The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking a collaborative approach to environmental management by partnering with the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, Open Hub Mapping, and HOT (Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team).

Through their Environmental Protection Administration Training System (EPATS), the EPA recently sent Administrative Assistant Hannah Boima Will to a workshop on “Strengthening Gender and Disaster Resilience.” Held at the Swiss Hotel, the workshop equipped women’s groups with the skills to support disaster response and recovery using open-source mapping tools.

This capacity-building initiative provided crucial information on disaster management, including the Disaster Management Cycle, evacuation and first aid techniques, communication and awareness strategies, emergency planning, and rescue techniques.

By focusing on these topics, the workshop aimed to strengthen women’s resilience against disasters and ensure their active participation in preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.