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The National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA) of Sierra Leone has secured second place at the 2026 National Evidence Summit for its citizen science initiative focused on water resources monitoring and data collection.
The award was presented by the Institute for Development during the National Evidence Summit 2026, held from February 24 to 26 at the Freetown International Conference Center in Aberdeen, Freetown.
According to NWRMA, the recognition highlights the Agency’s efforts to promote inclusive and community-driven scientific approaches to water governance.
The citizen science initiative brings together local volunteers, community members and scientific stakeholders to monitor water quality and hydrological conditions across various river basins in Sierra Leone.
The programme, which was launched in 2021, trains local volunteers to collect and share data on water quality and water levels. The data generated through the initiative complement the Agency’s formal monitoring systems and help address gaps in national data coverage.
NWRMA states that the approach has also created new channels for real-time information gathering and strengthened public awareness on water stewardship and sustainability.
Water resources play a central role in daily life, ecosystems and economic activities in Sierra Leone. Accurate and timely data are considered critical for effective planning, regulation and resilience building.
The award recognizes what the organizers described as the strategic value of combining scientific methods with grassroots participation, positioning the initiative as a potential model for other countries seeking to strengthen water governance through community engagement.
Director-General of NWRMA, Ing. Pierre Palmer, expressed appreciation for the recognition. “Science works best when people are part of it – not just subjects of it,” he said. He attributed the success of the programme to citizen scientists across river basins who have contributed their time to data gathering, reporting and advocacy for improved water management.
NWRMA also acknowledged the role of the Institute for Development in recognizing the Agency’s use of citizen science as an evidence-based method of data acquisition for policy formulation and decision-making. The Agency described the award as a catalyst in advancing its mandate.
As part of its next steps, NWRMA indicated that it will continue expanding its monitoring networks through digital tools, additional training and partnerships. The Agency says the recognition marks an important milestone in Sierra Leone’s efforts to build a more participatory and data-driven system of water governance.
The second-place award at the 2026 National Evidence Summit places NWRMA’s citizen science initiative among leading evidence-based development practices in the country, while reinforcing the role of community participation in safeguarding Sierra Leone’s water resources.
