The participants finalized the second phase of the capacity assessment process to foster more gender-responsive investment in Sierra Leone through a validation workshop. This workshop aimed at defining priority actions and consolidating the findings that resulted from the first phase of the capacity assessment, a 5-week tutored programme conducted at the end of 2020.

The first phase of the capacity assessment focused on analysing existing and needed capacities and identifying potential actions to enhance gender-responsive investments in agriculture. After this workshop, the participants requested a follow up validation meeting to further refine the draft roadmap. Participants comprised representatives of different institutions and organizations working in the areas of agricultural development, investment and/or gender. 

18 participants, who had participated in the previous capacity assessment, joined the validation workshop, showing their full commitment to this process. In fact, the participants decided to establish a “gender core team” after the workshop in order to spearhead efforts in the implementation and monitoring of the roadmap. 

An innovative virtual methodology

Due to restrictions on travel and gatherings related to the COVID-19 pandemic, FAO conducted the validation workshop virtually. The approach aimed to be as inclusive and participatory as possible using innovative online tools. The workshop comprised 4 virtual meetings conducted during March 2021 in which participants were invited to join group activities on a digital workspace for visual collaboration for a more interactive and participatory process. 

A refined roadmap

During the validation workshop, participants focused their attention on the potential actions contributing to the three strategic objectives to enhance gender responsive investments in Sierra Leone, identified during the first phase: 

1. Foster inclusive decision-making related to gender-responsive investments in agriculture and food systems in Sierra Leone. 
2. Foster gender-responsiveness of the policy, legal and incentive frameworks for gender-responsive agricultural investments in Sierra Leone. 
3. Improve services and organizations to empower women and promote gender equality in agricultural investments in Sierra Leone.

Participants discussed and agreed on the priority actions to be implemented. For an operational roadmap, they refined the priority actions and identified the key stakeholders that should be involved and potential leading organizations for each action. They also defined a timeline for each action, from short term (one year), medium term (2-3 years) to long term (4-6 years). 

Some of the priority actions that sparked more debate and were highlighted by participants as critical include, for example, strengthening rural women’s capacity to influence decision-making related to agribusiness investments through awareness raising, leadership trainings and engagement with male local leaders. The revision of key policies, laws or processes to enhance their gender focus was also considered central, such as the Chieftancy Act which prevents women to take leadership roles as traditional authorities in customary institutions, or the review of the Agribusiness Investment Approval Process from a gender perspective.  

Participants have also stressed the need to promote the implementation of existing gender-responsive policies like the forthcoming Gender in Agriculture policy. Lastly, participants highlighted the importance to improve rural women’s access to land, agricultural inputs and extension services and promote the financial inclusion of women. 

Next steps

Next steps include sharing the refined roadmap with a broader audience in order to raise awareness of the importance of the topic, advocate for the implementation of the roadmap, mobilize support from stakeholders and foster political buy-in.