Ways Sierra Leoneans Can Get Involved in Civic Matters Within Their Communities
- The Salone Standard
- May 19
- 7 min read
Updated: May 20
Sierra Leone's civic landscape is changing fast. New laws, new platforms, and a growing youth movement are opening real doors for ordinary people to shape how their communities are run. Whether you live in Freetown, Bo, Kenema, or abroad, understanding the civic system, and how to plug into it, is the first step toward meaningful change.
How Sierra Leone's Civic System Works
Sierra Leone operates a dual local governance structure made up of 22 local councils (15 district councils, 6 city councils, and 1 municipal council) and 190 chiefdoms. These two systems run side by side, sometimes smoothly, sometimes with friction.
At the ward level, Ward Development Committees (WDCs) connect the two. Each WDC includes the ward councillor, the Paramount Chief, and up to 10 community representatives, with at least half of those seats reserved for women. This is where local budgeting decisions, project selection, and community priorities are supposed to be discussed. If you want to influence anything from road repairs to school building, the WDC is your entry point.
The Local Government Act 2022 updated the rules of engagement. It extended councillor terms from four to five years and placed new demands on transparency and public participation. In 2025, the government also launched the Local Councils Development Operational Guidelines, developed with JICA, to make community input a formal part of how councils plan and monitor projects.
Ward Development Committees are open to the public. Attend yours.
Practical Ways to Get Involved in Your Community
You don't need a title, a degree, or a political connection to participate in civic life. Here are the most direct ways to get started.
Attend Ward Development Committee Meetings
WDC meetings are open to residents and held regularly across all districts. These meetings determine which community projects get prioritized and how local funds are spent. Showing up, asking questions, and raising concerns on record is one of the most direct ways to influence local decisions.
Contact your ward councillor's office or your local chiefdom administration to find out the meeting schedule in your area. In 2025, the government's Civic Day Series brought officials directly into communities across districts including Kambia, Bo, and Kenema, reaching over 3,000 citizens in structured public dialogues. These events are worth attending when they come to your area.
Volunteer with Established Civic Organizations
Several credible organizations are already doing the work and need support. Restless Development Sierra Leone, a youth-led agency active since 2005, runs community-led advocacy programs across all districts and reaches around 110,000 people annually through a network of over 1,000 volunteers. Their work spans civic participation, health, and livelihoods.
The Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), founded in 1996, runs civic education programs and community dialogues on governance and non-violence. If you want structured training in civic advocacy, these organizations are a good starting point. Volunteering also builds skills and connects you to people working on the same issues.
Use the National Civic Education Strategy
In December 2024, the government launched the Cotton Tree National Civic Education Strategy (2024–2030), supported by UNDP and UNESCO. Built around six pillars (Love, Feed, Heal, Digitize, Clean, and Salone for We All), this framework is designed to grow a culture of active citizenship across the country.
The strategy includes digital engagement tools, public forums, and the annual Salone Civic Festival, which targets 10,000 participants in 2026. The Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE) runs these programs and tracks citizen input. Following their channels keeps you informed about upcoming events and policy consultations.
Participate in Elections and Hold Leaders Accountable
Voting matters, but the work doesn't end on election day. Sierra Leone's 2023 general elections were followed by serious questions about transparency, with EU and Carter Center observers flagging concerns about vote tabulation and implausible turnout figures in some districts. Public trust in the Electoral Commission dropped from 64% in 2018 to 34% by 2025.
This makes citizen oversight more important than ever. A Tripartite Committee issued 80 electoral reform recommendations following the 2023 elections. As of 2026, 37 have been completed and 47 are ongoing. You can track this process and make your voice heard through organizations like the Campaign for Good Governance at slcgg.org, which provides guides, training, and platforms for citizens to monitor elections and report irregularities.
Use Public Audit Processes
One underused civic tool is the public audit process. In early 2025, the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) ran a nationwide citizens' engagement campaign across all 15 district councils. Citizens were invited to provide input on audit planning and follow up on findings related to service delivery and fund mismanagement. These campaigns give ordinary people a legal, structured way to ask where public money went and what was done about it.
Watch for ASSL announcements in your district and participate when these sessions are held. Your input shapes which issues get investigated.
