from Leone had the opportunity to raise their issues senior management at the agency level. to the DSG and her delegation. These concerns included staff salary and contracts, career growth opportunities, medical conditions of the duty station, and security.

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ONTO FREETOWN: AIR, WATER AND LAND

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ACCELERATING INVESTMENTS FOR ENHANCED LIFE CHANCES FOR SIERRA LEONEANS DSG ‘s Meeting with UN Development Partners

The UN Resident Coordinator welcomed the Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) and her delegation during the virtual meeting with UN Development partners in Sierra Leone. The RC introduced the DSG and her delegation to the development partners and stated that the DSG as the chairperson of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) would like to hear from them as strategic partners in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The DSG noted that delivery on all mandates of the UN development system reform are on track and initial results can already be reported in several countries. The DSG thanked the development partners for their support in developing and implementing the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), Humanitarian Response Plan and the Socioeconomic Response and Recovery Plan formulated to mitigate the negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic in Sierra Leone. She emphasized that the UN reforms put the UN system in a better position to react to COVID-19 pandemic.

The DSG underscored the European Union’s Spotlight Initiative and stressed that this can be an entry point to combat SGBV in Sierra Leone. COVID-19 is an opportunity to continue to support the health sector, The DSG called on development partners to especially on how technology would help to reduce accelerate the investment that are needed to better maternal mortality. the lives of the people of Sierra Leone. She highlighted the need to help change the architecture to enhance The DSG informed that the Peacebuilding Fund youth access to private sector-led job creation (PBF) has invested USD $62 million into advancing and development efforts. The DSG encouraged the peacebuilding priorities in Sierra Leone. The development partners to explore digital technology, DSG mentioned the current project on mitigating while harnessing youth and demographic dividend of conflicts related with extractive industries and large- the country. scale mining is on-track. It was also noted that the recently approved project focusing on ‘youth at risk Meanwhile, the development partners gave an update of engaging in gang violence’ will also support the on the country situation and their priority areas. They government to empower youths at risk to become also raised issues that the DSG may propell forward. resources for sustained peace, participate in decision-making spaces, and engage on sustainable The development partners were represented by livelihoods. Ambassadors and Heads of the Diplomatic Missions to Sierra Leone.

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MOUNT SUGARLOAF: BUILDING BACK BETTER THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS Presentation of the Landslide Stabilization Site

Mount Sugar Loaf, Freetown— In 2017, after three days of torrential rain, Mount Sugarloaf at Motomeh, Freetown collapsed. This led to an unprecedented mudslide leaving over 1,100 people missing and around 6,000 people displaced. The United Nations system and the international humanitarian community provided humanitarian and technical assistance to the Government of Sierra Leone.

Through partnerships with the Government of Sierra Leone, the World Bank, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the UN System in Sierra Leone, Mount Sugarloaf is on its way to being fully stabilized and rehabilitated. The visit of the Deputy-Secretary General to the site is to recognize the efforts of the partners and the community to rebuild and stabilize the area that had been damaged and claimed many lives.

The event at the Landslide Stabilization site was hosted by Engr. Trudy Morgan, the UNOPS Project Manager for the Slope Stabilization, Remediation and Rehabilitation Works project, part of the World Bank funded Freetown Emergency Recovery Project. Engr. Morgan is the first African woman to be awarded a Fellowship of the Institution of Civil Engineers (FICE) in the UK and was recently elected as first female President of the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers.

On behalf of the UN System in Sierra Leone, the UN Resident Coordinator, Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi acknowledged the lives lost at the site. He indicated that the gathering exemplifies the resilience of Motomeh community and Sierra Leone in facing unprecedented challenges, adding that time and again, Sierra Leoneans have proven to the world that despite obstacles—civil war, Ebola Virus Outbreak, the 2017 Mudslide, and now the COVID-19 pandemic— they come together as a community to overcome and are always determined to Build Back Better.

On behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Ms. Memuntu Pratt

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expressed her gratitude for the support of the UN disaster, and it must be a learning that happens across and partners in responding to the landslide and the country. She also said that the tragedy and crisis supporting rehabilitation programmes for the area. of Ebola is a tragedy that the country took learning She shared the Government’s vision for Mount from as was evident in the country’s response during Sugarloaf and emphasized on transforming the the COVID-19 pandemic. landslide experience from tragedy to an opportunity to catalyze positive change in memory of those who According to DSG Mohammed, in order to build lost their lives. back better, the country needs to think about how it spends its money going forward. Also, it has to think DSG Mohammed celebrated Engr. Trudy Morgan for about bringing the environment and the ‘green’ into her accomplishments and considered her as a role such transitions. The communities should be at the model for women in Africa. She acknowledged the centre of building back better, including women who role of the international community in helping the are 50 % of the community. The DSG also called for Government to get the community to Build Back investment to be made on young women and the Better. She said it is a demonstration of what a global youth and as the country seeks to achieve the SDGs village is all about. She also spoke about the need by 2030. to understand the environment and what sort of climate action that needs to be undertaken. The DSG A site tour led by Engr. Neilford Rose of the informed the gathering that climate action brings jobs Freetown Emergency Recovery Project soon and a new future, a new beginning, and a cleaner and followed the speeches. Following the site visit, a better way of life. tree planting ceremony was arranged for the DSG and her delegation to emphasize the importance of Seeing the work on stabilization at the site, the DSG reforestation to environmental sustainability. said she believes that it would prevent another

