The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has successfully concluded a two-day high-level conference on Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA), which brought together environmental and climate change experts, along with key stakeholders. The conference aimed to emphasize the importance of collaboration in driving environmental progress.
The Director of Climate Change at the Office of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security (PI-CREF), Mr. Fuad Yusuf Bangura, participated in a panel discussion focused on “Next-Gen Climate and Biodiversity Commitments: Seeking Partners for NDC, LT-LEDS, and NBSAP Development.”
The discussion addressed several barriers, including limited data on environmental parameters, capacity gaps, weak enforcement of environmental regulations, and financial constraints, all of which must be overcome to ensure that Sierra Leone’s climate commitments are both ambitious and achievable.
Mr. Bangura emphasized the critical role of PI-CREF, highlighting its efforts to enhance coordination among Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), foster partnerships, and leverage support for climate action. Established by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, PI-CREF works tirelessly to minimise overlap and duplication in climate change and environmental interventions.
He also revealed that PI-CREF is developing an interactive collaboration tracking tool aimed at improving coordination among institutions working on climate change and environmental issues. “This tool will track collaborations and help synchronize the efforts of these institutions, thereby preventing overlap,” Mr. Bangura explained.
He further noted that the tracking tool is currently being reviewed and will be rolled out across various sectors within PI-CREF’s mandate, including climate change. He emphasized that this tool differs from the current government-wide performance tracker, as it is specifically designed to ensure proper coordination in addressing climate change and environmental challenges in the country.
Mr. Bangura also underscored the efforts of the Chairman of PI-CREF in mobilizing both international and local support for climate change programs in Sierra Leone. “The Chairman has been instrumental in leveraging resources, particularly through the annual PI-CREF Climate Resilience and Energy Transition Dialogue (CRET), which brings together international funding partners committed to addressing climate change issues in Sierra Leone,” he said in response to a question about funding mobilisation.
The EPA’s CLA Conference served as a platform to build trust, foster investment in their 2025 programs, and provide opportunities for partners to exchange ideas and collaborate on solutions to climate change challenges.
