Community leaders, civil society organisations and development stakeholders in Port Loko District have pledged to support a project by the Women’s Advocacy and Agricultural Development Organisation (WAADO) aimed at strengthening the economic resilience and leadership of women, young people and persons with disabilities.
The commitment was made during a district stakeholder engagement organised by WAADO to discuss the implementation of its Strengthening Economic Resilience and Leadership of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities project.
Funded by the Government of Iceland through UN Women, the initiative covers five chiefdoms across five districts in Sierra Leone. It seeks to improve participants’ financial independence, build their leadership capacities and increase their involvement in community decision-making.
A key component of the project is the establishment and revival of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), which will enable participants to save money, access small loans and invest in income-generating activities. The initiative will also provide training in leadership and governance and raise awareness of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act.
WAADO Executive Director Doris Fatima Webber said the project was designed to address financial barriers that prevent many women from expanding their businesses and improving their livelihoods, particularly difficulties in accessing formal loans due to collateral requirements.
She explained that community savings groups would provide participants with opportunities to build savings and access funds to support their businesses, while leadership training would help them play a more active role in community affairs.
Stakeholders at the engagement welcomed the initiative and emphasised the importance of collaboration to ensure its effective implementation and accessibility to intended beneficiaries.
Mariatu Songo Kanu, District Coordinator of the Women’s Forum in Port Loko District, said the project could help women grow their businesses and improve their families’ financial circumstances. She commended WAADO and its funding partners for supporting the initiative.
A representative of the Port Loko District Council also welcomed WAADO’s contribution to community development, noting that the project could complement local efforts to expand opportunities for vulnerable and underserved groups. The Town Chief of Lunsar in Marampa Chiefdom similarly expressed support for the initiative and highlighted the importance of community involvement in development programmes.
Abu Kemoh Sesay, North West Regional Coordinator of the National Youth Commission, drew attention to unemployment and limited livelihood opportunities among young people, urging them to take advantage of the project’s activities.
Abu Bakarr Kimbo, Chairman of the Civil Society Forum in Port Loko District, pledged support for monitoring the savings groups, stressing that effective oversight would be essential to ensuring transparency, accountability and sustainability.
John Kanu, Coordinator of Persons with Disabilities in Port Loko District, called for the meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities, particularly in accessing financial services, skills training and leadership opportunities.
The engagement concluded with stakeholders expressing their willingness to support the project’s implementation across the targeted districts and chiefdoms.
The initiative is expected to expand access to community-based financial services, strengthen leadership capacity and promote greater participation by women, young people and persons with disabilities in local development.