Building peace from the ground up: local multi-stakeholder platforms drive inclusive land governance

FAO and Land for Life Sierra Leone (LfL-SLE) have launched a six-month initiative to strengthen the capacities of four district multi-stakeholder platforms in Kenema, Pujehun, Port Loko and Tonkolili. The initiative aims to reinforce local-level tenure governance, reduce land-related conflict, and promote gender-responsive and inclusive decision-making.

: District multi-stakeholder platforms in a training session

District multi-stakeholder platforms have emerged as an essential structure for fostering dialogue, transparency and accountability in the land sector across Sierra Leone. Established since 2020, these platforms bring together government institutions, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, private sector actors, women’s groups, the media and youth representatives. They now exist in nine of the country’s fourteen districts and play a pivotal role in mediating land disputes, promoting awareness of the 2022 land laws, and supporting responsible investments in land, agriculture and forestry.

The four platforms targeted under the new FAO-Land for Life initiative are among the most active and diverse. Recent assessments show strong participation by local authorities and community-based organizations, as well as growing engagement by district-level representatives of the National Land Commission (NLC) where present. In several districts, multi-stakeholder platforms already serve as a trusted space for addressing community grievances and supporting peaceful conflict resolution.

Key outcomes targeted by the initiative:

Enhanced governance and leadership within the district platforms, including targeted training for 20 steering committee members to strengthen collective leadership and inclusive facilitation.
Improved coordination among land stakeholders, supported by monthly meetings, follow-up field actions, and local secretariats responsible for documentation and outreach.
Increased understanding of emerging land sector reforms, specifically the 2022 Customary Land Rights Act, the National Land Commission Act and forthcoming legislation under the Sierra Leone Land Administration Project (SLLAP).

The project will also support the printing of awareness-raising materials, joint monitoring missions with the NLC and SLLAP, and inter-district learning exchanges to promote consistent, rights-based land governance practices.

: Districts multi stake-holder platforms facilitating a women’s land governance session

Early results from the four districts:

In Kenema, the multi-stake holder platforms successfully mediated a decade-long boundary conflict between two communities and provided capacity support to Chiefdom Land Committees. It is also documenting community concerns related to mining concessions in ecologically sensitive areas.
In Port Loko, the initiative helped lifting an unjustified ban on farmland, resolved competing land sales, and engaged mining companies over community displacement and environmental impacts.

In Pujehun, platforms members resolved boundary disputes between local sections, raised awareness on the national land laws, and strengthened local land governance structures in districts hosting major agribusiness investments.
In Tonkolili, district platforms helped restore designated for agricultural development, mediated family land conflicts, and continues to support peaceful solutions in a district affected by artisanal mining pressures.

These achievements highlight the potential of local platforms to prevent conflict, protect vulnerable groups, promote women’s participation, and ensure transparency in land investments. Over the coming months, FAO and Land for Life will continue to work closely with district authorities, the National Land Commission, civil society networks and communities to consolidate the role of district multi-stakeholder platforms as key to achieving inclusive and equitable land administration across Sierra Leone.

FAO.org

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Building peace from the ground up: local multi-stakeholder platforms drive inclusive land governance