By Davida Spaine-Solomon
Freetown, 16th April 2026— The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) has initiated steps to revive collaboration with leading civil society organizations aimed at improving access to information across Sierra Leone.
The move followed a high-level meeting convened by RAIC Chairman and Information Commissioner Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, which brought together six prominent civil society groups. These include Transparency International Sierra Leone, Budget Advocacy Network, Centre for Human Rights and Development International, Network Movement for Youth and Children’s Welfare, FORWARD Sierra Leone, and Campaign for Good Governance.
The meeting, described as a preliminary engagement, focused on establishing a structured partnership to support the Commission’s growing workload and to strengthen nationwide awareness and implementation of the Right to Access Information law.
Proposed Coalition Framework
A key outcome of the discussions was an agreement in principle for the six organizations to form an independent coalition. While maintaining autonomy over their internal operations, the coalition is expected to collaborate closely with RAIC on activities promoting access to information.
Participants also reviewed and endorsed a draft Terms of Reference (ToR), outlining priority areas of cooperation. These include public awareness campaigns, media engagement, capacity building, fundraising initiatives, joint programming, and enforcement of proactive disclosure obligations under the Right to Access Information Act of 2013.
The coalition’s membership will, for now, remain limited to the six founding organizations, with provisions for future expansion to include provincial civil society actors.
Next Steps
Despite progress made during the session, stakeholders stopped short of finalizing the partnership framework. The meeting was adjourned to allow the participating organizations to conduct internal consultations on the draft ToR and refine proposals regarding the coalition’s structure and scope.
A follow-up meeting with RAIC is expected once the civil society groups complete their review process.
Observers say the initiative, if successfully implemented, could significantly strengthen transparency, accountability, and public access to information in Sierra Leone, particularly as demand for open governance continues to grow.
