- Our office: Freetown
- Our areas of focus: Health, empowering women and girls, media development, economic opportunity
- Our partners: , ,
- On social media: , and
About our work
Radio is still the most important source of information in Sierra Leone, but online access is growing quickly, particularly among young people. We’ve been working in Sierra Leone since 2007 on projects that span radio, mobile, social media and community discussion groups. We are proud to run Sierra Leone’s most popular Facebook page, which played a significant role in dispelling misinformation during the country’s 2018 and 2022 elections.
In 2019 we launched a bold new girls’ education and empowerment project – supporting radio stations across the country to create vibrant programming that challenges the discriminatory attitudes holding girls back from realizing their dreams. Our Kokotu Barray (Open Secret) radio drama addresses the challenges which girls often face in Sierra Leone - including relationships and teen pregnancy - while discussion programs feature girls' own success stories, to inspire others to return to education or training.
During the 2022 presidential and parliamentary elections in Sierra Leone, we recognized the need for media literacy training to a growing youth population who use social media every day and are at risk of being drawn into fake news, hate speech and disinformation. We trained bloggers, journalists and influencers on how to use social media responsibly and how to detect fake news. We also used our Facebook page to reach audiences on responsible use of social media and detecting and stopping mis- and disinformation and hate speech.
Our Women Arise and Shine project promotes women’s participation in social, economic, and political space and rights by increasing women’s access to economic resources and in decision-making processes. We provided technical support to a local radio partner (Radio Wanjei) to produce radio content, organise listening sessions and facilitate community discussions around women and girls’ empowerment.
We have also worked with GDI Hub and Koalaa to raise awareness of the power of assistive technology for people living with disabilities in Sierra Leone. Our film series, Hands On, features three amazing stories of how assistive technology has brought immense change in individuals’ lives, while highlighting their challenges.
Sierra Leone is also one of three countries of focus for our flagship media development project, PRIMED (Protecting Independent Media for Effective Development) - through which we are strengthening independent media to produce trusted public-interest journalism and generating evidence around what works in strengthening media viability.
Previously, our Tawa Fo Welbodi (Determined For Health) project provided trusted information and busted harmful myths about malaria, a disease which accounts for 40% of deaths outside hospital, and - during the COVID-19 pandemic- information about the virus and when and how to seek treatment. This project built on the expertise and insight our team gained during the 2014-15 Ebola crisis, when we worked closely and swiftly with media and NGO partners to provide life-saving information through radio discussion and drama programming, public service announcements, digital content and capacity strengthening.
Latest news from Sierra Leone
Our projects in Sierra Leone
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Empowering adolescent girls in Sierra Leone
There are 32,500 girls in Sierra Leone aged 13-17 who are not in school. Our project called Every Adolescent Girl Empowered and Resilient (EAGER) aims to aid in their transition to education, training or employment and inspire hope for their future. -
Protecting independent media for effective development
We are working with media support organisations and local partners to find out what works in supporting public interest media in Sierra Leone, Ethiopia and Bangladesh. -
Protecting pregnant women and children from malaria in Sierra Leone
Using insight from our response to the Ebola outbreak we're building awareness about malaria for those most at risk, using radio, TV, social media and community outreach. -
Using radio and television to inspire young people in Sierra Leone
Mi Stori (My Story) aims to inspire young people in Sierra Leone to be active, positive participants in their community through an interactive radio show and mini-documentaries championing positive role models.
Our insight and impact
Use our research library-
How radio can build a more supportive environment for girls’ education, learning and empowerment
This research briefing presents insights and recommendations from an evaluation of the reach, engagement and impact of two radio programmes produced by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Media Action for Every Adolescent Girl Empowered and Resilient (EAGER) project in Sierra Leone. -
Sierra Leone Media Landscape 2022
This media landscape research study was conducted by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Media Action under the EAGER project in Sierra Leone. -
Helping media partners better understand and engage their audiences
This summary looks at findings from ongoing research, under the PRIMED project, which helps media partners build a picture of audience profiles and needs, equipping them with insight to improve output. -
How a radio show sparks discussion and support for girls’ learning in Sierra Leone
Research findings show parents and adolescent girls feel more open to discussion and better equipped to make safe and positive choices, around sex, relationships, and issues in general, after listening to our radio show, 'Wae Gyal Pikin Tinap’. -
How is radio inspiring marginalised girls in Sierra Leone to develop their future?
This survey found that ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Media Action's weekly radio programme in Sierra Leone has inspired and motivated girls to carry on learning and encouraged family discussion around decisions affecting their future. -
How media and communication are helping to tackle malaria in Sierra Leone
Our research shows how media and communication can contribute to better malaria control and stronger take-up of health services among listeners in Sierra Leone. -
My Media Action films: Eastina Massaquoi, Sierra Leone
How ´óÏó´«Ã½ Media Action used radio to help stop myth and rumour during the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone. -
Research report: Communication in Sierra Leone - an analysis of media and mobile audiences
This paper looks at how adults in Sierra Leone use and access media and mobile phones. -
Research summary: Sierra Leone’s changing media landscape offers fresh opportunities for development communications
A ´óÏó´«Ã½ Media Action survey reveals new opportunities for reaching audiences across Sierra Leone. -
Research report: Exploring the role of communication in community health
This paper reviews research innovation in the form of pioneering field experiments in the media and political development sector. -
Research summary: How did local radio stations support their communities during the Ebola crisis?
How ´óÏó´«Ã½ Media Action helped tackle Ebola by supporting local radio stations in Sierra Leone. -
Research briefing: How do debate programmes influence knowledge of key governance issues and political participation?
This research briefing explores levels of knowledge of key governance issues and political participation amongst radio listeners in Sierra Leone. -
My Media Action films: Amara Bangura, Sierra Leone
Why ´óÏó´«Ã½ Media Action's Amara Bangura was inspired to report on the Charles Taylor trial. -
My Media Action films: Mariama Fornah, Sierra Leone
How ´óÏó´«Ã½ Media Action is using radio to help cocoa farmers in Sierra Leone. -
My Media Action films: Ed Kargbo, Sierra Leone
´óÏó´«Ã½ Media Action's work in training volunteers at a radio station in Sierra Leone.
Past projects and resources
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Wi Di Pipul: Improving access to education, health and social services through radio
A radio show focusing on the country’s health, education and social care sector – reporting problems, as well as discussing and sharing solutions. -
Tok Bot Salone: Encouraging debate in Sierra Leone
A radio debate programme enabling Sierra Leoneans to ask questions of their leaders and discuss issues of national and local importance. -
Kicking out Ebola
´óÏó´«Ã½ Media Action responded swiftly to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone with life-saving information, relevant radio programming and comprehensive training for broadcasters. -
Improving maternal and child health through mobile technology
How mobile technology can improve maternal health in Sierra Leone by training community health workers. -
Getting leaders to listen in Sierra Leone
Radio discussion programme Fo Rod (At the Crossroads) provides a platform for debate and a chance for people to hold their leaders to account. -
Radio for women's rights
Between 2014-16 a radio drama and discussion programme explored women’s rights and their access to legal services in Sierra Leone. -
Rebuilding cocoa farmers’ skills in Sierra Leone
From 2011 to 2015 a creative combination of radio programming, community work and distance learning targeted cocoa farmers in Eastern Sierra Leone. -
Communicating justice: reporting the trial of Charles Taylor
West African journalists trained by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Media Action reported on the trial of the former Liberian president from The Hague.