The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has appointed Sierra Leone’s Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt as the global chairperson for women in tourism.
Her appointment to chair the global platform for women in tourism is in recognition of her dedication, commitment and developmental strides in the improvement of tourism especially in Sierra Leone.
As a specialized UN agency in the field of tourism, UNWTO is committed to enhancing the positive impact of tourism development on women’s lives and, in so doing, contributing to the development of the fifth sustainable development goal “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”
Since her appointment as Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs by President Julius Maada Bio in 2018, Dr. Memunatu Pratt has positioned the sector both locally and internationally by implementing programs aimed at increasing domestic tourism, marketing the destination and attending international tourism trade fairs. The Ministry under her watch has gained the support and confidence of donor partners, UNDP, EIF and the World Bank who have been very instrumental in the implementation of the activities of the Ministry and its agencies.
Dr. Pratt’s appointment as the global chairperson for women in tourism by UNWTO will add to the plethora of local and international accolades she has received for her outstanding performance in tourism and women empowerment.
Dr. Pratt pioneered the establishment of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, where she served as a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department for close to 24 years.
She was also a Visiting Professor to Hiroshima University and Hiroshima Peace builder’s Centre in Japan for over 7 years. She also served as a Visiting Professor and resource person to several universities in Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States.
She has over 15 years’ experience in Peace, Conflict Gender, Security and International Studies. She has a number of publications to her name and she is a recipient of the National Prestigious Insignia Award as Grand Officer of the Order of the Rokel (GOOR) from the Republic of Sierra Leone.
