Freetown: Strategic synergy took a critical stage as the Wage Consortium convened a high-level Steering Committee meeting in Freetown, uniting key stakeholders to refine interventions benefiting women and girls across Sierra Leone. Hosted in collaboration with Defence for Children Sierra Leone and Girls and Young Women, the gathering underscored a collective resolve to enhance coordination and sharpen programmatic impact.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the session took place at the Vanilla Complex in Aberdeen and brought together diverse partners to formalize operational frameworks. Delegates adopted the Terms of Reference and validated processes guiding implementation, monitoring, and overall progress of consortium initiatives. The focus remained firmly on translating strategic vision into tangible outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Discussions zeroed in on persistent challenges confronting women and girls, particularly in Bombali and Karene districts. Participants identified child marriage, sexual abuse, exploitation, and systemic gender inequalities as urgent priorities. Consensus emerged around the necessity of sustained advocacy and precisely targeted interventions to amplify marginalized voices and secure fundamental rights.
Ms. Janet Gerber, a former International Rescue Committee staff member, chaired the proceedings. She laid out the committee's mandate, emphasizing its strategic responsibility in bridging critical gaps. Ms. Gerber called for cohesive oversight and coordinated action as indispensable elements for delivering meaningful results.
Providing operational clarity, Wage Consortium Manager Ms. Hawanatu Mansaray detailed the committee's governance structure. She outlined member responsibilities, which include regular organizational reporting, timely agenda dissemination, and meticulous documentation of decisions. Highlighting Chapter Seven of the framework, she noted provisions prioritizing institutional representation over individual membership, a mechanism designed to preserve continuity and strengthen collaborative efficacy. Ms. Mansaray added that alternative representation protocols had been established to maintain consistency when primary members are unavailable.
Ms. Fatmata, representing Defence for Children Sierra Leone, acknowledged the Icelandic Embassy's vital partnership in efforts to end child marriage and safeguard the girl child. She delineated the committee's core functions: providing strategic direction, overseeing program implementation, and approving annual plans and reports. Distinguishing governance from execution, she clarified that the committee's role centers on high-level guidance rather than day-to-day management. She also highlighted governance protocols, including biannual meetings, emergency ad hoc sessions, rotational chairmanship, and structured administrative support from the committee secretary.
In a decisive climax, members unanimously adopted the Terms of Reference. They agreed that decisions would be reached through consensus, with a formal voting mechanism available when necessary. The Steering Committee was affirmed as the consortium's highest decision-making body.
The gathering closed with a renewed collective commitment to deepen collaboration, drive impactful programming, and ensure sustained momentum in addressing systemic challenges affecting women and girls. The occasion was marked by the formal signing of documents and a group photograph, symbolizing unity of purpose.