Project Inception Meeting: CSSL and WHH Strengthen Partnership for Yawri Bay Conservation
On 10 December 2025, the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), in partnership with Welthungerhilfe (WHH), convened a two-day inception meeting at the Family Kingdom conference hall in Freetown to launch their new project, “Oasis on the Coast: Conservation of the Yawri Bay Marine Protected Area (MPA) through Community-Based Conservation Measures and Sustainable Livelihoods in Eight Communities.” The event brought together participants from CSSL and WHH to discuss roles, expectations, and collaborative pathways for successful implementation.
The overarching goal of the three-year project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is to empower local communities to actively contribute to the protection and restoration of the Yawri Bay ecosystem. A total of 2,880 participants will be supported to implement localized Marine Protected Area (MPA) management plans and adopt sustainable livelihood practices that safeguard marine and coastal resources.
The project aims to strengthen community-led management of the Yawri Bay MPA by improving planning, capacities, and local structures across eight target communities(Tombo, Fogbo, Youndu, Katta, Kent, Moyeaneh, Bondatok and Suen). It seeks to boost environmental awareness and participation in implementing MPA management plans, contributing to the restoration of natural resources. Additionally, the project will support 980 participants with the skills, equipment, and resources needed to adopt sustainable livelihoods that reduce pressure on marine and coastal ecosystems, while also enhancing the institutional capacities of CSSL to ensure effective project delivery.
During the meeting, CSSL’s Executive Director, Dr. Sheku Kamara, expressed strong commitment to fostering effective collaboration with WHH, highlighting that this project stands as the second-largest intervention in the marine landscape after the GCF-funded initiative. He underscored the trust that CSSL has enjoyed from communities since it started implementing conservation projects in the Yawri Bay landscape. He disclosed that the initial interventions at Yawri Bay were short of alternative livelihood options, which was a strong expectation of communities. “To maintain the trust we have with communities, we felt compelled to source a project that will address livelihood options for our people”, he emphasised.
Representing WHH, Lea Schumacher commended the team’s effort throughout what she described as a “lengthy project development process” and emphasized the significance of working at Yawri Bay, particularly as WHH seeks to deepen its learning and experience in mangrove restoration.
James Alpha from WHH reaffirmed the organization’s focus on strategic partnerships and support to national institutions. He noted that WHH is currently implementing three projects in Moyamba District, with the CSSL partnership adding a fourth. He underscored the importance of harmonizing efforts across all initiatives to maximize collective impact in the district. Concluding his remarks, he explained that the inception meeting served as a crucial platform for clarifying roles, expectations, and key actions needed to ensure smooth and successful project implementation.
