Posted by Abdul Rashid

Makpele Chiefdom Women Dialogue On Peace And Development

Fambul Tok facilitates Women’s Dialogue at the Community Center in Zimmi town, Makpele chiefdom, Pujehun District, southern Sierra Leone. Sixty women’s representatives were drawn from the four sections of Kengo, Selimeh, Samagbe, and Seitua. The minister of state, fambulTok staff and other representatives from the office of the vice president were all in attendance for the women’s dialogue on 30th August 2021. This is part of the UNPBF project “Mitigating local resource based conflicts and increasing community resilience

MOS OVP Francess Alghalie

Making the Keynote address, the Minister of State Office in the Office of the Vice President, Francess Algalie, said she feels delightful to see women showing willingness to express their views as road map to bridge divisions among communities and

Makpele Women’s Dialogue Session

personal issues within the chiefdom. She discloses to Makpele chiefdom women the importance of gender mainstreaming in conflict mitigation. She further stated that the inclusivity of women in the decision-making process in development projects in the communities and the chiefdom as a whole would enhance sustainable peace and development, because behind ‘every successful man there is a strong woman’. The minister admonished all the women to stand firm and find local solutions to Makpele issues. She encourages all the women to form a working committee, in which all the four sections should be involved to engage the paramount chief and other stakeholders to advocate for women inclusion in the decision-making process in the entire chiefdom.

Fambul Tok Joseph M Kargbo welcomed all and admonished them to feel free to express their views. ‘The dialogue is exclusively for women to discuss the outstanding issues identified during Grievance Redress Committee (GRC)

meetings and dialogue sessions in Makpele and Pujehun; and to find recommendations for those issues to engender peaceful co – existence in Makpele chiefdom’.

Madam Hawa Conteh, Fambul Tok Peace Mother’s Coordinator, in facilitating the dialogue stated that, women are important in any conflict resolution and development project in communities and chiefdoms. She encouraged women to speak up, look into the identified issues and find solutions. She further read out the outstanding issues identified during the past sessions.

In an interactive discussion, Madan Adama Konneh of Zimmi town expressed her gratitude to Fambul Tok’s relentless job for creating the platform for women to be seen at the front and amplify their voices for sustainable development in the chiefdom. Madam Conteh demonstrated “the broken cup” illustration; explaining that if communities are not united, they won’t be able to mobilize resources for themselves, but if communities come together, they will mobilize resources and embrace development.

Madam Gitta Kanneh, the chiefdom Mammy Queen thanks Fambul Tok for creating such a wonderful interactive dialogue for women to speak up and be part of the peace process in the chiefdom. She continues that the exclusion of women in participating in development projects in the chiefdom is still going on. “I’m pleading to Fambul Tok and her partners to continue to support women to become resilient in our various communities”, Madam Jitta said.

CDC member Umu Sowa stated that one of the issues, affecting the development of the chiefdom, is misinformation that sometimes makes it difficult to mobilize as women to speak in one voice to stakeholders.

Jebbeh Gbosowa whose land is occupied by Natural Habitat expressed dissatisfaction that most of the promises made by Natural Habitat have not been met and there are delays in surface rent payment. As a result they are now the subjects of ridicule in the community and this has brought mixed feelings among them.

In conclusion the women recommended the following:

  • Formation of women’s working committee to in which all the sections are represented to engage the paramount chief and other stakeholders to advocate for other women in the chiefdom.
  • Women of Makpele calls for another chiefdom dialogue for transparency and accountability in the restructuring of the Chiefdom Development Committee executive (CDC).
  • To engage political heads, MP, Labour minister and director of Local Government to look into the working conditions of employees in the Natural Habitat Company
  • WFP to prioritize women in the inland valley swamp (IVS) project
  • The women of Makpele chiefdom calls on stakeholders of Makpele and Barray to hold an inclusive meeting resolve the constituency boundary dispute between constituency 099 and ward 349

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Upper Banta Youths Hold Dialogue Meeting at Mokelleh Town

 

 Youth Dialogue Meeting Group Photo 

Upper Banta Youth Dialogue Meeting

 

 

 

 

Youth participants (male and female) and chiefdom representatives gathered at Mokelleh town in Upper Banta, Moyamba, southern Sierra Leone Wednesday to dialogue and be au fete with challenging issues that have been earlier identified in the GRCs (Grievance Redress Committees) and chiefdom meetings over the past months.

