Freetown: Save the Children, in partnership with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and the Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency (SLMet), has successfully finalized a five-day intensive training initiative. The program focused on equipping women and girls serving in early warning and alert groups with advanced community preparedness skills.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the training, held from March 23 to 27, 2026, at the Country Lodge Hotel in Hill Station, united government officials, key stakeholders, and child representatives. Among those present were Victoria Squire from Save the Children, alongside Claudia Campbell, Social Accountability and Safeguarding Manager; Randy Anita Fornah, Climate Change Officer at SLMet; and Gerald King, Deputy Director of NDMA. Young participants from the Child-Focused Network (CFN) contributed actively, engaging in discussions and hands-on learning exercises.
Victoria Squire delivered opening remarks, underscoring the critical role of early warning systems in mitigating disaster risks. She noted that women and children frequently face heightened vulnerability during emergencies and expressed gratitude to development partners for their sustained backing of child-centered protection efforts.
In a focused presentation, Ms. Fornah explored the necessity of gender-responsive and inclusive early warning frameworks. She detailed how diverse groups-men, women, elderly individuals-experience disasters differently, advocating for communication strategies tailored to distinct needs. Ms. Fornah also outlined pressing environmental risks confronting Freetown, including flooding, mudslides, storms, and rising sea levels, urging participants to identify obstacles hindering effective alert dissemination and to enhance existing channels.
Ms. Campbell elaborated on safeguarding protocols upheld by Save the Children, emphasizing measures designed to shield children from abuse and disaster-induced hardships. She highlighted the organization’s reporting infrastructure, notably the toll-free 922 hotline dedicated to child protection concerns.
Providing a broader perspective on national efforts, Mr. King detailed NDMA’s strategic coordination of disaster responses and preventive interventions across high-risk zones in Sierra Leone.
Throughout the training, participants examined hazard identification, climate change trends, and vulnerability assessments. Sessions further addressed emergency preparedness system strengthening, with an in-depth analysis of how shifting climate patterns influence rainfall variability, storm intensity, and disaster frequency locally.
The final day centered on practical application, incorporating map usage, seasonal forecasting, and climate data to sharpen disaster response and prevention strategies.
Concluding the event, attendees reaffirmed dedication to implementing newly acquired skills within their communities. Members of the Child-Forum Network committed to spreading knowledge on early warning systems and preparedness, striving to cultivate safer, more resilient neighborhoods.
This initiative marks continued synergy among Save the Children, NDMA, and SLMet, reinforcing shared commitment to safeguarding vulnerable populations and embedding long-term disaster resilience across Sierra Leone.