Sierra Leone is taking steps to establish a national framework to identify and address potential conflicts before they escalate into violence, with a proposed strategy to strengthen early intervention, political engagement, and community participation in peacebuilding.
The initiative is part of the Sustaining Peace and Social Cohesion Through a National-led Prevention Approach in Sierra Leone (SPESOCO) project, discussed at a Local Project Appraisal Committee meeting at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in Wilberforce, Freetown.
The proposed National Prevention Strategy on Conflict Prevention and Sustaining Peace aims to address gaps in existing prevention mechanisms by improving coordination among government institutions, civil society organisations and communities.
Executive Secretary of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), Hawa Sally Samai, emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in preventing conflict and preserving peaceful coexistence.
She called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders, noting that addressing disagreements and emerging tensions requires a coordinated effort.
Madam Samai also expressed appreciation to UNDP for its continued partnership with the Commission and its support for peacebuilding and national cohesion.
The proposed strategy will prioritise peaceful political engagement, community participation and measures to address hate speech, misinformation and disinformation. It will also seek to strengthen relationships among communities and encourage citizens to play a more active role in sustaining peace.
The meeting was hosted by UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Kevin Petrini and attended by the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, alongside representatives of government institutions and non-governmental organisations.
Once developed, the strategy is expected to provide a common framework for conflict prevention across Sierra Leone, helping institutions and communities identify warning signs and respond to emerging disputes before they become serious threats to national stability.
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