Participants also added their voices in suggesting or recommending what action needs to be taken

Some members of the Chiefdom Development Committee (CDC) were present to throw light on the award of chiefdom scholarship for this academic year. Lansana Gbondo said: “the scholarship scheme is transparent without problems”.

Chiefdom administrative clerk, Gabriel Jusu explained that the chiefdom has just received 323 millions Leones from Sierra Rutile to support 7 affected chiefdoms

The chiefdom youth leader John Ndoinjeh said: “ Youth are very happy for the fact that such meeting have never been held in this manner in which we are asked to make contributions towards our development”.

He requested the chiefdom administration to always involve young people in decision making processes as the Paramount Chief could not do things all by himself.

One of the youth Abu Bakarr Alusine mentioned that unemployment is still high adding that the new company Kasino did not comply with community agreement to employ indigenes over a year now.

One of the things that was revealed was that scholarship awarded by Sierra Rutile are sometimes controlled by workers of the company thus excluding indigenes.

Chiefdom Development Committee representative Lansana Gbondo explained the scholarship scheme and said this year’s scheme went to the right individuals as the Paramount Chief did sign the applications of targeted beneficiaries.

This Youth Dialogue Session is part of the UN Peace building Fund project: Mitigating Local Resource-based Conflicts and Increasing Community Resilience supported by UNDP and implemented by Fambul Tok.

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Chiefdom Dialogue Sessions for Youth, Women and Chiefdom Stakeholders Begin in Moyamba

 

Fambul Tok has started series of sessions for youth, women and chiefdom stakeholders in Lower Banta and Upper Banta chiefdoms in Moyamba district.

Mosenesie Lower Banta Chiefdom Youth Dialogue Session

Mosenesie Lower Banta Chiefdom Youth Dialogue Group Photo

These engagements focus on sharing highlights of issues raised in meetings of the Grievance Redress Committees, Farmer Based Organizations and chiefdom meetings in both chiefdoms.

The youth dialogue kicked off on August 21 at Mosenesie junction and brought together 60 young men and women to verify and get their opinions on issues earlier identified.

The gathering confirmed that the issues were not made up but actual and credible.

According to the youths, government must do something urgent to prevent Lower Banta from collapsing.

Fambul Tok Executive Director, John Caulker, called on the gathering to exercise patience as the chiefdom now faces chieftaincy issue as the caretaker chief has left.

One of the most urgent things highlighted by youth was that the chiefdom has no central control because of the absence of chiefdom authorities.

“We have suffered for five years now and we don’t want to continue like this”, says Hawa Gbagra, Chiefdom Youth Adviser.

Chiefdom Youth Chairman, Nasir Mansaray said Fambul Tok with other partners -Office of the Vice President, UNDP and WFP continue to play big role in ensuring that the chiefdom is peaceful.

He assured that there will be no roadblocks as usual but called on government to quickly respond to the crisis in the chiefdom.

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Pujehun Women Dialogue in Malen Calls for More Inclusion in CDC

 

Fambul Tok has

Malen Women’s Dialogue Meeting

Chiefdom Mammy Queen and Maloa Chairlady Reconciles During Dialogue

facilitated another women’s dialogue on 24th August 2021 in Sahn town, Malen chiefdom in Pujehun district. Women’s representatives from the nine sections of the chiefdom were in attendance. This UNPBF project: “Mitigating local resource based conflicts and increasing community resilience” , furthers the conversation of women related issues and amplify women voices to create the amiable space for reconciliation, sustainable peace and development in Malen chiefdom.

The dialogue reconciled dispute between two women

Hannah Deen on Left of Maloa who supports Shiaka Sama and Haja Adama Senge who supports Chief Kebbie were not on speaking terms for over a decades have decided to put there differences aside for the sake of peace in Malen Chiefdom

The three young ladies standing with Hawa Conteh suggested and appealed to the women to reconcile Hannah Deen chairlady of Maloa and Haja Adama the Chiefdom Mammy Queen so that peace will prevail in their chiefdom. The following were the highpoint of the dialogue:

1.The chiefdom women call for the restructuring of the chiefdom women’s executive.

  1. Increase in the percentage of women into the Chiefdom Development Committee (CDC)
  2. The Malen chiefdom women call for the Paramount Chief and the Member of Parliament of constituency 104 to meet and reconcile.

4 The chiefdom mammy queen Haja Adama Sengeh and Hannah Deen Maloa chairlady to reconcile for sustainable peace in Malen chiefdom.

