The Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency (SLMET) received a significant donation from Action Against Hunger (AAH) on Thursday, February 8th, 2024. The donation, facilitated by Irish-Aid through AAH, includes a motorbike, computers, and other accessories. These resources are earmarked for the establishment of an Agromet Station within the Ministry of Agriculture Compound in Mattru Jong, Bonthe District.
This initiative is part of a broader effort aimed at climate change adaptation and mitigation through improved access to quality weather information, ecological management, and sustainable climate-resilient farming practices in the Bonthe District. The Agromet weather station is scheduled for installation early in 2024 and will serve both the Jong and Imperi Chiefdoms. Additionally, it will support 30 farmer-based organizations and establish school clubs in thirty schools across the two chiefdoms, providing them with climate-smart information.
Gabriel Kpaka, Deputy Director General and Head of Operations at SLMET, expressed gratitude for AAH’s support, highlighting the successful pilot phase in Moyamba Town. He emphasized the importance of the project in ensuring sustainability and local ownership, especially through the establishment of Community Advocacy Committees (CACs) to disseminate weather information at the grassroots level.
Christiana Momoh, Grants and Partnership Coordinator for AAH, praised SLMET’s commitment to climate change efforts and highlighted the longstanding partnership between the two institutions. She noted that the expansion to Bonthe District follows previous collaboration in Moyamba District from 2022 to 2023.
The handing over ceremony concluded with photographs and the transportation of the donated items to SLMET’s F18 Charlotte Street Office in Freetown.
This initiative underscores the importance of collaboration between governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and international partners in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development.
