REPORT ON A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION RAINBO INITIATIVE HAD

WITH CSOs ON ENGAGING POLITICAL PARTIES TO INFLUENCE THEIR

MANIFESTO TO ADOPT PRO-SGBV POLICIES AND TO PREVENT
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN DURING THE ELECTIONEERING PERIOD.

On Tuesday 9th May ,2023 Rainbo initiative had a roundtable discussion at

their head office , at SS Camp , Imatt with CSOs on how to engage various
political parties to influence their manifesto to adopt Pro-SGBV policies and to
prevent violence against women during the electioneering period .Executives
and staffs from the host organization were present .Also , representatives
from various CSOs like Advocaid, Campaign for Good Governance ,Youth and
Children’s Advocacy Network (YACAN) , 50/50 women’s group , etc , the
media and Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) were also present .
The program started with registration of invitee ,which was led by Mr Aloysius
(communication officer Rainbo initiative ) , this was followed by individual
prayers. Welcome address was given by Mr Bob Lamin (prevention and
communication manager of Rainbow initiative ). Aloysius (communication
officer Rainbo initiative) again introduced the chairperson .
Mr Anthony Sam ( Senior Programme Manager ) who was the chairman gave
an opening remarks and also made a presentation on Rainbo Centres GBV
Survivors Data and analysis . Contributions and questions were encourage
concerning the presentation done by the Chairman. Representatives gave
contribution based on their personal experiences and some ask questions.
Followed by this was another presentation on an overview of the engagement
with political parties to influence their manifesto to adopt Pro- SGBV and to
prevent violence against women during electioneering period and it was done
by Rainbo initiative Business Development Manager ,Mr Robert Fefegula.
After all these presentations , we moved to the main purpose of the
discussion in which everyone was free to participate . Before the discussion,
relevant questions needed to be answered by political party members were
pen down by the senior programme manager and more questions were added
by CSO representatives.
Rounding up with the discussion , Mr Bob Lamin said ,we should all agree on
the various political parties we should visit,the CSOs that will be going with
Rainbo initiative ,the media and SLAJ to engage each of these political
parties. Temporary date and time were schedule for until the letters were sent
to party secretaries.Lunch was served during this discussion .
Finally, Madam Lucy Kargbo (Fundraising and partnerships coordinator gave
the vote of thanks and transportation was given to CSO representatives.