5 The Malen women call on stakeholders to allow them to practice their cultural heritage (Bondo).

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Pujehun Youth Dialogue in Zimmi Makpele

In continuation of UNPBF project: “Mitigation Local Resource based Conflicts and Increase Community Resilience “ in the chiefdoms of Malen and Makpele in the Pujehun district, Fambul Tok has facilitated a youth dialogue at the community centre in Zimmi town – Makpele chiefdom. Sixty representatives from the chiefdom youth council, female groups and other youth representatives from the four sections of Selimeh, Samagbe, Kengo and Seitua attended the dialogue and discussed youths related issues and presented outstanding issues affecting the chiefdom development process; and charted the way forward August 23rd.

Mokpele Youth Dialogue

Mokpele Youth Dialogue Group Photo

The following is the outcome of the dialogue:

  1. The youths of Makpele chiefdom unanimously agreed to restructure the chiefdom youth executive.
  2. The youth of Makpele chiefdom call on chiefdom stakeholders to review the executive positions of the Chiefdom Development Committee (CDC) for transparency, accountability and effective operations of the committee.
  3. Increase in the percentage of women in executive positions in the chiefdom youth council and CDC.
  4. The youth of Makpele also call on chiefdom stakeholders of Makpele and Barray to hold a meeting to solve the boundary disputes between constituency 099 and ward 349.

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Lower Banta Calls for Chiefdom Meeting to Resolve Chieftaincy Rift

 

Executive Director John Caulker Calls for Calm

The people of Lower Banta chiefdom in the southern district of Moyamba in Sierra Leone have asked the Government through Fambul Tok to convene a special meeting to once and for all resolve the chieftaincy crisis in the chiefdom.

This was one of the recommendations during the 4th Multi Stakeholders Platform town hall meeting held at Mosenesie on Friday, August 13, 2021.

According to senior section chief, Alpha George, Lower Banta has no central command presently adding that the care taker chief has abandoned her duties and left the chiefdom. He said chief Aminata Rashid played her role well but was forced by certain functionaries to compromise her duties, which, she refused and left.

Community Stakeholders in Dialogue

Civil Society representative in the chiefdom development committee, Sylvester Bob Carter joined many speakers to point out that unless and until government puts the chieftaincy crisis as one of the priorities, the chiefdom will remain ungovernable.

PC Fatima Sundifu Sovula who chaired the meeting said everyone has the moral role to ensure that Lower Banta returns to its glory. He called on chiefs and youth to remain peaceful and added that government would definitely take action very soon.

Chief Sovula said the UN PBF project for the past year has ensured peace, as no road blocks have been done

Executive Director Fambul Tok International John Caulker called on the people to be peaceful, as things will be put in place to ensure Lower Banta comes back to its old days.

He said the project takes happenings in sections and chiefdoms to district and national level through the Multi-Stakeholders Platform (MSP) so authorities would take actions.

Lower Banta Stakeholders

 

Many issues in both Lower Banta and Upper Banta chiefdoms were highlighted and collated during Grievance Redress Committee (GRC) and chiefdom deliberations over the past months.

Company representative of Vimetco, Joseph Amadu responded to many accusations including unemployment and scholarship offered every year.

The MSP has representation from all stakeholders in Moyamba and meets every quarter to deliberate on issues and find possible solutions to ensure peace and development aspirations.

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Malen GRC Dialogues Multi-Stakeholders on Land Issues in Pujehun

The Malen Grievance Redress Committee (GRC), chiefdom stakeholders, government officials and Fambul Tok staff met in the Anglican Hall in Gobaru town in Pujehun district

Stakeholders in Group Photo

for the Chiefdom Multi-stakeholders dialogue meeting on Friday 23rd July 2021. The dialogue serves as a follow – up action requested in the last monthly GRC meeting in Ngandorhun village in Malen chiefdom.

50 people (18 females and 32 males) attended the meeting that attracted the interest of many stakeholders and community members in and outside Malen chiefdom including the Honorable member of parliament of constituency 104.

Malen MSP Monthly Meeting

The activities are part of the UN Peace building Fund project: Mitigating Local Resource-based Conflicts and Increasing Community Resilience supported by UNDP and implemented by Fambul Tok.

Fambul Tok has been very robust in ensuring frequent GRC meetings and strengthening the operations of the Chiefdom Development Funds committee (CDF) and going forward with the view of creating the space for victims and perpetrators for dialogue and reconciliation and to chart a new path for sustainable peace and development in the Malen chiefdom. After opening courtesies, the chairman council of paramount chiefs PC Sass Gbonda of the Kpanga Krim chiefdom in the Pujehun district expressed his gratitude for hosting such a high-level peace dialogue, emphasizing that the neutral ground is a peaceful land and welcomed participants to feel safe and have a peaceful day.

