UN Peacebuilding Fund Marks 20 Years with Community-LDriven Peace Initiatives in Sierra Leone 

PUJEHUN/KENEMA, Sierra Leone – Communities in Sierra Leone's southern and eastern border districts have celebrated the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UNPBF) through a week-long series of activities aimed at strengthening peace, resilience and social cohesion.

The commemorative events, organised by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Sierra Leone and the World Food Programme (WFP) Sierra Leone in collaboration with partners, formed part of the GOLA-REAP Project (Resilience, Empowerment, Access and Peacebuilding), an initiative focused on empowering communities to prevent conflict and promote sustainable development.

Held in Makpele Chiefdom in Pujehun District and Nomo Chiefdom in Kenema District, the programme brought together traditional leaders, youth groups, women, forest rangers, local authorities and community members to celebrate two decades of the UN Peacebuilding Fund's contribution to sustaining peace in Sierra Leone.

The week featured community sensitisation roadshows that promoted unity, peaceful coexistence, conflict resolution, environmental conservation and collaborative border management. Participants also established community peace structures to provide lasting platforms for dialogue and the peaceful settlement of disputes, particularly those involving land and natural resources.

One of the programme's highlights was the "Football for Peace" tournament, which used sport to unite young people and communities while fostering trust, teamwork and reconciliation among diverse groups.

According to the organisers, the activities reflect the core objectives of the GOLA-REAP Project, which seeks to strengthen community resilience, improve access to opportunities and build sustainable peace across border communities.

The 20th anniversary celebration also highlighted the importance of local ownership in peacebuilding, with communities taking the lead in creating solutions that address conflict while protecting shared natural resources.

As Sierra Leone continues to build on two decades of partnership with the UN Peacebuilding Fund, the success of these initiatives demonstrates that lasting peace is achieved through dialogue, inclusion and strong community participation.

The anniversary serves as both a celebration of past achievements and a renewed commitment by partners and communities to building a more peaceful, resilient and prosperous Sierra Leone.

Source: IOM-SL