Find Civil Society expertise in Sierra Leone

Having endured a decade of civil unrest which finally came to an end in early 2002, Sierra Leone’s civil society is working hard to rebuild the shattered societies coming out of the war.  Special attention has been paid by many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to the needs of women and children. Education Action, an international NGO, is working with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to train teachers to help them cope with students affected by the war and teach with few resources. The Department for International Development (DFID) supports the country’s relationship with the UK and helps with tackling health-related issues. Amnesty International, CARE International and CAUSE Canada are some of the other international NGOs which operate in the country.

The Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (SLANGO) is the country’s recognised NGO umbrella body. Its main objectives are to integrate NGO efforts more effectively into national development, and to develop a framework within which NGOs can work in partnership with, and support each other’s activities more effectively.

NGOs wanting formal recognition from the Government of Sierra Leone should apply to the Ministry of Development and Economic Planning (MODEP). MODEP is mandated by the Government to co-ordinate and monitor the activities of national and international NGOs.

Trade unions were first established in the 1940s with The Sierra Leone Labour Congress (SLLC) being the primary trade union centre since 1966. The trade union’s membership was jeopardised in the mid-1980s due to the civil war, but maintains its key role as the national trade union centre in today’s society.

Partners

    Share