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The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has engaged the Iceland Embassy in Freetown to deepen collaboration on advancing Sierra Leone’s blue economy while enhancing disaster preparedness and resilience, particularly in vulnerable coastal and riverine communities.
The NDMA delegation, led by Director General John Vandy Rogers and Deputy Director General Solaiman B. Sowa, alongside a cross-section of female staff, met with Iceland’s Head of Mission, Ásdís Bjarnadóttir, and her team to explore strategic areas of cooperation at the intersection of disaster management and sustainable ocean resource use.
Speaking during the meeting, Rogers outlined the Agency’s legal and operational framework, noting that NDMA was established by an Act of Parliament in 2020 and became fully operational in 2021.
“NDMA was created to coordinate national efforts in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. As risks increasingly affect our coastal and marine environments, we are deliberately aligning disaster management strategies with blue economy initiatives to better protect lives, livelihoods, and ecosystems,” he said.
He emphasized that integrating disaster risk reduction into blue economy planning would not only improve emergency response but also help mitigate risks through sustainable environmental management and resilient coastal development.
Deputy Director General Sowa highlighted the economic potential within Sierra Leone’s blue economy, particularly in fisheries, maritime trade, and coastal tourism. He stressed the importance of embedding disaster risk management within these sectors to address challenges such as coastal erosion, environmental degradation, and economic vulnerability.
“Our coastal communities are at the frontline of climate-related hazards. Aligning blue economy investments with disaster risk management allows for more sustainable and coordinated solutions,” he noted.
In her response, Ambassador Bjarnadóttir welcomed the NDMA’s integrated approach, describing it as both timely and forward-looking.
“The alignment of the blue economy with disaster preparedness reflects a clear understanding that protecting marine resources and building community resilience must go hand in hand,” she said.
She further disclosed that although Iceland officially opened its embassy in Sierra Leone in 2024, it has maintained partnerships with the country since 2018, working with government institutions, international organizations, and civil society groups.
Among its key interventions, she cited ongoing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes being implemented in 17 communities across five districts in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society and Save the Children International.
The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to sustained dialogue and collaboration aimed at strengthening disaster resilience through blue economy initiatives that promote sustainable livelihoods and environmental protection.
