By: Saidu Jalloh
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, engaged with the Food Systems Resilient Project (FSRP) management to discuss collaborative efforts in disaster risk reduction, data management, and beneficiary mapping for the 2024 flooding events in Sierra Leone.
During the meeting, the NDMA outlined its priorities and presented a proposal for FSRP support in conducting a comprehensive assessment to measure the impact of recent nationwide floods, which led to widespread farmland destruction and building collapses. The assessment will gather data on affected farmland areas, damaged crops, destroyed buildings, and critical infrastructure in impacted communities. The results will assist FSRP in providing targeted agricultural support to affected farmers and help NDMA identify households and communities needing potential future interventions.
FSRP’s support of the NDMA falls under Component 1 of the project: “Digital Advisory Services for Agriculture and Food Crisis Prevention & Management.” This component aims to strengthen the agriculture sector’s climate resilience and enable effective management and prevention of food crises through the development and provision of demand-driven data, information, and advisory services, thereby enhancing evidence-based decision-making in managing food security.
Mrs. Oliamatu Sadiya Abdulai, the Environmental Specialist and head of Component 1 at FSRP, welcomed the NDMA team and expressed satisfaction with the ongoing partnership. She stated that FSRP is committed to working closely with NDMA until the project’s successful conclusion.
FSRP Project Manager Dr. Kepifri Lakoh acknowledged NDMA’s proposal and guided refining it to meet FSRP’s project standards. He said the FSRP will review and respond accordingly. He further emphasized that such an assessment will aid his project in responding to the needs of farmers for the upcoming year. “The data will guide us in determining the appropriate response and the level of intervention needed to assist affected farmers next year,” Dr. Lakoh stated.
The FSRP has been instrumental in supporting the NDMA through several key initiatives, including hiring a consultant to harmonize data collection across NDMA and its partner agencies, providing vehicle support to enhance NDMA’s data collection capabilities, developing a national Food Crisis Preparedness Plan for the Ministry of Agriculture—a critical document designed to set triggers for early warnings on potential food crises—equipping NDMA’s regional offices with tablets to digitize data collection, replacing the existing paper-based system that hampers emergency response efficiency, and supporting the monthly publication of disaster risk bulletins.
Representing the NDMA, Deputy Director General John Vandy Rogers underscored the significance of the proposed flood assessment in strengthening the agency’s ability to compile accurate beneficiary data for future disaster responses. He was joined by Abu Bakarr Bangura, Director of Research, M&E; Sinneh Mansaray, Director of Relief and Response; and Mohamed L. Bah, Director of Communications.
This fruitful discussion marks a pivotal step in the collaboration between NDMA and FSRP, as both entities work to bolster Sierra Leone’s resilience to disaster risks and improve data management for more informed decision-making.