By Saidu Jalloh, Daily Scope
On November 12, 2025, Dr. Isata Mahoi, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, visited Reykjavík for a pivotal meeting with Ms. Þórunn Sveinbjarnardóttir, Speaker of the Icelandic Parliament.
Speaker Sveinbjarnardóttir warmly welcomed Dr. Mahoi, highlighting the strong bilateral relations between Iceland and Sierra Leone while praising the West African nation’s strides in gender equality and development.
During the discussions, Dr. Mahoi outlined Sierra Leone’s post-conflict transformation and the government’s commitment to inclusive governance, as detailed in the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030). She emphasized the “Big Five Game Changers,” particularly the Feed Salone initiative and Human Capital Development, as central to the nation’s development strategy.
Highlighting Iceland as an exemplar in women’s advancement, Dr. Mahoi noted significant legislative milestones, including the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act (2022), the Public Elections Act (2022), and the Political Parties Regulation Commission Act (2022), which mandate a minimum of 30% representation of women in governance. She expressed gratitude to the Icelandic government for its ongoing support through UNFPA and UN Women, particularly in areas like gender equality, fisheries sector capacity building, and educational initiatives aimed at boosting girls’ enrollment and retention in schools.
In response, Speaker Sveinbjarnardóttir reaffirmed Iceland’s dedication to sustaining its official development assistance (ODA), stating, “We are a small country but very rich.” She reflected on Iceland’s 50-year commitment to gender equality and underscored the importance of education in empowering women.
The Speaker commended Sierra Leone’s progress and expressed optimism for ongoing collaboration in promoting women’s empowerment and education.
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