Strengthening CSOs for education governance in Sierra Leone

Improving access to quality education requires more than policy; it demands the active participation from civil society, government, and communities. The project “Promoting Equity and Access to Quality Education: A Citizen’s Engagement with Sierra Leone’s Free Quality School Education (FQSE)”put this principle into practice, culminating in its final learning event in Freetown on July 29th, 2025.

Funded by the European Union and implemented by the AVSI Foundation in partnership with the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR), the 30-month initiative strengthened civil society organizations (CSOs) across Falaba, Karene, Moyamba, Tonkolili, and Western Area Rural districts, enabling them to monitor, advocate, and influence education policies to ensure thar every child has equitable access to learning opportunities.

The project focused on enhancing the capacity of CSOs to engage effectively in education governance at both local and district levels. Activities included training CSO staff, supporting institutional development, fostering partnerships with district authorities, and structured engagement of community stakeholders in advocacy and monitoring processes. By positioning CSOs as informed and active partners, the project sought to enhance transparency, accountability, and responsiveness within the education sector. As a result, staff strengthened their skills in monitoring, advocacy, and program planning, while collaboration with district offices and communities grew.

At the institutional level, CSOs improved governance and management systems, introducing clearer procedures for grants, HR, procurement, and oversight that enhanced accountability and efficiency. Equally important, the project broadened community engagement by involving local stakeholders in advocacy and decision-making, ensuring that education policies reflected community perspectives and the needs of children and families.

Seen the incredible progress, the final learning event was more than a closing ceremony — it was a space of reflection, celebration, and renewed commitment. Over the course of the day, stakeholders revisited the journey of the project, shared achievements, and openly discussed the challenges that remain. Pride filled the room when districts were acknowledged for their progress; moments of laughter in Krio broke through formalities, reminding everyone that collaboration is built on trust and human connection. There were also quiet, powerful moments — like the nods of agreement when participants affirmed that every child has the right to learn without barriers.

The event concluded with concrete commitments for the future. Civil society organizations pledged to sustain collaboration with district authorities, ensuring that monitoring, advocacy, and citizen engagement remain active at the local level. District offices, in turn, reaffirmed their support for open dialogue and continued partnership with communities and CSOs.

Together, these commitments signaled that the project’s impact does not end here — it has laid the foundation for ongoing cooperation. The initiative taught us an important lesson: meaningful improvements in education governance are possible only when civil society, government, and communities share responsibility and act collectively.