The Executive Chairman of the Environmental Protection Agency, Abu Bakarr S. Massaquoi has presented the EPA Transformation Strategy (EPATS, 2024–2030) to international partners as part of getting the document readily available to these partners’ in terms of positive collaborations.

The presentation was done at the first Environment and Climate Change Working Group (ECCWG) meeting jointly organized by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) and the European Union I Sierra Leone.

The meeting gathered different representatives from related MDAs and international missions who witnessed the presentation and made several accolades over the documents presented.

Chairman Massaquoi highlighted the agency’s roles in policy advice, enforcement, compliance, licensing, permitting, scientific research, and environmental initiatives as mandated by the EPA Act of 2022, adding that, Since 2008, the agency has addressed challenges like data limitations, funding, coordination, system enhancements, capacity building, and regulatory barriers at different intervals in making things work out well in the sector.

He furthered the transformation strategy aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and various local and international strategies, using a 3×6 framework covering three thematic areas (or pillars), and enabled by six conditions (or enablers). The 3×6 framework includes natural resources, climate change, and environmental health, supported by policy, systems, data and innovation, gender, finance, and advocacy and the strategy further bridges these gaps, and supports women’s capacity building and includes projects like the UNEP-funded E-Mobility and CBIT.

The said EPATS according to him is aimed at transforming the agency into an environmental innovation and talent generation catalyst by 2030, aligning with local and global priorities, which are the key focus.

He called for a continuous collaboration, evidence generation, and resource mobilisation, which are key to achieving the agency’s goals and meeting its international environmental commitments.

He expressed total commitment to ensuring that, these goals are achieved and make the sector works positively.