How Diaspora Sierra Leoneans Can Contribute
The Sierra Leonean diaspora is already a major force in the country's development. In 2023, official remittances reached $322 million, surpassing foreign direct investment. Around 60% of these transfers are under $250 each, mostly funding healthcare, education, and household needs. But diaspora impact goes well beyond cash transfers.
Remote participation in community decisions is increasingly possible and encouraged
Share skills remotely
Offer mentorship or training to WDC members, youth groups, or civic organizations. Organizations like Restless Development welcome skilled volunteers even from abroad.
Invest strategically
The government's Office of Diaspora Affairs (ODA) and the National Investment Board are actively working to connect diaspora capital with high-growth sectors including agribusiness, tourism, fisheries, and healthcare. The Sierra Leone Diaspora Investment Conference (SLDIC) 2026 is being held in London (June), Maryland (August), and Freetown (December) for exactly this purpose.
Advocate internationally
Use your platform in your country of residence to raise awareness about Sierra Leone's governance reforms, election integrity issues, and civic progress. Accurate, informed advocacy abroad has real impact at home.
The Ministry of Information and Civic Education reported over 3 million social media interactions in 2025 as part of a shift toward listening to citizens, not just broadcasting at them. Diaspora voices are part of that conversation.
Youth and the Future of Civic Participation
Young people are not just the future of Sierra Leone. They are active contributors right now. Organizations like Citizens Voice Sierra Leone run a Youth Advocacy Academy, training community leaders to hold institutions accountable using mobile apps and voice-first reporting tools built for low-connectivity environments. The Youth Empowerment, Leadership and Governance Initiative (YELGI-SL) connects young people directly to policy dialogue at the district and national level.
Schools and community centers can integrate civic education through the Cotton Tree National Civic Education Strategy, which was specifically designed to be delivered through educational institutions. If you run a youth group, a school program, or a community center, reach out to MoICE to access their training materials.
The Real Barriers and How to Push Through Them
Civic engagement in Sierra Leone faces serious structural obstacles. A 2025 Afrobarometer survey found that 74% of citizens are unaware of the ongoing electoral reform process despite it being a major national initiative. Literacy rates remain below 50%, and internet access is limited outside urban areas. Many local councils are also operating under financial strain, receiving as little as 1.5% of the national budget in subventions, which limits what they can actually deliver.
These barriers are real, but they are not insurmountable. The Civic Day Series and Salone Civic Festival are specifically designed to bring information to communities, not expect communities to come to the information. In areas with limited internet, radio remains a powerful tool. Community FM stations across Sierra Leone broadcast council meetings, public service announcements, and civic education programs.
Trust between citizens and local leaders is built through consistent, honest engagement. When people see their concerns acted on, they come back. When they see results ignored, they disengage. Holding leaders to account, publicly and respectfully, is how that cycle improves.
Building a Civic Culture That Lasts
Civic engagement isn't a campaign or a single vote. It's an ongoing relationship between citizens and the systems that govern their lives. Sierra Leone's governance reforms are creating more formal openings for that relationship than have existed in years. The Local Government Act 2022, the Cotton Tree Strategy, the ASSL public audits, the WDC structure, these are all mechanisms built for citizen participation. They only work when people use them.
Local notice boards remain a key information channel in many communities
Small actions add up. Attend your WDC meeting. Read the ASSL audit report for your district. Show up to the next Civic Day in your area. Share credible civic information in your WhatsApp groups. Talk to your neighbors about what the ward councillor has and hasn't done. These are not small things. They are the foundation of accountability.
Sierra Leone has the structures. It has the organizations. It has a growing generation of young people who want to be part of shaping their country. What it needs is more of us choosing to show up. Start today, wherever you are.
For resources, civic event schedules, and governance updates, follow the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, the Campaign for Good Governance, and Restless Development Sierra Leone.
The Salone Standard is an independent public information platform focused on systems understanding, public awareness, and practical resources.
Share Your Experience
We document experiences and explain public systems to improve clarity and access to information. If you have lived experience related to systems, services, relocation, investment, or public processes connected to Sierra Leone, you may submit it for review and documentation.
Submissions are reviewed as part of TSS's public information and systems documentation process. Where used, personal details may be anonymized unless explicit permission is granted.
Email: thesalonestandard@gmail.com
THE SALONE STANDARD • THESALONESTANDARD.COM
Independent public information platform for Sierra Leone.
Comments