In the final weeks of June, the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), launched a series of district consultations across the country’s Northern Province to support the development and alignment of two critical national strategies: the third Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement (NDC 3.0) and the revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The consultations provided a platform for local leaders within each district to understand and shape national strategies by connecting them to local priorities and on-the-ground realities, fueling implementation at the district level.

District consultations were held in Falaba, Koinadugu, Bombali, and Tonkolili, each spanning two days. The first day focused on NDC work packages and the second on the country’s NBSAP, ensuring coordination between the two frameworks. Concerted efforts were made to align both strategies not only with each other but also with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030), locally defined realities, and the larger Paris Agreement and GBF.

“District consultations are vital for gathering local perspectives on biodiversity threats, challenges and opportunities,” said Abdul Bakar Salim, NBSAP Accelerator Partnership Facilitator. “Only through these consultations will we ensure our NBSAP is country-driven and reflects the specific biodiversity issues faced at the grassroots level in our country.”

In line with the current wave of global advice from experts to mainstream biodiversity actions across sustainable development, climate, and biodiversity frameworks, Sierra Leone designed its approach to foster alignment, identify synergies, and promote coordinated action on biodiversity across its national strategies. By engaging stakeholders in multiple strategies, the consultations helped to embed biodiversity considerations across all levels of development planning. This approach highlighted a critical shift toward integrated policy development linking biodiversity with climate, and sustainable development priorities to accelerate progress and ensure that national targets are responsive to the needs of communities on the front lines of environmental change. In this regard, Sierra Leone has stepped forth as an example for other countries to follow.

Sierra Leone’s district consultations allowed national leaders to gather critical insights from local stakeholders, including representatives from government, academia, civil society, traditional leaders, and the private sector. The sessions began with opening remarks from the Paramount Chief or representative and Local Council leaders, followed by presentations from government agencies on the objectives of the NDC and NBSAP processes.

Participants were invited to contribute to key areas, including:

• Climate mitigation
• Adaptation
• Biodiversity finance
• Gender inclusion
• Sustainable livelihoods
• Technology needs
• Local monitoring systems.

Consultations helped hone strategies that are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound) by identifying concrete actions and indicators that can be implemented and monitored at the district level, reflecting Sierra Leone’s unique ecological, cultural, and development contexts. Consultations emphasised the importance of collaboration across social sectors and government ministries, including those of agriculture, forestry, mining, and the environment, to comprehensively address biodiversity challenges through a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach.

District consultations highlighted local realities for national government decision-makers, building a more accurate understanding of the issues threatening natural resources and local livelihoods. Across all four districts, stakeholders raised concerns about pressing threats to biodiversity and natural resources, including:

• Deforestation
• Illegal logging
• Slash-and-burn agriculture
• Unsustainable mining practices
• Charcoal production
• Rapid urbanisation (In Bombali)

District discussions also emphasised the urgent need for:

• Improved environmental legislation and enforcement
• Coordination among government agencies
• Strengthening of local governance
• Functional district-level monitoring systems

A significant challenge identified during the consultations was the limited understanding of the NBSAP and NDC frameworks among local council staff. This knowledge gap has hampered the effective implementation of national and community-based environmental initiatives. With more coordination, local governments, central to driving community action, can support and accelerate national efforts. The lack of monitoring systems in Sierra Leone was also acknowledged and identified as a major opportunity area to connect local biodiversity data to national decision-making. As a result, there was a call to match these gaps with targeted training, education and capacity-building support through initiatives like the MatchMaking Mechanism, which helps countries match with support partners to accelerate strategic action.

As Sierra Leone’s EPA and MoECC continue similar consultations in other regions, the insights gathered from the Northern Province will play a crucial role in ensuring the country’s revised NBSAP and NDC 3.0 reflect both national ambitions and local priorities. Earlier this year, the nation held a launch event for its three core strategies, and later, a critical NBSAP review meeting. Their process exemplifies a collaborative, country-driven approach that has begun to bring diverse voices into shaping a sustainable and resilient future.

Learn more about Sierra Leone and the progress of other country members on our Recent News page. Curious about the Facilitator Programme? Learn more about its critical role in accelerating NBSAPs here.