What is the main problem the project is seeking to address? In Sierra Leone, thousands of children, especially in remote border districts such as Kambia, Kailahun, and Pujehun, are born without official proof of identity or nationality. Many are children of cross-border families, orphans, or born outside of health facilities where registration services are limited. Without a birth certificate, these children remain legally invisible, denied access to education, healthcare, and protection, and at risk of statelessness. The weak civil registration system, long distances to registration centers, lack of awareness, and cultural and gender barriers further compound the problem. Mothers, in particular, often face restrictions when attempting to register their children without a father present, reflecting persistent gender discrimination in nationality processes. This exclusion perpetuates a cycle of vulnerability, poverty, and marginalization, leaving affected children and youth without a legal identity or sense of belonging. Despite Sierra Leone’s commitment to the UNHCR Global Action Plan to End Statelessness and the Sustainable Development Goals (especially SDG 16.9 on legal identity for all), implementation at the community level remains limited. The project seeks to close this gap by ensuring that every child’s right to identity and nationality is respected, preventing statelessness, promoting inclusion, and strengthening national systems to recognize and protect all children, regardless of their origin or status.

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What is the main change the project seeks to achieve? The project seeks to ensure that every child in Sierra Leone, particularly in border and underserved communities, has a recognized legal identity and protection from statelessness. The 4 desired change is to transform communities where many children are “invisible before the law” into inclusive spaces where every child is counted, protected, and able to access basic rights such as education, healthcare, and social services. This change will be achieved by strengthening local and national systems for birth registration and legal identity through community-based interventions. The project will deploy mobile birth registration clinics in collaboration with the National Civil Registration Authority, train youth legal advocates and paralegals to support families, and conduct awareness campaigns that empower parents, especially mothers, to register their children. At the policy level, the project will facilitate dialogue among government officials, civil society, and traditional leaders to promote reforms that make nationality laws more inclusive and gender-responsive. The expected impact is a significant reduction in the number of unregistered and stateless children, improved access to rights and services, and increased community and government commitment to legal identity for all. Ultimately, the project aims to build a society where no child is left stateless, ensuring recognition, dignity, and belonging for the most vulnerable.

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Who are the key partners? The project will be led by the West Africa Youth and Children’s Advocacy Network – Sierra Leone, a youth-led civil society organization dedicated to advancing child rights, gender equality, and social justice. WAYCAN-SL will serve as the lead implementing organization, coordinating community engagement, youth advocacy, and monitoring efforts. Key national partners include the National Civil Registration Authority, responsible for civil registration and vital statistics, which will co-lead mobile registration campaigns and provide technical guidance; and the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, which will support policy advocacy and integration into national child protection frameworks. At the local level, partnerships will be established with district councils, chiefdom authorities, schools, and community child protection committees to facilitate outreach and ensure the sustainability of these initiatives. Internationally, the project will engage with UNHCR, a member of the Global Alliance to End 5 Statelessness, for technical support, data collaboration, and alignment with the Global Action Plan to End Statelessness 2.0. Additional engagement will be pursued with UNICEF and Plan International Sierra Leone, which are active in child protection and birth registration initiatives. Civil society and media partners, including youth networks, women’s groups, and local radio stations, will contribute to awareness-raising and community mobilization. These partnerships will ensure a coordinated, inclusive, and sustainable response to statelessness in Sierra Leone. The project seeks to ensure that every child in Sierra Leone, particularly in border and underserved communities, has a recognized legal identity and protection from statelessness. The desired change is to transform communities where many children are invisible before the law.

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Who is the target population for this project? PrimaryThe project primarily targets stateless and at-risk children and youth in Sierra Leone, particularly in the rural border districts of Kambia, Kailahun, and Pujehun. This includes: Children born outside of health facilities without birth registration Children of cross-border families who face nationality or documentation barriers Orphans and vulnerable children whose parents or guardians are unable to secure legal identity Children affected by gender discrimination in nationality and registration processes These populations are often invisible to government services and at high risk of exclusion from education, healthcare, and social protection due to lack of legal identity. The project will prioritize marginalized groups, including girls, ethnic minorities, and children living in remote or underserved communities.

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OtherThe secondary beneficiaries include: Parents and caregivers who face challenges navigating the birth registration and nationality process, Youth legal advocates and community paralegals trained to support families in accessing legal identity services Local authorities, traditional leaders, and civil society actors engaged in birth registration and child protection activities Policymakers and government officials involved in nationality, civil registration, and child rights policies By targeting both primary and secondary populations, the project ensures direct and systemic impact, empowering communities to prevent statelessness and sustain inclusive access to legal identity.

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Funding and costs What is the total cost of this project?95,000 USD

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How much funding is needed?95,000 USD

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