*Communications Unit – Makeni City Council*
*25 January 2025*
Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH), in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, conducted a training program for key stakeholders of Makeni City Council and Bombali District Council. The training focused on waste management and the sustainability of projects previously implemented by WHH within Makeni City. The event aimed to assess the successes and challenges of these projects and devise solutions to improve waste management practices in Makeni City and the Bombali District.
The training brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including:
Paramount Chiefs, The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Alfred Moi Jamiru, The WHH team, Mayors and Chairpersons of the councils, Chief Administrators and their deputies, Core staff members, Traditional leaders
In his opening remarks, Paramount Chief Massa Yeli Tham III highlighted the importance of the gathering and the significant progress made in waste management under the leadership of Makeni City Council. He recalled the time when Makeni was recognized as the cleanest city in the province, crediting WHH for their pivotal role in achieving this milestone. He urged all participants to actively engage in the training and apply the knowledge gained to further enhance waste management efforts.
The WHH team leader outlined the objectives of the training, emphasizing the importance of evaluating the sustainability of projects implemented by WHH across secondary cities, including Makeni. The team underscored the need for collaboration with traditional leaders to exchange knowledge on project sustainability and effective waste management practices.
Deputy Minister Alfred Moi Jamiru commended the stakeholders for their participation and stressed the significance of the training in improving waste management across the city and district. He encouraged attendees to actively engage during the presentations and announced plans to visit the dumpsite to review the outcomes of WHH interventions and identify areas for improvement.
The WHH team delivered a detailed presentation covering the following topics:
• Negative effects of poor solid waste management
• Current waste management practices in Sierra Leone
• WHH interventions
• Benefits of sound waste management
• Roles and responsibilities of stakeholders
• Law enforcement in waste management
The training included a robust question-and-answer session, followed by discussions among stakeholders. The Chairperson of Bombali District Council urged WHH to expand their projects to include the district, noting that a significant portion of Makeni’s waste is managed by the district. He also called on the Deputy Minister and WHH to support the enactment of waste management by-laws.
The Deputy Mayor of Makeni City Council expressed gratitude to WHH for their contributions and outlined challenges faced by the council, including insufficient vehicles, high fuel costs, and the attitudes of some residents toward waste management.
In his closing statement, the Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of tax compliance to support waste management efforts. He noted that WHH interventions are funded through taxes paid by citizens in other countries, and he urged local stakeholders to prioritize revenue collection to reduce dependency on donor support. He concluded by encouraging all stakeholders to promote tax compliance within their communities and to work collectively for sustainable waste management.
In conclusion, stakeholders expressed optimism about the future and pledged to implement the lessons learned to address existing challenges.
*Potential Kpus, Information, Education and Communications Officer-MCC*