In an overview of the program, the Executive Director of Fambul Tok John Caulker said he was very happy for the attendance, assuring the audience of a positive discussion throughout the dialogue meeting, for an inclusive way forward. He encouraged the audience to help outline grievances in the chiefdom for a better solution of the land conflict in the Malen chiefdom. He ended by saying that every one should feel free and be at ease to express his or her opinion.

The chiefdom speaker of the Malen chiefdom, Robert S Moigua, who represented the paramount chief of the Malen chiefdom PC Brima Victor Sidie Kebbie, expressed joy and thanked Fambul Tok for creating the space for dialogues, which he believed is one of the right steps in bringing an end to the Malen Land conflict.

In continuation of the dialogue, the Honorable member of Parliament of constituency 104 Musa Shiaka Sama stated he has a lot to say but will be brief because of short notice to the meeting. He condemned the entire peace process, saying that about 95% of the participants present from the Malen chiefdom in the meeting were either in support of the paramount chief PC Kebbie or the Socfin Agricultural Company (SAC). He said that MALOA will not honor future invitation to engage in a peace discussion until the President engaged him and MALOA on the Malen Land issue, pointing out that as the technical report is yet to be released, they will maintain their  position until their concerns are fully addressed.

The civil society chairman of Pujehun district Ibrahim B Swaray responding to Honorable Sama‘s statement advised the audience to direct the meeting on the issues affecting the chiefdom to avoid conflict. Speaking on behalf of Maloa, Bockarie Koroma thanked Fambul Tok for creating the space for dialogue. He advised Fambul Tok to allow them to file their grievances in subsequent meetings for a peaceful resolution as they have a lot in store to air.

Haja Adama Senge, women’s leader, noted that efforts have been made by SAC to map out the road to peace but misleading information from other factions in one of the obstacles for sustainable peace in Malen. She said the people of Malen are the causes of their own problems. J J Solomon representing SAC management thanked Fambul Tok for their resilience in building peace in Malen chiefdom. He said its part of SAC’s commitment to maintain peaceful relationship with the people of Malen. Summing up, Mr Solomon said: “let’s bridge the communication gaps between the company and the people and find possible ways to end the land conflict in the chiefdom”. He added that SAC believes “that effective community engagement s will lead to a positive working environment and promote the companys safety and goal”.

In conclusion the Fambul Tok Executive Director disclosed that: ”the major problem in the chiefdom is the division among land owners, local authorities and political leaders”. He demonstrated the broken cup illustration and recommended that they manage their own problems and put the chiefdom first – above all.

He assured the gathering that Fambul Tok will continue to engage and guide the process to identify their own problem and see themselves to have their local solutions to solve their local problems. Mr. Caulker ended his statement that the issues raised during the discussion has opened the missing link between the company and MALOA, adding that, the company has declared the year 2021 a year of peace and reconciliation. This positive outcome is a clear road map for peace and in the next few months things will improve.

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Fambul Tok Facilitates Natural Habitat and Chiefdom Development Committee Dialogue

Fambul Tok has facilitated another dialogue session between the private company Natural Habitat and the Chiefdom Development Committee (CDC) on the 4th August 2021 at the company’s premises in Zimmi town, Makpele chiefdom, Pujehun District as part of its UN Peace Building Fund project: Mitigating Local Resource-based Conflicts and Increasing Community Resilience.

Natural Habitat officers, CDC members, Fambul Tok and the media were in attendance.

CDC and Natural Habitat in Group Photo

The Community Affairs Officer Alie Bao welcomed all those in participants for prioritizing this engagement amidst other busy schedules. He thanked Fambul Tok for creating the space for dialogue by bridging community networks, communication flow and facilitating the enabling environment for peaceful co – existence. Mr. Bao said that as a company they are committed to work with community plans and consultations in executing their cooperate social responsibility and meeting community felt needs.

Ernest Borbor Rogers, secretary general of the CDC, stated that the restructuring of the CDC is in progress and there is a plan to hold a chiefdom general meeting that will bring onboard all key players for an effective CDC operation. In addition to other various interactive contributions made by participants present, the following was unanimously agreed on as the next step for sustainable peace and development in the chiefdom:

CDC Dialogues with Natural Habitat

1.To hold a general chiefdom meeting to elect CDC executive.

