By Sulaiman Aruna Sesay

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play a crucial role in promoting good governance in Sierra Leone. The country has made considerable progress in improving its governance system over the last decade, and CSOs have been instrumental in this success. The role of CSOs in promoting good governance in Sierra Leone is not without challenges and limitations. In this article, let me critically analyse the role of CSOs in good governance in Sierra Leone.

One of the primary roles of CSOs in Sierra Leone is to promote transparency and accountability in governance. CSOs have been very active in monitoring government activities and exposing corruption and abuse of power. For instance, CSOs have been instrumental in monitoring the disbursement of the Ebola funds, Covid-19 fund, Donations and advocating for proper accountability. By promoting transparency and accountability, CSOs are helping to build a culture of responsibility and good governance in Sierra Leone.

CSOs also help to promote citizen participation in governance. By organizing public consultations, civic education programs, and advocacy campaigns on critical governance issues, CSOs empower citizens to engage with the government, demand accountability, and participate in policy-making processes. CSOs create space for citizens to express their views, demand rights and hold leaders responsible. By doing so, they help to establish a participatory system of governance in Sierra Leone.

CSOs in Sierra Leone have been active in promoting gender equality and women’s rights. Women and girls suffer significant discrimination and exclusion in Sierra Leone, and CSOs have been at the forefront of promoting gender mainstreaming in public policies and laws. They advocate for policies that improve women’s access to education, healthcare, and political participation, among other things. As a result of the advocacy of CSOs, the government has passed laws and policies to promote gender equality in Sierra Leone.

The role of CSOs in good governance in Sierra Leone is not without challenges. One of the significant challenges faced by CSOs is the lack of funding. Most CSOs in Sierra Leone rely on donor funding, and often, funding is insufficient or untimely. This makes it difficult for CSOs to carry out long-term programs and activities that can help promote good governance in the country.

Another challenge faced by CSOs in Sierra Leone is the lack of political will by the government to work with CSOs collaboratively. While the government acknowledges the role of CSOs in promoting good governance, there is often a lack of sincere commitment to work with them. This lack of cooperation and collaboration limits the impact of CSOs in promoting good governance in the country.

CSOs play a crucial role in promoting good governance in Sierra Leone by promoting transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and gender equality. However, CSOs face significant challenges such as a lack of funding and political will by the government to work collaboratively. Despite these challenges, the role of CSOs in promoting good governance in Sierra Leone remains crucial, and the government must recognize the importance of working collaboratively with CSOs to build a better future for the country.