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BAREFOOT WOMEN: AN INNOVATIVE GENERATION OF SOLAR ENGINEERS DSG’s Dialogue with the representatives of the Barefoot Women Project

Signaling the importance of a firm commitment and with the organization did not go to school, they have sustained investment in human capacity development been helping graduates and others in the universities as a vehicle in achieving the SDGs, DSG Amina J to learn about the technical aspects of solar energy. Mohammed’s second engagement at the Landslide She said one could not talk about solar engineering in Stabilization Site was with the Barefoot Women Solar Sierra Leone without mentioning the Barefoot Women, Engineers of Sierra Leone (BWSEASL). A key objective and expressed her appreciation to the various UN of the engagement was to acknowledge the work agencies, funds and programmes that have been done by Barefoot Women and to express the DSG’s supporting them. commitment together with the UN Secretary-General on climate change adaptation and impact mitigation In her remarks, UNIDO’s Country Representative, Ms and environmental sustainability. Mariatu Swaray highlighted the role of FAO, UNFPA, UN Women, UNDP, WFP and UNIDO in supporting Formed in 2010, the organization is the key programmes that build the capacity and empower implementing partner for the Government of Sierra women. The Country Rep said that her organization, Leone’s flagship programme on rural electrification UNIDO, has implemented several off-grid pilot through solar energy. The Barefoot College managed projects in Sierra Leone utilizing biomass, solar and by illiterate women is mandated to train illiterate small hydropower technologies. community women nationally as solar technicians to provide indoor solar lights mainly and solar PV In 2012, according to Ms Mariatu Swaray, UNIDO powered water pumps to homes and facilities like undertook an initiative to develop sustainable schools and community clinics. solutions for the supply of energy in Sierra Leone using renewable energy technologies for productive Haja Nancy Kanu, Chief Solar Engineer for the purposes as part of its overall vision to reduce poverty. Barefoot Women, said that though most of the women She emphasized that realizing the untapped talent

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and the skills of the Barefoot Women and of their training around 500 women, men, and the youth ambition of lifting not just their own families, but on solar technology. The DSG told the women that communities out of poverty and create opportunities the UN is committed to accelerating climate action for the economic prosperity of rural women; UNIDO despite the COVID-19 crisis. She also informed the has been providing technical and capacity support to gathering that the Secretary-General has called on them. countries to invest in renewable energy in Covid-19 recovery plans. The DSG commended Barefoot Also, UNIDO continues to support them to start Women’s plans to expand the project, particularly in income generating enterprises in the renewable electrifying rural clinics. She also acknowledged their energy sector, become active proponents of energy efforts in building capacity of men, women, and youth; efficiency and renewable energy approaches with and diversification to other sectors—agriculture and a clear understanding of the issues and as positive manufacturing. agents in their communities. The presentation included a question and DSG Ms Amina J Mohammed commended the answer session in which the DSG participated, a women on being catalysts of change in their rural demonstration of the solar energy electrification and communities through electrification using solar other products produced by the Barefoot Women. energy, and for ensuring technology transfer by

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WOMEN AND YOUTH: CATALYZING DEVELOPMENT IN SIERRA LEONE DSG’s Dialogue with Women and Youth CSOs

The adult female literacy rate in Sierra Leone is 35 percent and female life expectancy at birth is 55. Maternal mortality is among the highest in the world (1,360 mothers dying in every 100,000 live births) while maternal deaths account for 36 per cent of all deaths amongst women aged 15-49 years. About 80 percent of Sierra Leone’s population is under the age of 35. Against this backdrop, the importance of women and youth to development has never been as expedient, particularly considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these demographic groups.

The UN Deputy-Secretary General, met with women and youth leaders to discuss women and youth issues, including sexual and gender-based violence. The DSG commended Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in supporting the monitoring, response and reporting of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, especially during the Covid-19 crisis, learning lessons from the Ebola outbreak. She also acknowledged and appreciated CSO efforts in advocating for women and youth inclusion and sustenance of democracy, peace and social cohesion. The DSG emphasized UN continued support to the women and girls of Sierra Leone and the efforts of CSOs to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.

Prevention of gender-based violence is paramount to the development of Sierra Leone – the DSG emphasized working collaboratively to support communities in ending gender-based violence and making the world safer for women and girls. For their parts, the women and youth leaders raised structural and societal issues that continue to challenge advocacy and development on the ground. They highlighted Government support to interventions, particularly on SGBV. However, more remain to be done—inclusion of women and youth in decision-making processes; regulatory frameworks and legislation that are women and youth inclusive, and; creation of enabling environments for advocacy.

