Paramount Chiefs at the signing. Photo Credit: WA BiCC
Blog

Sierra Leone Re-Enforces its Commitment to the Effective Management of the Sherbro River Estuary

Oct 28, 2020
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By Darius Barrolle, Senior Communications Specialist   After 4 years of tireless efforts by the National Protected Areas Authority (NPAA) of Sierra Leone and the USAID-funded West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change (WA BiCC) program to strengthen local institutions for improved management of coastal Sierra Leone’s vast marine ecosystems, the Sherbro River Estuary (SRE) Co-Management…

19 people seated in a circle, listening to the radio drama.
Blog

Season 2 of Watasay Ston Radio Drama Successfully Passes Another Phase

May 13, 2020
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By Fatmata Katta   Behavior change communication (BCC) products such as radio dramas can be powerful tools to increase people’s knowledge and change their perceptions, attitudes and behaviors around social and environmental issues. To ensure the effectiveness of BCC products, however, it’s important to involve targeted communities in the production process and secure their ownership…

Blog

Earth Day Ghana 2020 Video Contest Results!

Apr 22, 2020
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The results are in for WA BiCC’s Earth Day Ghana 2020 Video Contests, organized in partnership with the Ghana Wildlife Division, A Rocha Ghana and Kali Etch! Altogether, WA BiCC received 70 submissions, all showcasing students’ creativity, smarts, and passion for protecting our planet. Check out the first-, second- and third-place winners and their videos!…

A picture of a man giving a speech at the high table between two other men.
News

Climate Information Training Helps Sierra Leone Better Tackle Climate Change

Mar 18, 2020
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By Fatmata Katta   For those charged with helping their countries both adapt to and combat climate change, understanding and being able to leverage climate information is critical. This is particularly true for Sierra Leone, recognized as the third most vulnerable country in the world to the effects of climate change. Thus, WA BiCC and…

Photo of the poster used to market the Watasay Stone radio drama series. It features a man pointing to a storm about the descend on the village, and comments on how storms like this could be prevented if the community stops cutting down mangrove trees.
News

WA BiCC and UNDP Scale Up Entertainment-Education Efforts to Increase Coastal Resilience to Climate Change in Sierra Leone

Mar 11, 2020
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By Darius Barrolle   Radio dramas are a part of Sierra Leone’s rich culture; hence, it is no surprise that “Watasay Ston,” a new radio drama series and form of entertainment-education, has quickly emerged as one of the most popular in the country. One reason behind its success is that all stakeholders, including the government,…

A man making a speech with a book in his hand.
News

Sierra Leone Commemorates World Wetlands Day with Climate Change Adaptation Plan

Feb 14, 2020
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By Fatmata Katta   Sierra Leone marked this year’s World Wetlands Day celebration with the launch of its Climate Change Adaptation Plan (CCAP), a document that WA BiCC played a key role in developing. The CCAP sets the framework for an adaptation plan that is geared towards increasing the resilience of coastal communities across Sierra…

A group of people standing together
News

Newly Elected Co-Management Committee Pledge to Protect Sierra Leone’s Sherbro River Estuary

Feb 10, 2020
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By Fatmata Katta   Sierra Leone’s Sherbro River Estuary (SRE) is rich in biodiversity, including turtles, manatees, sharks and crocodiles. Designated as one of the country’s four marine protected areas, the region is also reported to host about 58% of Sierra Leone’s total mangroves, and other coastal habitats in the region include beautiful sandy beaches,…

A group of people on a boat.
Blog

Mapping of the Sherbro River Estuary: A Step Toward Biodiversity Protection in Sierra Leone

Dec 04, 2019
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By Zebedee Njisuh, WA BiCC Landscape Manager The recent field mapping exercise of the Sherbro River Estuary (SRE) marked a fresh approach to field mapping in Sierra Leone; one that recognized community members as important stakeholders to environmental sustainability. The mapping activity is a collaborative effort among USAID’s West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change (WA…

Three people walking through a swampy area.
Blog

Behind the Scenes: Establishing Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Coastal Sierra Leone

Nov 05, 2019
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Written by Francis Reffell   When my team arrived in Bonthe Municipality, it felt like we’d landed in a rustic paradise, rife with the vestiges of its past colonial influence. Severely damaged infrastructure, caused by either abandonment or the civil war, littered the landscape. Despite my curiosity about the area, my team, composed of Seinya,…

A group of people posing for a photograph.
News

A New Radio Drama Series Launched to Increase Resilience to Climate Change in Coastal Sierra Leone

Sep 09, 2019
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Perhaps it was on the news, in an online campaign, or in a textbook. Whichever the case may be, it is unlikely you last learned about climate change while tuning in to your favorite radio drama. But residents of coastal communities in Sierra Leone can now experience this unique opportunity, thanks to the launch of…