The International Organization for Migration Sierra Leone, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Sierra Leone and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force Secretariat have signed documents for the 2026 ECOWAS Grant for Direct Assistance to Victims of Trafficking.
The documents were signed in Freetown on Thursday, 6 August 2026, reaffirming the partners’ shared commitment to protecting and assisting survivors of human trafficking in Sierra Leone and across the West African region.
The US$35,000 grant will support 55 beneficiaries, comprising nine girls, four boys, 40 women and two men living in shelters and communities across Sierra Leone.
Funded by the Economic Community of West African States, the project, titled: “Protection of Victims of Trafficking,” is designed to strengthen survivor-centred protection and assistance systems in the country.
The initiative will help victims of trafficking gain access to essential care, protection, rehabilitation and other support services required to rebuild their lives and reintegrate into their communities.
The Request for Proposal documents were approved and signed by members of the Grant Steering Committee to formally begin the implementation process.
The Steering Committee includes the Executive Director of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force Secretariat, Dehunge Shiaka; the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Sierra Leone, His Excellency Ambassador John Azuma; and the Officer-in-Charge of the International Organization for Migration Sierra Leone, Dr. Pauline Macharia.
The 2026 intervention marks the second ECOWAS project grant supporting efforts against human trafficking in Sierra Leone. It also represents another important step in implementing the ECOWAS Regional Policy on the Protection and Assistance of Victims of Trafficking in Persons in West Africa.
Through the project, the institutions will work together to improve the systems responsible for identifying, protecting and assisting victims of trafficking while ensuring that survivors receive support based on their individual needs.
Human trafficking remains a serious challenge affecting vulnerable people, particularly women and children. Survivors often require accommodation, medical assistance, counselling, legal support and livelihood opportunities to recover from their experiences and rebuild their lives.
The latest ECOWAS grant is expected to strengthen the capacity of relevant institutions and service providers to deliver coordinated and effective assistance to victims in shelters and communities throughout Sierra Leone.
The partnership among ECOWAS, the International Organization for Migration and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Task Force Secretariat demonstrates a collective determination to protect survivors, strengthen national response systems and advance the fight to end human trafficking.
