Development program in Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone, access to land is vital for rural livelihoods. This is evident in Kenema and Bo districts, where agriculture and farming drive local economies. In these areas, land governance is predominantly managed by chiefs and male lineage heads, limiting women, young people, and migrants from participating in decision-making processes. Competition over land remains a critical issue, moreover, the contributions of women in agricultural labor and market activities form the backbone of the local economy, yet they face significant challenges in claiming and securing their rights.

Despite the longstanding barriers, the Government of Sierra Leone has taken important steps in the land sector, beginning with the adoption of the 2015 National Land Policy, followed by the Customary Land Rights and the National Land Commission Act in 2022. These measures aim to create more equitable land administration and governance, with a strong focus on women’s rights. As part of this effort, local land committees have been established to decentralize decision-making, promote transparency in dispute resolution and improve access to land for all citizens. Together, these actions recognize women’s role in the community and enhance the participation of marginalized groups in land governance.

Following the path towards inclusive land administration and governance, FAO, in partnership with Solidaridad, implemented a capacity-building and development programme in Bo and Kenema districts. In July and August 2025, local communities gathered for a series of training sessions that brought together traditional leaders, government representatives, and a total of 70 members of the newly established committees. The sessions enabled women and young people to share experiences and build confidence, as one representative of the Village Area Land Committee (VALC) in Kakua Chiefdom described:

“When they acted out the land dispute between Adama and her uncle, I saw my own story. I realized I could speak up and defend what is right.”

Woman representative on the Village Area Land Committee (VALC) in Kakua Chiefdom During the training, she participated in mediation role plays, advocacy exercises, and women-only leadership sessions. She returned home and successfully mediated her first real land dispute, using both the new laws and skills learned.

Her experience was echoed by other women, who also drew strength from the connections they formed:

“Now I know women leaders from other chiefdoms who will stand with me when I face a land case."
– Village Area Land Committee (VALC) member from Kakua

The sessions revealed further impactful human-stories behind the disputes:

“Now I know the law protects the widow in my village as much as it protects me as a chief."
– Paramount Chief representative

This shift in understanding among traditional authorities is crucial, as they pledged to reserve at least 40 percent of seats for women in all new land governance structures, exceeding legal requirements.

The program delivered promising results. Participants deepened their understanding of the new laws and how to apply them in their daily work. Through mediation and advocacy exercises, they strengthened their capacity to represent their communities and advocate for equitable land practices. Women gained recognition of their land rights, expanded their networks, and engaged effectively with authorities and local institutions. Additionally, each committee developed a gender- responsive action plan, promoting fairness and transparency in conflict resolution.

The training was designed to be inclusive, combining different learning methods to give all participants equal opportunities to participate. Storytelling was employed to explain the new land laws in simple, relatable terms, while role plays and simulations allowed participants to step into realistic conflict scenarios and practice mediation techniques. Audiovisual tools enabled community members with limited literacy to follow the sessions and contribute meaningfully to discussions. In addition, women-only sessions focused on strengthening leadership. Finally, participatory mapping exercises encouraged communities to collectively discuss land resources. This approach built practical skills and fostered dialogue.

In conclusion, by linking national policy and laws with community-based learning, the program translated legal principles into practice and established a foundation for more inclusive land administration and governance. These efforts strengthened women’s participation in governance processes and increased awareness of land policies and laws among communities. Finally, the experiences in Bo and Kenema districts demonstrate how sustained community-level engagement can generate meaningful progress at both the local and institutional levels. Despite ongoing challenges such as illiteracy, cultural barriers and logistical constraints remain, FAO and its partners aim to support the Government of Sierra Leone in extending these approaches to other districts. This may include documenting lessons learned from Bo and Kenema to develop replication models and pilot new interventions.