Post a comment 
Three officials of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) have completed a specialised training programme in China focused on environmental emergency response and conflict prevention.
The three-week Environmental Emergency Response and Peace Seminar was held from 7 to 27 August 2026 and was organised by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China as part of its international training and knowledge-sharing programmes for participants from developing countries.
The ICPNC delegation comprised Deputy Executive Secretary Moses Margao, Deputy Director of Conflict Prevention Simeonette Uwanie Pontis, and Francis Patterson, Senior Conflict Prevention and Mediation Officer for the North-West Region.
The seminar examined the relationship between environmental challenges and peace, with participants exploring how issues surrounding land, livelihoods and natural resources can contribute to tensions and disputes within communities.
Participants also received insights into natural resource management and approaches to identifying, reporting and addressing emerging environmental concerns before they escalate into serious conflicts.
The training is expected to strengthen the ICPNC’s capacity in early warning, conflict prevention and mediation, particularly in situations where environmental pressures could threaten community stability and national cohesion.
At the closing ceremony, Rao Jianhua, Vice President of Jiangxi Vocational University of Foreign Studies, said China would continue strengthening bilateral relations with countries around the world and supporting efforts to prevent environmental emergencies and promote peace.
The three ICPNC officials were presented with certificates upon completion of the seminar.
Speaking after the training, Deputy Executive Secretary Moses Margao expressed appreciation to the Government and people of China for providing the opportunity.
Margao said the knowledge acquired would be shared with colleagues and applied to the Commission’s work in Sierra Leone.
The ICPNC is expected to draw on the lessons from the training as it continues efforts to identify early warning signs, prevent conflicts and address emerging issues that could undermine peace and national cohesion in Sierra Leone.
