By: Audrey Raymonda John
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) on July 3, 2025, engaged in a strategic meeting with the Indian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, H.E. B. C. Pradhan to discuss the development and deployment of a state-of-the-art Early Warning System (EWS) aimed at strengthening Sierra Leone’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities.
The meeting, held at the Indian High Commission on 32B Wilkinson Road, Freetown, follows a formal proposal submitted by the Indian Commission two weeks earlier, signalling the Indian Government’s intent to provide technical expertise and institutional support to the NDMA in enhancing its disaster risk management and early warning infrastructure.
Welcoming the NDMA delegation, High Commissioner Pradhan praised the agency’s leadership in managing disasters across Sierra Leone.
“Coming from a disaster-prone country like India, I know firsthand how critical a robust early warning system can be in saving lives and property,” said Commissioner Pradhan. “The Government of India is committed to supporting Sierra Leone with a model system that could serve as a benchmark in the sub-region.”
Responding to the remarks, NDMA Director-General, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Brima Sesay, expressed sincere gratitude for India’s willingness to support the agency’s operational improvements. He highlighted key achievements of the NDMA, including the establishment of regional, district, and chiefdom disaster management committees, as well as regional offices in Bo, Kenema, Port Loko, Makeni, and Freetown.
The Director-General further noted that since its establishment in 2020, the NDMA has responded to over 50,000 disaster victims and implemented numerous risk reduction initiatives.
“This initiative comes at a time when the Agency is grappling with several challenges, including limited early warning infrastructure, storage facility constraints, shortages of relief items, and inadequate operational vehicles,” Lt. Gen. Sesay stated. “We are deeply grateful for India’s support, which aligns perfectly with our capacity-building priorities.”
Commissioner Pradhan also revealed that the Indian Government has already engaged a specialized company to implement the Early Warning System project. The next steps include: selection of key government institutions to support implementation, virtual coordination meeting with the Indian service provider, signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries,
Full project implementation, and a capacity-building phase involving staff training both in Sierra Leone and India.
The entire project is expected to last between seven to fifteen months following the signing of the MoU.
This initiative marks a significant step forward in strengthening Sierra Leone’s disaster management framework and highlights the growing bilateral cooperation between Sierra Leone and India.