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The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) paid a courtesy visit to the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) on Thursday, June 25, 2026, to explore potential areas of partnership and collaboration.
NDMA delegation met with TİKA’s Director and Program Coordinator for Sierra Leone, Mirzet Muezzinoglu, to follow up on previous engagements to strengthen the NDMA’s capacity to effectively manage disasters across the country.
Welcoming the delegation, Muezzinoglu said he has been closely following the activities of the NDMA and is highly impressed by the Agency’s commitment to effectively executing its mandate.
He also expressed sympathy to the victims affected by the recent windstorm incidents that displaced hundreds of people across the Eastern and Northern Regions of Sierra Leone. However, he clarified that TİKA’s mandate does not include direct humanitarian response to emergencies. He nevertheless reaffirmed TİKA’s commitment to support the NDMA in institutional capacity building and other interventions to strengthen disaster management and resilience in Sierra Leone.
He said: “Having carefully reviewed the NDMA’s proposal, we have identified key areas where TİKA can provide meaningful support. These include capacity building through specialized training programmes, the provision of office furniture and equipment, as well as transportation support for NDMA District Officers. We believe that a stronger and better-equipped NDMA will enhance the country’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, and we look forward to deepening this partnership in the years ahead,” he said.
Additionally, the Director General of the NDMA, John Vandy Rogers, and Deputy Director General Sulaiman B. Sowa expressed profound appreciation to TİKA and the Government of Türkiye through the Turkish Embassy in Sierra Leone for their continued support to the country across various sectors.
He described the proposed support as timely and critical to enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Agency.
“The NDMA is deeply grateful to TİKA and the Government of Türkiye for their longstanding friendship and support to Sierra Leone. The commitments discussed today come at a crucial time when the Agency is working tirelessly to strengthen disaster preparedness, response, and recovery mechanisms nationwide. This support will not only enhance our institutional capacity but will also improve our ability to protect lives, livelihoods, and communities vulnerable to disasters. We look forward to translating these discussions into concrete actions that will benefit the people of Sierra Leone,” DDG Sowa stated.
Finally, the meeting concluded with an agreement for the NDMA to submit formal proposals covering the approved areas of support identified by TİKA, with the expectation that the proposed interventions will be considered for implementation within the year. Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to maintain a partnership to enhance the Agency’s capacity.