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SIERRA LEONE’S STRIDES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DSG’s Meeting with the President of Sierra Leone and His Cabinet

The Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on behalf of the President, the Government, and people of Sierra Leone welcomed DSG Amina J Mohammed and her delegation to Sierra Leone. He said the DSG’s visit has tremendous value and an opportunity for the delegation to observe first-hand the Government’s efforts to deliver on the SDGs. The Vice President informed on the Government’s flagship programme that is centred on human capital development. He emphasized the need for multilateral cooperation and support of the UN to put the country’s economy back on track following the pandemic.

UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone Dr Babatunde Ahonsi introduced the members of the DSG’s delegation indicating that the visit to Sierra Leone was the fourth leg of her solidarity mission to West Africa initiated by the Secretary-General. He also explained the objective for the mission which includes support to the COVID-19 socio-economic recovery plan and building back better.

The DSG acknowledged the welcome from the Government and related her constructive meetings with women and youth leaders, the UNCT and other stakeholders. She commended the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She appreciated the efforts of development partners in Africa in fighting the pandemic as well. The DSG cautioned that countries should remain vigilant until a vaccine is found and that a global crisis requires a global response.

The DSG commended the Government’s efforts on the 2030 Agenda with a focus on health, education, women, and agriculture. She appreciated that education is taking front and centre of the Government priorities. The DSG also spoke about the need to close the digital divide, greening the country’s economy as an opportunity to be capitalized upon, and for domestic revenue generation to be strengthened. The DSG expressed the importance of the extractive industries as well as sustaining the

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peace in the country. On entrepreneurship, she said The President commended the UN for providing that climate-friendly agriculture should be explored leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic through and capitalized upon. The DSG advocated for multilateral systems. He said he was supportive investment and engagement for youth. She urged the of multilateralism and that efforts should be made Government to involve the youth in decision-making for it to thrive. President Bio noted COVID-19 has and ensure ease of inter-generational transition. impacted not only economically but also politically. The President expressed the hope for a vaccine and President Julius Maada Bio thanked the DSG for cure for COVID-19. He stressed the need to strengthen choosing Sierra Leone for the visit, especially at a the country’s health system that was devastated by time when there are difficult political and economic Ebola and now, hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The challenges. The President said that his administration President noted that Sierra Leone still has a lot of continues to make strides for the country not to be work to do in combating corruption but was pleased left behind. He said he is committed to Agenda 2063 with the country’s ratings in the recent Millennium and the SDGs. President Bio registered his support for Challenge Corporation (MCC) ratings. the UN and its programmes and reforms at the head- quarters in New York and Sierra Leone.

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YOUTH AT RISK AND UN SOCIO-ECONOMIC RESPONSE PLAN (SERP) A presentation of the Youth at Risk Project and SERP

UN Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Amina J Minister of Youth Affairs Mr. Mohamed Orman Mohammed on the last day of her solidarity mission Bangura said that the unveiling ceremony was a to Sierra Leone joined the Vice President of the testament of collective efforts to see a transformative Republic, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh to formally youth sector. In working to solve the many challenges launch the Youth at Risk Report and the UN COVID-19 faced by young people, according to the Minister, Socio-economic Response Plan (SERP). The event he approached the UN RCO in Sierra Leone for a was held at the State House lawn on Sunday, 15 nationwide study to determine why young people are November 2020. at the edge of society. The Minister thanked the DSG for her visit to Sierra Leone and promised to continue UN Resident Coordinator (RC) Dr Babatunde Ahonsi to work towards deepening what he described as presented the reports. In his remarks, the RC said ‘multiple layered interactions’. that the UN COVID-19 socio-economic recovery plan was developed in close consultation with the In her remarks before the two documents were Ministry of Planning and Economic Development officially launched, DSG Amina J Mohammed and the Ministry of Finance, and he thanked both commended the Government’s efforts to analyse Ministers for having made available their personnel the elements that could prevent youth engagement to that effort. He added that the plan is framed under in violence and other forms of negative coping the Government of Sierra Leone’s COVID-19 National mechanisms, through the Ministry of Youth in Health Response Plan, the Quick Action Economic collaboration with the UNCT and efforts in advancing Response Plan (QAERP), and the Medium-Term the human capital development agenda. She also National Development Plan (MTNDP). It addresses underscored the timeliness of the Youth at Risk the protection of health services and systems, social Project, which considers the impact of COVID-19 on protection and provision of basic services, economic the livelihoods and well-being of young people. response and promotion of livelihoods, and social cohesion and community resilience. Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, lauded the

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UN efforts in making the reports a reality. He promised He also highlighted successes by the Government the Government’s strides in ensuring that no one, in trying to address the challenges young people are particularly the youth population of Sierra Leone is facing in the country. left behind in terms of human capital development.

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