  1. To hold rotational meetings at sectional level for wider sensitization and inclusion of other key players.
  2. Natural Habitat to come out with strategies to support the GRC meetings when the program comes to an end

Posted by Abdul Rashid

Fambul Tok Facilitates SOCFIN and Chiefdom Development Committee Dialogue in Sahn Malen

As a follow-up to the Malen multi stakeholders dialogue held in Gobaru Kpanga Krim chiefdom, Fambul Tok on Tuesday 3rd August 2021 facilitated a dialogue meeting between SOCFIN Agricultural Company and the Chiefdom Development Committee (CDC) at Sahn Malen town, Malen chiefdom, Pujehun District.

The activities are part of the UN Peace building Fund project: Mitigating Local Resource-based Conflicts and Increasing Community Resilience supported by UNDP and implemented by Fambul Tok.

SOCFIN and CDC Malen Dialogue

Participants include CDC members, SOCFIN Liaison office, SOCFIN administration, Fambul Tok staff.

In his welcome address SAC Liaison Manager Joseph Belmond expressed gratitude to Fambul Tok as he has been following up all reports during the last meetings in Ngandorhun and Gobaru respectively which is also in line with SAC Manager’s Agenda as he declared 2021 a year of peace and reconciliation in the Malen chiefdom.

In guiding the process Fambul Tok Joseph M Kargbo said: “Fambul Tok is on a neutral ground to facilitate the process to see that the committees continue their commitment to meetings”. He added that, “It is a collective responsibility with a commitment to direct community led people’s planning process, support peace mother’s groups amplifying women voices and youth, creating leadership opportunities and self reliance“.

CDC member and chiefdom Mammy Queen Haja Adama Sengeh in her speach noted, “efforts have been made by other NGOs to solve the Malen land conflict, I am more confident with Fambul Tok’s approach and there are signs that Fambul Tok will solve the long awaited conflicts; and they should be credited for that”.

Mr Bawoh, another CDC member, said they have a strong commitment as CDCs to execute effective operations to see that SAC meet its cooperate social responsibility and development should be distributed evenly within the Malen chiefdom for sustainable peace and development.

In conclusion SAC assured Fambul Tok that management have plans to see that the Grievance Redress Committee structures continue with their meetings when the project comes to an end.

Fambul Tok Mustapha V Mansaray appreciated SAC management for opening doors for engagement and admonished CDC committee members to find quick solution to end the Malen land conflict.

Posted by Solomon Yarjoh

Fambul Tok concludes introductory sessions of human security project in Kono

Fambul Tok International-Sierra Leone with support from the Government of Sierra Leone,UNDP and Food and Agricultural Organization has ended sessions on a new project “Strenghtening Human Security Program” in three chiefdoms in Kono district

John Caulker addresses stakeholders in Soa chiefdom

This new project targets Soa, Kamara and Gbense chiefdoms and will address peace and development challenges and vulnerabilities in these chiefdoms that face poverty,food insecurity, unsustainable mining practices and others that have caused problems in those areas

Giving an overview of the project,Fambul Tok Executive Director,John Caulker will look at community co-existence and social cohesion with a focus on working with youth and women groups live as one getting to accommodate each other as a community.He assured that activities including football games annual carnivals would organized to promote social cohesion in all project chiefdoms

He said community in all project areas will set up Grievance Redress Committees with the   aim to addressing minor conflicts that will arise in villages and sections. He went on to state that the presence of formidable structures would help these communities to strengthen orientation to addressing community issues and enhancing development interventions

The Executive Director said Fambul Tok will work with youth and women groups to accompany them plan their development initiatives and help community to embark on peaceful cohesive practices to embrace peace

Paramount Chief of Soa chiefdom,Emmanuel Foryoh expressed happiness over the project and said since he became traditional leader he had not failed his people.

He said Fambul Tok plays active roles towards peace and requested his people to support the new project  as the chiefdom is one of the most remote places in the eastern part of the country

In Kamara chiefdom Chiefdom Speaker,Rev. Pessima  on behalf of Paramount Chief stated that Fambul Tok is not new in the chiefdom recalling activities of the organization to bring peace in communities.

Community members from  sections were happy and embraced the new project as it encourages youth and women to participate in the interest of peace and development

Similar introductory meeting was held in Faada,Gbense chiefdom.

In another development,sensitization sessions  for the selection of Grievance Redress Committees in every section in the three chiefdoms will be done before the end of August