By Usman Fambuleh
The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby, on Monday, 23 February 2026, officially launched the EmpowerHER Project spearheaded by CAUSE Canada in partnership with CAUSE Canada Sierra Leone. The ceremony was held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.
Addressing stakeholders, Dr. Demby emphasized that Sierra Leone’s development agenda is anchored on human capital, with women and girls at its core. He said this vision informed his decision to serve under Julius Maada Bio, whose administration prioritizes investment in people.
“Education is not merely about passing exams,” Dr. Demby stated. “It is about acquiring knowledge that builds a nation. Women and girls must be empowered to use that education to transform their lives.”
He disclosed that government allocates 22 percent of domestic revenue to the Free Quality Education programme and stressed that good health remains a prerequisite for national productivity.
“You can only become a great lawyer, doctor, agriculturist or psychologist if you are healthy,” he remarked, calling for sustained investments in education, healthcare and food security.
Expressing concern over maternal mortality, Dr. Demby revealed that 14 percent of maternal deaths occur among girls under the age of 20, largely linked to teenage and unintended pregnancies.
He called for coordinated action among development partners, civil society and the media to support government efforts.
“EmpowerHER is not just a project; it is a journey,” he declared, outlining four guiding principles for success: accompaniment, alignment, acceleration and accountability. He underscored the need for prudent management of donor funds, noting, “This is Canadian taxpayers’ money; we must account for every dime.”
The Executive Director of CAUSE Canada, Wendy Fehr, explained that the seven-year initiative (2025–2032), funded by Global Affairs Canada, aims to enhance the enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) among adolescent girls and women.
She disclosed that the project will operate in 480 communities across seven rural districts and is expected to directly benefit approximately 240,000 individuals — including adolescent girls, women and men — while indirectly impacting an estimated 2.7 million people.
Fehr highlighted CAUSE Canada’s longstanding presence in Sierra Leone, citing its maternal and child health programmes, microfinance initiatives and the CAUSE Kids Bursary Programme. She also noted the organization’s contributions during the Ebola and COVID-19 crises.
In her remarks, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Isata Mahoi, described the initiative as timely and transformative. She said EmpowerHER aligns with national priorities on human capital development, gender equality and community systems strengthening.
She added that the programme would support implementation of key legislative reforms, including the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (2022), the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2024) and the Child Rights Act (2025).
“This project will complement our efforts to protect girls, prevent early marriage and safeguard child rights,” Dr. Mahoi affirmed, urging communities and institutions to rally behind the intervention.
Following her statement, Deputy Minister of Health I, Dr. Charles Senessie, recounted how CAUSE Canada supported him during his medical studies. He said the organization sponsored his early public health sensitization project, enabling outreach across the country.
“Their belief in my work strengthened my commitment to community health,” he reflected, encouraging beneficiaries to seize opportunities created by EmpowerHER.
Representing civil society, the National Director of SLANGO, Madam Alice James, pledged sustained collaboration, assuring that the organization would mobilize member groups to support community engagement, monitoring and advocacy linked to the project.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the Sierra Leone Child Rights Coalition, Ms. Boi-Jenneh Jalloh, welcomed the initiative and reaffirmed her coalition’s commitment to advancing child protection, noting that EmpowerHER would reinforce campaigns against harmful practices affecting girls.
The President of the Children’s Forum Network, Philipa Cride Dole, emphasized the importance of youth participation, stating that involving children and adolescents in awareness and peer education would amplify the project’s reach and effectiveness.
The event concluded with a video message from Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, who reiterated government’s support for CAUSE Canada and its partners. He described EmpowerHER as a strategic investment in the wellbeing and potential of women and girls.
The launch attracted development partners, civil society actors, pupils and members of the media.
