Posted by Abdul Rashid

Gbense Chiefdom Holds Peace Gala

Fambul Tok supports football gala aimed at promoting peace and social cohesion under the UNDP Human security project at Yaadu Gbense in the Gbense chiefdom of Kono district, eastern #sierraleone.

Two teams compromising of youths from the various sections within the chiefdom are playing on non-competitive basis with football jerseys and other sporting equipment provided by Fambul Tok Interna

FT Lilian Morsay explains Peace and National Cohesion to players and Spectators

tional.

Team A and Team B in Group Photo

Project Officer and head of Peace Mothers Lilian Morsay sensitize players and spectators on political tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and non-violence elections. Bayafeh, Bayakor and  Monidefeh sections had Team A in Yellow and Bafinfeh and Moindikor sections of Team B in White. The match ends with jubilation by all sides.

 

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Lower Banta GRC Ends 2021 Elated

Grievance Redress Committee members were in good spirit today during their December monthly meeting in Mokelleh, Upper Banta chiefdom, Moyamba district, southern Sierra Leone.

L Banta GRC

Youth Leaders Reconcile

Most member’s outspokenly showered praise on the Peace Building project, especially, Fambul Tok and sponsors UNDP and WFP.

According to chiefdom youth chairman, John Ndoinje there is peace and unity in communities now more than before. He said in 2021 Sierra Rutile has released funds to affected communities which was delayed over the years. He added that through the work of GRCs in the chiefdom not many cases are now going to the chiefs

Mohamed Ansumana of Kinafallay section said through the project they as members of the GRC are now respected and recognize

Lower Banta GRC Members

d by community people. He cited an incident where the Chinese company Sierra Organic Farm had problem with land owners but through the efforts of GRCs and traditional leaders it was resolved peacefully

Jeneba Barbar of Songo section disclosed that the work of GRCs ensured the election of women’s leadership in the chiefdom

She said women were pushed behind but through the skills they have learnt from Fambul Tok engagements women today stand tall among men.

What climaxed the meeting was the peace and reconciliation sessions held to unite women youth chairlady and the new chiefdom women’s chairlady. Both have not being on speaking terms after the women’s elections.

The youth chairman too had problems with his deputy women’s youth leader. GRC members encouraged all parties to embrace peace and work in the interest of the people of Lower Banta.

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Women’s Trainings End For Lower And Upper Banta Chiefdoms

Women’s trainings for empowering women for visibility and active participation in mitigating conflicts in communities affected by land agriculture and mining companies end in Moyamba and Pujehun districts with support from UNDP  Sierra Leone, Office of the Vice President and Fambul Tok.

Lower Banta Women’s Training 

The first phase started at Mosenesie in Lower Banta chiefdom. It brings 40 women from both Lower and Upper Banta chiefdoms in Moyamba district

The training is led by Battu Jambawai from the office of Vice President and assisted by CARL and Fambul Tok

During today’s training, participants will be taught in various topics such as human rights, gender issues, land rights, conflict resolution, advocacy, leadership etc.

On Sunday stakeholders were met and discussions on issues affecting the two chiefdoms raised

Highlights of the stakeholders’ engagement included chieftaincy issue in Lower Banta, surface rents and compensation for land use by companies

Focus Group discussion was also held bringing 30 women together to discuss issues affecting them

On Tuesday November 25 men called male champions that are strongly supporting women’s activities were trained. Exchange visit of 20 women from Moyamba to Pujehun were done at the end of the week

Similar trainings were held for Malen and Makpele the following week

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Lower Banta Grievance Redress Committee Holds Monthly Meeting

Lower Banta GRC Members at Mosenesie

Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) members in Lower Banta chiefdom has just ended their last monthly meeting at Mosenesie, Moyamba district, southern Sierra Leone.

This meeting was very successful as Farmer Based Organizations in the WFP livelihood project also formed part of the meeting.

The gathering started with updates from all nine sections.

According to almost all sections no major issues have been recorded for the past quarter of 2021

Office of National Security boss in Lower Banta, Eric Dumbuya, said the chiefdom enjoys a peaceful atmosphere. He said one of the challenges has to do with the suspension of the chiefdom youth leader by the district youth leadership.

