Freetown: Save the Children, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and the Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency (SLMeT), convened a high-level validation meeting on district emergency preparedness and response plans aimed at strengthening climate and disaster resilience in vulnerable communities across Sierra Leone.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the meeting took place at Brookfields Hotel in Freetown and brought together officials from Save the Children, NDMA, SLMeT, representatives from Pujehun District and Western Area Rural District, civil society organizations, women and youth groups, and other disaster management stakeholders. The engagement focused on improving coordination and strengthening response mechanisms for climate-related hazards and emergencies.
Chairing the session, NDMA Deputy Director Gerald King welcomed participants and underscored the importance of collaboration in strengthening disaster preparedness, particularly in communities most vulnerable to recurring disasters. NDMA Chief of Operations Kai Banya highlighted the district emergency preparedness and response plans as important tools for improving coordination during disasters and humanitarian emergencies and commended Save the Children for their support.
The plans focus specifically on Pujehun District and Western Area Rural District, where community-based workshops engaged children's groups, women-led organizations, youth groups, and other local stakeholders. The consultations addressed weather forecasting, early warning systems, disaster risk management, gender inclusion, and climate-related hazards affecting vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.
Francis Oppong, Chief of Party for the Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project, praised NDMA for its disaster response efforts nationwide and called for stronger institutional collaboration to improve recovery, resilience, and emergency response systems. He reaffirmed Save the Children's commitment to supporting disaster preparedness through the Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project, implemented in several districts with support from the Icelandic Embassy.
SLMeT Director General Gabriel Kpaka emphasized the critical role of meteorological information in disaster preparedness and climate resilience, noting the importance of accurate weather forecasting for communities relying on timely information. He also highlighted the need for inclusive planning processes prioritizing vulnerable populations, especially children and indigenous communities.
Representatives from Western Area Rural District and Pujehun District expressed their commitment to implementing the preparedness plans, describing the validation process as vital for strengthening readiness and response systems. Michael Thomas-Farboh of the Pujehun District Security Committee commended the initiative and pledged to share the information to improve awareness and readiness for future climate emergencies.
During the technical presentation of the Western Area Rural District Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan 2026, NDMA Gender and Social Inclusion Coordinator Erica Konneh outlined key implementation strategies, focusing on hazard identification training, social inclusion, risk communication, and early warning systems. She identified Western Area Rural District as highly disaster-prone and emphasized the need for coordinated response mechanisms.
Konneh outlined NDMA's mandate to provide technical guidance in disaster preparedness by integrating healthcare workers, local authorities, traditional leaders, and emergency response agencies into response structures. The response framework includes core pillars such as WASH, logistics, coordination, social mobilization, safety, and assessments, aimed at ensuring effective multi-sectoral disaster response.
NDMA Deputy Director of Communications Philomina Turay highlighted the importance of preparedness communication strategies and early warning systems to mobilize support for victims of climate-related disasters. The event concluded with the symbolic handover of the draft preparedness plans to district representatives.
NDMA Director General John V. Rogers delivered the keynote address, reflecting on past disasters and welcoming the partnership as a timely effort to enhance preparedness and response systems. He stressed the significance of the document for future response mechanisms and called for coordinated efforts among disaster management institutions.
The meeting concluded with a call for sustained collaboration among disaster preparedness partners to strengthen resilience and improve response mechanisms in Sierra Leone's disaster-prone communities.