UN Women’s Regional Director in Sierra Leone to Boost Partnerships for Gender Equality

Dr Maxime Houinato, the UN Women’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, arrived in Sierra Leone on February 16, 2026, for an official mission that will last until February 21, 2026. The visit is intended to expedite high-level partnerships with Sierra Leone’s government and development partners, as well as to accelerate progress toward gender equality and women’s empowerment throughout the country. During the mission, Dr Houinato will attend several high-level somencluding thomany Excellency the President, Dr Julius Maada Bio, selected Cabinet ministers, and diplomatic personnel. He will also meet with a diverse range of civil society stakeholders, including women’s rights organisations, women’s groups, female leaders, and young activists. These consultations are intended to provide Dr Houinato with a firsthand understanding of Sierra Leonean women’s and girls’ challenges, needs, and aspirations, as well as to identify opportunities for increased collaboration between UN Women, the government, and local partners. The work plan includes engagements in both Freetown and district locations, culminating in multi-stakeholder discussions with policymakers, development partners, and changemakers from various sectors. These forums are expected to focus on practical, timely solutions for gender-responsive development, as well as to reinforce commitments to ensuring that all Sierra Leonean women and girls can live free of violence, lead in public life, and thrive economically. Dr Houinato’s visit demonstrates UN Women’s commitment to strengthening partnerships at the national and subnational levels to achieve measurable progress in women’s rights and gender equality. It also marks Dr Houinato’s return to Sierra Leone, where he had previously visited in a different capacity about a decade before being appointed Regional Director for West and Central Africa. Dr Houinato has been appointed Regional Director for West and Central Africa, effective September 1, 2024. She has extensive regional and country-level experience in gender and development work. He was UN Women’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa from 2021 to 2024, having previously served as Country Representative in Uganda (2018-2021) and Mali (2014-2018), where he contributed to significant portfolio growth and improved cooperation. From 2008 to 2014, he was UN Women’s Deputy Regional Director for WCARO in Dakar. Dr Houinato has decades of experience in international development, in addition to her role with UN Women. Between 2000 and 2008, he served as Oxfam UK’s Deputy Regional Director (West Africa) and Regional Director (Southern Africa), and he has worked with other international NGOs such as Catholic Relief Services, Africare, and the Academy for Educational Development. He has professional experience in Benin, Ghana, Senegal, Niger, the United Kingdom, and Thailand. Dr Houinato has served on the UN Development Group’s Regional Quality & Support Assurance (QSA) Team in West Africa and has made significant contributions to the UN’s “Deliver as One” model. Throughout his career, he has contributed to the development and implementation of legislation, public policies, and large-scale programs aimed at promoting women’s leadership, increasing women’s participation in business and critical value chains, and ending violence against women and girls. Dr Maxime Houinato earned a PhD in Applied Sociology from Cheikh Anta Diop University (Senegal), an MBA from Abomey-Calavi University (Benin), and an MA in International Development from Brandeis University (USA).