He said the Peace Building project has been so successful that there has been no road blocks mounted over the past one year.  He said, “The creation of GRCs was a big blessing to the people of Lower Banta”.

Farmers Based Organizations membership also highlighted successes especially in the livelihood project.

Councilor Solomon Lavalie was grateful to the Office of Vice President, Fambul Tok and both UNDP and WFP and called for the extension of the project duration.

Women’s leader Baby Keifala called on her colleagues in GRC and chiefdom leadership to continue their good interventions to restore peace and unity in all sections.

Project Officer Solomon Yarjoh on behalf of Fambul Tok and partners said he was happy to have the last meeting for 2021 with farmers, so that both GRCs and farmers, share knowledge and find possible solutions to challenges in their communities.

The meeting ended on strong hope of sustainability even after the close of the PBF project.

 

Posted by Abdul Rashid

MODEP Launches Kono District Development and Coordinating Committee

The Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development Rev. Dr. Jonathan Titus has officially launched the District Development Coo

MODEP Launches Kono DDCC

rdination Committee (DDCC) in Kono District at the District Council, Koidu City in southern Sierra Leone

The Deputy Minister commends the work of Fambul Tok in the community especially with regards to the rollout of the Wan Fambul National Framework and interventions in national cohesion and peace building in Kono district

According to the Deputy Minister the launching of the DDCC is one of the popularization of the mid-term plan which was conducted by the governm

Deputy Minister Launches DDCC

ent through the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development.

The launching ceremony was well attended by the Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, SDO, Chairman Kono District Council, MDAs, Core Staff, Council of Paramount Chiefs, Councilors, Civil Society Organizations representatives and the media among others

.

District Stakeholders & MDAs on High Table

Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development maintained that the DDCC will ensure smooth Coordination of government and partners implementing projects in the various Communities and to avoid duplication of projects in the same Communities.

 

He disclosed that the sixteen districts in Sierra Leone will review the DDCCs. The programme is a project supported by UNICEF Sierra Leone to ensure

synergy among project implementation, accountability, ownership and avoidance of duplication and wastage of donor funds.

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Minister Tamba Lamina Launches Soa Chiefdom Plan

Fambul Tok (FT) through the Wan Fambul National Secretariat and in collaboration with the Chiefdom Stakeholders and people of Soa chiefdom in Kono district and the Kono district Council and in the presence of other key Government Ministry representatives and, other development partners, officially facilitated the process of reviewing and validating the draft Chiefdom Plan for Soa chiefdom. The document which was put together through

International Advisory Team 

consultations with members of the various communities and sections within the Chiefdom reflects the developmental aspirations and needs of the Soa chiefdom people. It also highlights strategies for promoting peaceful coexistence in the chiefdom as well as the locally available human and material resources to be utilized in addition to supports from the government and its partners, through the district council, for the implementation of the plan.

According to Executive Director of Fambul Tok John Caulker, “This is the official launching of the Peoples Planning Process (PPP) as a government adopted and supported blue print for promoting a truly inclusive participation in development planning processes across all chiefdoms in the country, through the district councils”.

In attendance were the Senior District Officer of Kono district, the District Council Chairman and the councillors of Soa, Paramount Chief Tamba Emmanuel Torche Foyoh IV of Sao chiefdom, and a host of senior directors from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Ministry of Development and Economic Planning, Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Vice President. Also in attendance was a team from the USA and Canada representing the International Advisory Team for the National Wan Fambul National Framework, led by Catalyst for Peace (CFP) Libby Hoffman.

Various speakers expressed appreciation to  FT for the PPP initiative and called on the government to expedite its roll out across the country.

According Councilor Sahr Gbondo, Chairman of Kono District Council, the PPP approach goes beyond what council normally does in undertaking needs assessment and formulating their development plans.  This approach goes right down to the communities and it is truly participatory and all inclusive. He called on government to support FT and the Kono district council in extending the process to other chiefdoms in the district.

