Sierra Leone

Paragraph 1, page 15

In partnership with the Volunteers Involving Organization of Sierra Leone (VIONET Sierra Leone)—a national network of volunteer groups—, regional stakeholder sensitization workshops and media engagement were organized on the Sierra Leone Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF). The campaigns called for increased mobilization of local resource for financing the SDGs and local community development programmes. In preparing the Sierra Leone SDGs Acceleration Roadmap for presentation at the 2023 SDG Summit in New York, over 100 participants were brought together to discuss SDG needs for the remaining years of the 2030 agenda. This was a nationwide consultative process, including central and local government practitioners, development partners, civil society, parliament, private sector representatives, and academia. Also, as part of the 2023 Global Goals Week of Action in Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and the UNDP partnered with VIONet Sierra Leone, to organise an SDG Floating Parade. Similar to the roadmap preparation, the parade brought together stakeholder actors from government institutions, the UNCT, the private sector, civil society and volunteer groups, and the media. 

Paragraph 2, page 72

iv. Promoting volunteerism as a cross-cutting means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda 
The government of Sierra Leone and its development partners fully recognize the crucial role of volunteerism as a powerful and cross-cutting instrument for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The country has an existing legal and policy environment that encourages the spirit of volunteerism among civil society and youth to contribute to the development process. Among key legal and policy instruments for promoting volunteerism are the recently launched National Volunteering Policy, the MTNDP (2024-2030), and the National Youth Service Strategy and Roadmap for Implementation, The National Volunteering Policy serves as a framework for the engagement of volunteers and the promotion of volunteerism throughout the country. Its primary objective is to bolster the role of volunteers and Volunteer involving organisations in contributing to national development. A major organisation that actively works with the Government of Sierra Leone and partners in promoting volunteering in Sierra Leone is the VIONet. 
As a network of Volunteer involving organizations, VIONet provides a platform for: i) collective and coordinated answers and joining initiatives for volunteerism; ii) exchanging information and experience on volunteerism and policy-related initiatives and ideas; iii) strengthening its membership; iv) supporting local and international campaigns; and v) improving regional networking and solidarity activities. The key areas of intervention are education, environment, climate change, health, hygiene and sanitation, disaster management, Employment and skills development, peace and security, youth and women empowerment, gender equality, food security and nutrition. 
To leverage the potential of volunteerism as a cross-cutting means of implementing the 2030 Agenda, the government of Sierra Leone, Volunteer-related orgainsations, and other partners will continue to mainstream volunteerism in key strategies, programmes, and policies. Tools will be developed, and partnerships and capacities built to enhance the recognition and promotion of volunteerism, and the measurement of its contributions to the SDGs achievement in the country. Existing volunteering initiatives and programmes will be strengthened, and more investment will be made to maximize the mobilization of national and international volunteers to contribute to national development programmes, and peacebuilding efforts and enhance knowledge transfer. 

Paragraph 1, page 72

Among key legal and policy instruments for promoting volunteerism are the recently launched National Volunteering Policy, the MTNDP (2024-2030), and the National Youth Service Strategy and Roadmap for Implementation, The National Volunteering Policy serves as a framework for the engagement of volunteers and the promotion of volunteerism throughout the country.