Men’s Association for Gender Equality Sierra Leone

Men’s Association for Gender Equality Sierra Leone

Promoting Gender Justice, Human Rights & Equity

Men’s Association for Gender Equality Sierra Leone

Promoting Gender Justice, Human Rights & Equity

Men’s Association for Gender Equality Sierra Leone

Promoting Gender Justice, Human Rights & Equity

Men’s Association for Gender Equality Sierra Leone

Promoting Gender Justice, Human Rights & Equity

Men’s Association for Gender Equality Sierra Leone

Promoting Gender Justice, Human Rights & Equity

MAGE-SL

Promoting Gender Justice

Men’s Association for Gender Equality – Sierra Leone (MAGE-SL) is a registered national non-governmental organisation (NGO) and an active member of MenEngage Africa and the MenEngage Global Alliance – a continental network of country alliances and international partners working with men and boys to promote gender justice, equality, women’s rights, and empowerment.

MAGE-SL was founded on June 17, 2001, in a refugee camp in Guinea by Tamba David Mackieu in response to widespread violence, particularly against women and children. At the time, our efforts were funded and supported by UNHCR.

Since 2011, we have been a registered national NGO in Sierra Leone. As a civil society organisation, we chair the MenEngage Sierra Leone Country Network, bringing together NGOs and activists committed to engaging men and boys on women’s rights, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), gender justice, and social change through the transformation of gender norms and masculinities.

About Us

Mission

Promoting Gender Justice, Human Rights, Accountability, and Equal Opportunities for all. Engaging communities and command structures in reducing SGBV in Sierra Leone for women and girls to walk freely without fear of any violence.

Vision

A World where Every Voice Counts, where Men and Women have equal opportunities.

Values

Accountability, Equality, Respect, Teamwork, Transparency, Collaboration, Diversity, Commitment, Humanity, Do No Harm

Our Main Focus

Primary Prevention of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV)

We live in a patriarchal world where inequality, driven by traditional gender roles, affects all aspects of life. In Sierra Leone, an estimated 62% of women aged 15-49 report having experienced physical or sexual violence. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns grew that the already high rates of SGBV would increase. Alarmingly, 61% of ever-married women aged 15-49 have experienced spousal violence—whether physical, sexual, or emotional – by their husbands or partners. (SLDHS, 2019)

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 – Gender Equality

While Sierra Leone has made progress – leading West Africa with 30% of parliamentary seats held by women following the June 2023 general elections – we recognise that significant challenges remain. Although this achievement is encouraging, much work is still needed to close the gender gap.

Key gender inequality statistics in Sierra Leone:

These figures underscore the urgency for action to drive gender justice forward.

“Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economies and benefit societies and human at large.” (UN)

Engaging Men and Boys for Gender Justice

Men and boys, who are often the primary perpetrators of violence against women and girls, may not fully recognise that such violence – whether in homes, institutions, workplaces, or communities – contradicts the principles of positive masculinity. As fathers, sons, uncles, cousins, boyfriends, husbands, traditional and religious leaders, and respected members of society, men and boys have a responsibility to acknowledge women and girls as equals in society.
By engaging men and boys, we encourage them to reflect on their behavior and initiate a process of self-examination – recognising that women and girls, just like men and boys, have the right to enjoy their fundamental, civic, and democratic rights.
Challenging deep-rooted traditional and cultural norms that fuel gender inequality allows men and boys to shift their perspectives. The notion that masculinity is synonymous with aggression, dominance, and ownership over women – ingrained in patriarchal systems worldwide, including in Sierra Leone – must be replaced with a vision of gender equality and mutual respect.
In post-conflict Sierra Leone, engaging men and boys in discussions about gender justice is vital for dismantling harmful societal norms that perpetuate violence against women and girls.