Statements were also made by the Director of Local Government Alex Bonapha Esq, the Director of Decentralization an

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Tamba Lamina Launches Soa Chiefdom Development Plan

d the Director of Finance in the Decentralization Department in the Ministry of Finance.

On the fo

llowing day visits were made to some sections to assess the impact of the PPP and Fambul Tok’s intervention in Soa chiefdom. The team witnessed community reconciliation through mediation by Community Welf

are and Mediation Committees and Peace Mothers

at Gbamandu in the Morfinkor section a

nd various other activities in other sections.

On the 17th of November, the Minister of Local

stakeholders

Government and Rural Development

Ambassador Tamba J. Lamina witnessed t

chiefdom participants

he formation and inauguration of the Soa chiefdom Development Coordinating Committee (CDCC).The event was climaxed with the official presentation of the validated Soa Chiefdom Plan to the minister by the chairman of Kono district council on behalf of the people of Soa for support in its implementation.

In his key note address, Mr. Lamina thanked Fambul Tok and the people of Soa for the great job and called on other partners to emulate the shining example of fusing peace promotion into development programs and in making planning processes truly inclusive and participatory.

 

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Fadugu Agric JSS Gets Peace Education Learning Materials

Fambul Tok Peace Club District Coordinator John kamara and team present Fambul Tok peace educational guide and club colours to the principal Umaru A Kallay, teacher coordinators (Mariama S Thoronka, Moses J Mansaray) and peace club members of Fadugu Agricultural Junior Secondary School in Kasunko- kakelain #chiefdom in #Koinadugu district northern #SierraLeone

Hawa Conteh FT staff doing the presentation of T-shirt and FT book to peace club members admonished them to be steadfast, diligent, law abiding and stand out as good models of peace ambassadors in the school and their communities.

The  principal of  FAJSS Mr Kallay said FT involvement in the club will enhance the character of the kids in the school as the Peace Ambassadors will compliment the efforts of the school to bring out the best in the kids to good citizens of the nation.

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Fambul Tok Boosts Peace Ambassadors in Daru

On the 19th October 2021, @fambultok team delivered FT assistance of 50 club colours and peace education guides and have refreshment with Peace Ambassadors of Wallace Agricultural Junior Secondary School Daru, Jawei Chiefdom, #Kailahun District, eastern #Sierra Leone. The ceremony was witnessed by 50 ambassadors (25 girls & 25 boys)-  2 club coordinators, school and the school principal.

Pujeh Domaina and Fatmata B. Samura, the peace club coordinators, appreciated FT for creating such awareness which will complement teachers work and promote peace building from childhood.

Juana Sannoh of 2 blue indicated that FT has made them belong to the school and the community at large.

Wallace JSS Daru

FT Staff Hands Over Learning Materials

Peace Club Members and Teacher Coordinators

He advised his colleagues to understand their position in the school and they must not misuse their membership identity given by FT. Salamatu Abdul another peace ambassador also emphasised their commitment to be outstanding in their school work.

@fambultok Lucia Brima admonished kids to be peaceful and serve as role models for #kailahun district. Lucia Brima encouraged peace ambassadors to realize what it takes to bringing peace, and that the only way to achieve good leadership is maintaining a voluntary exhibition of responsibilities.

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Fambul Tok And MoDEP  Discusses IDPDC Transformation Into DDCC 

Fambul Tok Executive Director John Caulker

MoDEP Acting Deputy Director of Rural Development Mbalu Kamara

MoDEP Heads of Departments in Discussion

Fambul Tok holds briefing sessions with the Ministry of Development and Economic Planning (MoDEP) senior staff on the Inclusive District Peace and Development Committee (IDPDC) transformation into the District Development & Coordinating Committee (DDCC) at MoDEP’s Tower Hill office.

Fambul Tok John Caulker explained about the lessons learnt in setting up and running of the inclusive district peace and development committees in the pilot districts of Koinadugu, Kailahun and Moyamba. He emphasised the role of the community in sustaining the structures in the community and at the district level.

Director of Rural Development Mr Samai commends the work of Fambul Tok and explains the meeting will look at how the IDPDC will roll into the DDCCs

MoDEP Acting Deputy Director of Rural Development Mbalu Kamara explained the role and composition of the DDCC and possible areas of integration and differences, particularly on the Women and Youth representatives.

