The year 2024 marked the culmination of UNFPA Sierra Leone's 7th Country Programme (2020−2024), a period of significant progress towards ending the unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal deaths and eradicating gender-based violence and harmful practices. This report reflects the collective achievements made possible by the commitment of the Government of Sierra Leone, the unwavering support of our donors, the dedication of our Implementing Partners and the engagement of various stakeholders.
In 2024, our family planning efforts enabled 640,000 women to access modern contraceptives and averted an estimated 230,000 unintended pregnancies, 85,000 unsafe abortions and 740 maternal deaths. Additionally, the Country Office supported the development of a family planning investment case which outlines the financial and other resources required to achieve the country’s family planning goals through increased domestic funding, donor support and private sector engagement.
Our dedication to end preventable maternal mortality was further demonstrated by the training of midwives, supporting the prevention and management of obstetric fistula and the delivery of quality sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence services to adolescent girls and women. We supported the launch of the innovative app - Pregnancy Registration and Service Tracking Application (PreSTrack) designed by the Government of Sierra Leone, that carries out real-time tracking of pregnancies and flags high-risk conditions to enable timely interventions, enhancing maternal and newborn health outcomes.
Further, UNFPA in partnership with other stakeholders supported the development of critical national legislative and strategic frameworks, including the Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment operational plan, the National Nursing and Midwifery Strategy, National Strategy for the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy and Child Marriage (2025−2030), the Strategic Operational Plan for Condom Programming in Sierra Leone (2025-2029) and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2024. We also supported the adoption of a revised set of national ICPD commitments informed by the progress made so far, as well as the unfinished business of the ICPD Programme of Action.
Recognizing the importance of investing in the potential of young people, we sustained our support for the integration of Child and Adolescent Health and Lifeskills in schools, reached marginalized girls with life skills programmes and supported the reintegration of vulnerable girls into formal education. The 2024 launch of the Young Women Leading Change Innovation Challenge further empowered young women-led initiatives across 15 districts, addressing diverse challenges and fostering innovation in areas ranging from entrepreneurship to sexual and reproductive health and rights, with a focus on inclusivity for young women with disabilities.
These accomplishments are a testament to the power of collaborative action and the unwavering commitment of all our partners. We extend our deepest gratitude to our donors for their generous contributions, to our Implementing Partners for their tireless efforts, to the communities we serve for their trust and engagement and to the Government of Sierra Leone for its strong leadership and commitment to the ICPD Programme of Action.
As we look ahead to the 8th Country Programme (2025−2030), we are inspired by the progress achieved and remain committed to building on these successes and contributing to a Sierra Leone where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
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