Our Approach

Community-led, community-driven and community-owned

  1. Community Engagement

    We introduce community members to the concept of gender and mobilize them to promote, sustain, and consolidate peace, gender equality, and women’s rights in their communities.2
  2. Education and Awareness

    We enlighten and educate community members on human rights, violence against women and girls, Sierra Leone’s Gender Acts and Sexual Offences Acts, and international human rights standards.
  3. Building Change Agents
    We equip participants with skills and strategies to become agents of peace and human rights within their communities. This enables them to engage in discussions on the role of men and boys in violence against women and girls, address the root causes, and promote positive male attitudes and behaviors.
  4. State Accountability

    We support communities in understanding state accountability and guide them in mobilizing efforts to hold state institutions and structures accountable for gender justice in Sierra Leone.

Our training and sensitisation programs take place in six districts across Sierra Leone: Moyamba, Pujehun, Kailahun, Kono, Kambia, and Freetown. To create sustainable and holistic change, we collaborate with diverse social groups, including religious and traditional leaders, youth, school clubs, women’s organisations, politicians, public entities, and government ministries.

Recognising that violence is learned, we strongly believe that:
“It is easier and cheaper to build up children for the future than to repair adults.”
This is why we have extended our interventions to schools, aiming to transform young minds early on and prevent violence before it begins. –“catch them young”

Citizen Journalism for Community Reporting

To strengthen SGBV prevention and response, we have trained community action teams and students in citizen journalism strategies, enabling them to report SGBV cases and other forms of violence via text messages.
In many underserved rural communities, violence often occurs far from urban areas where protective structures exist. As a result, delays in reporting can allow perpetrators to escape or evidence to be lost. “Justice delayed is justice denied” By the time authorities receive reports and act, critical evidence may no longer be available, making it difficult for courts to prosecute offenders. This has led to many SGBV cases being dismissed due to a lack of evidence. Our citizen journalism initiative seeks to bridge this gap and ensure that survivors receive the justice they deserve.

Our Team

Madieu Conteh

Madieu Conteh

Project Officer

Sahr Makieu

Sahr Makieu

Project Assistance

Joseph Musa

Joseph Musa

IT Officer

Felicitas Casellas

Felicitas Casellas

Project Officer for Capacity Building

Abdul Martin

Abdul Martin

Programme Manager & MenEngage Network Coordinator

Amida Komba

Amida Komba

Field Officer

Tamba David Mackieu

Tamba David Mackieu

Founding Executive Director

Alhassan Massaquoi

Alhassan Massaquoi

Finance Officer

Alex Momoh Sahr Vandi

Alex Momoh Sahr Vandi

Admin & Logistik Officer

Adama Bockarie

Adama Bockarie

Field Supervisor

Abu Callon

Abu Callon

Office Care

Emmanuel Ansumana

Emmanuel Ansumana

Assistance Finance Officer

Kemoh Kendor

Kemoh Kendor

Driver

Our Supporters

What We Do

Our Projects & Services

Current
Projects

National Democratic Institute – NDI

MPP – Men, Power & Politics – Personalize, Politicize & Strategize!
Engagement for women inclusion in democratic Governance – 
Since 2021, we have been sensitising politicians on gender justice to promote women’s rights across all 17 political parties in Sierra Leone.

Objectives:
Increase women’s active participation and inclusion in executive positions within political parties, and raise the number of women in parliament, councils, and other political offices.
Enhance the listening skills of political party leaders.
Sensitise the wider population on the personalisation and politicisation of politics.
Equip women with the skills to present their issues, advocate, and lobby effectively to ensure their voices are heard.
Vision: We envision a world where democracy and freedom prevail, with dignity for all!
Mission: We work in partnership around the world to strengthen and safeguard democratic institutions, processes, norms and values to secure a better quality of life for all!
Values: Accountability, Transparency, Equity, Inclusion, Pluralism, Civic Participation & Rule of Law
Guiding Principles: Teamwork, Partnership, Quality, Responsibility, Integrity & Respect

Civil Peace Service – CPS

Training Communities on Gender Justice to promote Women’s Rights in six different regions
Goals:
Young women and men are empowered to assert their rights and interests in a non-violent manner and to assume their rightful place in Sierra Leone society.
Religious and intercultural tolerance is strengthened within the Sierra Leonean Society.
Since 2020 we’re part of the CPS-Country Program to equip young people to:
Thrive with respect for their health, well-being, and dignity.
Develop respectful social and sexual relationships.
Reflect on the consequences of their choices for their own well-being and that of others.
Understand their rights, demand them, and defend them – peacefully.
This project is funded by the Protestant Agency for Diakonie and Development for Bread for the World (Bftw) in cooperation with the German Government.