Director of Planning Dr Sheka Bangura said the IDPDC/DDCC is just one layer in Wan Fambul National Framework, and the Framework is a government own process. He noted adjustment should not be a problem as the IDC is just a pilot in 3 districts which are going to phase out as government re-establishes DDCCs across the country.

The chairperson said the component of peace building must be included in the TOR of the DDCC and Fambul Tok should continue to work at the community and chiefdom level to provide linkages with the district level DDCC. He called for inclusion of more women in the DDCC.

Director NGO Affair s in MoDEP Eric Massalay said the work of FT is laudable and he sees no problem in the transformation of the IDPDC and DDCC. He stressed the need for more work at the community and chiefdom level.

The development partners called for another meeting to discuss for integration of IDC work into the DDCC and look at the gap between Village, chiefdom and district level. They said the meeting was helpful in creating a broader understanding of Fambul Tok’s work in the peace and development of Sierra Leone.

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Trainings for 9 Community Welfare & Mediation Committees in Soa Chiefdom

Fambul Tok staff working on the People’s planning Process (PPP) in Soa Chiefdom, Kono District completed Community Welfare and Mediation Committee (CWMCs) training session with village

CWMC Training

Overview of CWMC Training

representatives and sectional stakeholders in Soa chiefdom.  The purpose of the trainings is to equip local community members on community owned and led peace building and inclusive development approach through the Wan Fambul PPP approach. Nine trainings were held for 9 CWMCs in 9 sections in Soa Chiefdom (Sawabuma, Sawafiama, Tensedakor, Tensekor, Mongor, Maindu,  Mofinkor, Lower Kookongorkuma and Upper Kookongorkuma sections).

The trainings are part of the UNDP project: “Strengthening Human Security in the Remote Chiefdoms of Gbense, Soa, and Kamara in Kono District of Sierra Leone” implemented by Fambul Tok and FAO Sierra Leone.

Section chief Abdulai Johnny of Morfinkor presenting his welcome address thanked his people for their massive turn-out and encouraged them to feel free to discuss any issue they feel is a barrier to development in the section, even if it’s related to poor leadership on the side of the chiefs. To Fambul Tok, he said its presence in his section is very timely and highly welcomed. He revealed that Morfinkor is the highest producing section of plantains in Soa Chiefdom, but the most underdeveloped due to lack of peace. He urged his people to embrace Fambul Tok so that peace can prevail for development to proceed.

Soa CWMC Training FT Value

 CWMC Training: Fambul Tok Values

Dr. Ruben Lewis delivered a short speech to the participants and explained why Soa is the only Chiefdom selected for the PPP initiative in Kono District for now. He encouraged participants to submit their various communities’ development priorities/needs and strategies to address them.  Dr Ruben said lead trainer Emmanuel Mansaray will review and submit the plans to head office for appropriate actions at the end of the training.

Fambul Tok staff facilitate discussions on peace building topics such as mediation, reconciliation, communication, transparency, accountability, leadership, the Dos and Don’ts and, the core values of Fambul Tok

Group work were done on crises prevention or control, identification of community lingering issues and ways of addressing them, and identification of community development priorities or needs and strengths and strategies to address them.

Fambul Tok staff facilitated discussions on the broken cup illustration. In these discussions, participan

Soa CWMC Training Group

 CWMC Group Photo

ts discovered the relationships among peace, disputes/conflicts and development. The compared peace to a metaphorical a chair on which development sits.

The formation of CWMC executives climaxed the trainings. The newly elected CWMC executives were very excited for their new roles as community mediators and change agents for peace and sustainable development. The participants will go back to their communities and form Village Development Committees, identify community development needs and strategies for addressing them and report back to Fambul Tok through their newly formed CWMC person.

The senior section Chief of Soa Chiefdom in his farewell speech thanked the participants and encouraged them to make good use of the knowledge gained. He advised all to embrace peace and unity in their respective communities. He thanked Fambul Tok for selecting Soa Chiefdom among all the other chiefdom