Sierra Leone to Host First PanAfGeo Training on Geohazards and Mining
Sia Lucy Kannah The National Minerals Agency (NMA) is set to bring a landmark international training programme on geohazards and mine environmental management to Sierra Leone, with the country preparing to host its first-ever PanAfGeo training course from December 7 to 12, 2026.
The weeklong programme will bring together approximately 35 geoscientists and five international expert trainers from across Africa and Europe, focusing on strengthening technical capacity in geological risk assessment and environmental management within the mining sector.
Preparations for the training followed a mission to Freetown by an international delegation led by Professor Stanisław Wołkowicz of the Polish Geological Institute. The delegation also included Giuseppe Delmonaco and Dr. Francesco Traversa from the Geological Survey of Italy (ISPRA).
During their visit, the delegation conducted site evaluations and held discussions with Sierra Leone’s National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).
The engagement focused on strengthening the use of geoscience data in national disaster risk reduction strategies and improving early emergency preparedness for geological hazards.
The training is expected to strengthen Sierra Leone’s capacity to identify, assess and mitigate geological risks while supporting safer and more sustainable mining practices.
The initiative forms part of PanAfGeo+ (2025–2029), an ongoing geological cooperation programme supported by the European Union.
Since its launch in 2016, the PanAfGeo framework has trained more than 1,750 African geoscientists across the continent, supporting the development of geological expertise and technical capacity in participating countries.