Expertise, Services & Individual Counselling

We offer professional support in gender equality, inclusivity, and transformative masculinity through:

  • Consultancy – Expert advice on gender-related policies, programs, and strategies.
  • Facilitation – Skilled moderation of discussions, sensitisation trainings, and workshops.
  • Mediation – Conflict resolution and dialogue facilitation on gender-related issues.
  • Strategic Advisory – Guidance on integrating gender equality and women’s empowerment into organizations and initiatives.

Key Focus Areas:

  • Gender equality & inclusivity
  • Transformative masculinity
  • Women’s empowerment

Our experienced and trained professionals are available to support organisations, initiatives, companies, political parties and individuals.

Where we work

Past Activities

  • 2021: 
Mitigating the negative socio-economic impact of the COVID 19 epidemic in Sierra Leone. Protestant Agency for Diakonie and Development for the Bread for the World (Bftw).

    (CPS Partners Consortium, across the country)
  • 2019 – 2021: Accountability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals: A Human Right and Gender Justice for MenEngage Africa. Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). Through: Sonke Gender Justice Network, South Africa. 

    (Through country network partners across the country)
  • 2018 – 2021
: Rights, Actions and Accountability: Supporting Community Mobilization and State Accountability for Gender Justice in Africa. Norwegian Agency for Development- NORAD through Sonke Gender Justice Network, South Africa.
    
(Freetown City slum communities and Bo district.)
  • 2020
: Active Ongoing Member of Technical working Team: Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Government of Sierra Leone. Government of Sierra Leone, UNFPA and other Development Partners. Development and production of National Male Involvement Strategy for the Prevention of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Sierra Leone.
  • 2015 – 2016: 
World Vision International – Consultancy to conduct Dialogue sessions with MDAs, Council Authorities, men and women on Accountability of services provided to communities and transformational masculinity in the implementation of the “Women Empowered for Leadership and Development” (WELD) project in 7 targeted districts.

    (North – Koinadugu, Port Loko, Bombali, Tonkolili and East – Kono, Kailahun, Kenema.)
  • 2014 – 2016
: Actively participated in, and meaningfully contributed to, symptomatic treatment and prevention campaigns during the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone.
  •  2013 – 2014: 
Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, UK (IDS UK) Collaborative Research work done captioned “The Legacy of Conflict and the struggle to End Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in Sierra Leone” (research published 2015 – copy available on demand)
  •  2011 – 2013: 
United Nations Trust Fund through Sonke Gender Justice Network, South Africa on project titled “Engaging Men to Strengthen the Implementation of GBV Laws and Policies and Promote Gender Equality in Kenya, Rwanda and Sierra Leone”.
  •  2011-2012: 
International Rescue Committee Sierra Leone (IRC) “Men and Women in Partnership project”- a behaviour change program to change gender norms and promote gender equality in rural communities (Kailahun and Kenema districts).
  • 2004 – 2005
: American Embassy, Democracy and Human Rights Funds (DHRF) “Engaging men and boys in transformative masculinity”

…
Training of other INGOs in transformative masculinity as part of the primary prevention approach. They include: Plan International, COOPI, OXFAM, Restless Development, YMCA, and International Rescue Committee (IRC) among others.
…
Worked with Sonke Gender Justice Network South Africa and other countries to collect and review the gender policies of Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Kenya to identify gaps and recommend to policy makers for actions when and where necessary.

What is new

News

SCHOOL GENDER CLUB

SCHOOL GENDER CLUB

Last week, our facilitation team was back in the field. This time they engaged sixteen schools...

Get In Touch

5 + 2 =