Caritas Freetown, in collaboration with the Boston College School of Social Work through its Research Program on Children and Adversity, and in partnership with the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, convened a dissemination workshop aimed at strengthening Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Sierra Leone. The event was held on 23 April at the Swiss Spirit Hotel & Suites Freetown.
The initiative seeks to advance early childhood development by translating research evidence into practical, scalable, and cost-effective programmes and policies that improve the health, well-being, and long-term outcomes of children across the country. It forms part of the multi-country “THRIVE” research programme, implemented through the Family Strengthening Intervention for Early Childhood Development and Violence Prevention (FSI-ECD+VP).
The project brings together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including government institutions, researchers, local non-governmental organisations, and development partners, with the shared objective of addressing existing gaps in scaling ECD interventions from pilot phases to nationwide implementation.
Key participants at the workshop included Mrs. Worokia Conteh, Director of Family Welfare at the Ministry of Social Welfare; Mrs. Melody Martin, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education; Mrs. Kate Jefferies, Education Advisor at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh, Director of Caritas Freetown; Mr. Dauda Sesay, THRIVE (FSI) Project Manager at Caritas Freetown; Dr.Theresa Betancourt, Director of the Research Program on Children and Adversity at Boston College; and Ms. Kashiya Nwanguma, Programme Manager at the same institution.
The workshop was structured into four core sessions designed to move discussions from contextual understanding to actionable strategies for scale. The first session focused on setting the context, establishing a shared understanding of Sierra Leone’s ECD landscape and policy direction. The second session examined the Family Strengthening Intervention pilot, presenting research findings and gathering feedback from frontline practitioners.
The third session explored the broader institutional landscape, mapping existing government systems to avoid duplication and identify opportunities for integration. The final session centred on synergy and dialogue, with emphasis on establishing coordinated mechanisms across sectors such as health, nutrition, hygiene, education, and social protection.
In conclusion, the workshop underscored a coordinated national effort to transition early childhood development initiatives in Sierra Leone from isolated pilot projects to a sustainable, nationwide framework. By aligning research evidence with government systems and community-based delivery, stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to building an integrated approach that supports the holistic development of children and strengthens the country’s long-term human capital outcomes.
