Advocacy

At ChildFund Sierra Leone and The Gambia, few names resonate with dedication and impact like Bando. With over 8 years of committed service, Bando currently serves as the Education Advisor, leading the organization’s Education for Protection and Wellbeing program model, a role that perfectly blends his passion for learning, protection, and child development. 

Bando began his journey with ChildFund in April 2016 as District Supervisor for the Post-Ebola Recovery Project in Koinadugu District, a role he held until September of that year. In January 2017, he transitioned to District Supervisor for the Global Fund Malaria Project, focusing on Behavior Change Communication (BCC), and served in this role until August 2017.

From August 2017 to September 2018, Bando was Project Officer overseeing program areas in Bombali, Tonkolili, and Kono. He was then transferred to Freetown in September 2018, where he served as Senior Program Officer for Child Protection, Education, Gender, and Advocacy until June 2019.

In July 2019, Bando was appointed Child Protection Specialist and later promoted to Child Protection and Advocacy Manager, a position he held from July 2020 to May 2023. In this capacity, he collaborated with several like-minded organizations to advance children’s rights, contributed to the review of the Child Rights Act, and supported child and youth advocates in engaging global decision-making platforms.

In 2023, Bando accompanied Foday, a child advocate, to the Africa Children Summit in Kenya, where Foday presented a position paper on behalf of his peers across the continent. Later that year, he also supported Foday in Lesotho, where the young advocate delivered the Africa Children Summit Outcome Statement at the 41st Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC).

“Supporting young voices like Foday’s on global and regional platforms has been one of the most rewarding parts of my work. Advocacy isn’t just about policy—it’s about presence. When children speak directly to decision-makers, it sends a powerful message that their voices matter and that their rights cannot be ignored,” said Bando. 

 “The opportunity to have led the Country Office Child Protection and Portfolio and managing Education programs at the same time was the peak of my professional journey in ChildFund. After a series of in-country engagements with the Child Advocates,  I must confess that the passion and the boldness of the child representatives to discuss the disturbing issues affecting them and seek the commitment of the different stakeholders at the national and continental levels remain a highlight in the role I played in policy advocacy. I am grateful that we have been contributing  for children to be“Seen, Heard and Engaged” 

In his current role, Bando Marah has been instrumental in shaping the future of education programming in both countries. With a deep commitment to learning and inclusion, Bando brings strategic, technical, and operational leadership to every facet of his work, ensuring that education initiatives are aligned with both Country Strategic Plan (CSP) and ChildFund’s Global Strategy. Over the years, Bando has led the design and execution of high-impact education projects, guided the development of concept notes and funding proposals, and provided technical mentorship to Education Specialists. His ability to bridge strategy and implementation has positioned ChildFund as a credible and trusted education partner in the region.

A key part of Bando’s leadership involves engaging donors and partners to build and sustain meaningful collaborations. Currently, he is spearheading a national education system strengthening initiative in Sierra Leone, working closely with the Ministries of Education to co-create a contextualized Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Framework for Primary Schools and Teacher Training Institutions (TTIs)—a groundbreaking effort that promises long-term impact.

He has also been instrumental in shaping the future direction of ChildFund’s work through his critical contributions to the review of the CSPs for both Sierra Leone and The Gambia.

“What I have enjoyed the most in my role as Education Advisor is the opportunity to lead the pilot and scale-up of the Education for Protection and Well-being (EPW) program in Sierra Leone and The Gambia, and to support its expansion into other Country Offices across Africa and Asia,” Bando shares.

“The EPW program is designed to improve protection, wellbeing and learning outcomes for children aged 6 to 12 years. The EPW program involves students, caregivers, and teachers in activities that build social-emotional learning (SEL), a key ingredient for meaningful and positive educational experiences,” says Marah.

“By focusing on both foundational learning and SEL, the program creates a safer, more supportive environment where children can thrive academically and grow personally. This marks a paradigm shift in how we approach education and child safety,”

“This has been a journey I embarked on with the mindset of leaving an indelible impact on the lives of students, their caregivers, and educators. The endline evaluation gives me hope. I feel proud to have led a dedicated team of staff and local partners to implement and expand this holistic program. The organic feedback from participants has been deeply fulfilling.”

Looking ahead, Bando is focused on advancing ChildFund’s education impact even further. He is actively leading efforts to design multi-million-dollar education proposals that will grow the grant portfolio and increase ChildFund’s influence in the development sector.

“In the coming years, I’m committed to providing strategic and technical leadership that not only strengthens education systems but also generates strong evidence of our impact in both countries. My goal is to ensure that our programs continue to change lives, especially for the most vulnerable children and families,” he says.