Koidu Limited announced a new collaboration with Women Initiative for Sustainable Empowerment (WISE), a women-led community organization, to tackle pressing environmental, climate change, and gender-based violence issues in Kono District.

Aminata Matturie, WISE Coordinator, emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues, highlighting their profound impact on women and girls in the district. She underscored the importance of advocacy in driving positive change.

Rising temperatures and the concerning effects of climate change prompted WISE to mobilize and seek partnerships. Matturie stressed that environmental degradation and sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence (SRGBV) disproportionately affect women and girls, especially in artisanal mining communities.

The initiative aims to raise awareness and encourage action at the community level, with a focus on tree planting as a key strategy for environmental preservation. Matturie spoke about the importance of educating communities on the significance of trees for clean air, food security, and overall environmental health.

In light of this collaboration, WISE calls upon relevant government ministries, including the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, to provide support. They specifically request climate-resistant tree species to help mitigate the effects of climate change in the region.