Sierra Leone

Appeal No. MAASL001

Launch Date: 03/04/2008

This report covers the period of 1/01/2006 to 31/12/2007 of a two-year planning and appeal process.

In a world of global challenges, continued poverty, inequity, Volunteers transporting a casualty. and increasing vulnerability to disasters and disease, the International Federation with its global network, works to accomplish its Global Agenda, partnering with local community and civil society to prevent and alleviate human suffering from disasters, diseases and public health emergencies.

In brief

Programme Summary: The National Society continues to strengthen its capacity in effectively carrying out its work and to improve on its reporting; with a Finance Development Delegate that is working closely with the Finance Department, helping the National Society strengthen its capacity on Financial Management and improve on Reporting, setting up operational accounting soft ware systems to ensure proper accounting controls. The Finance Development Delegate is expected to be working with the SLRCS until September 2008. Focus is also on strengthening the capacity of SLRCS staff and volunteers, providing guidance and support to enable them deliver efficient and quality service. Efforts have been made to settle the payment of outstanding liabilities owed to suppliers and SLRCS staff.

Needs: Total Needs: 2006-2007 budget CHF 8,259,978 (USD 7,388,173.524 or EUR 5,006,047.272) (out of which about 78 % covered).

Click here to go directly to the attached financial reports: report 2006 report 2007 report 2006/2007

No. of people we help: About 64,203. This number decreases and increases owing to the circumstances affecting socio-economic lives of vulnerable Sierra Leoneans.

1 Estimated number of people we help Programme Male Female Child Advocacy and Rehabilitation 270 480 War Amputees Reintegration and Empowerment 1,230 783 Community Animation and Peace Support/Community 4,500 6,750 Reintegration and Peace Support/Food Security Community Based Health Programme 15,000 19,000

Disaster Management 458 137

Organizational Development and Volunteer 6,795 8,905 Management Total 28,198 36,005 .

Our Partners: The Red Cross Society has been working in partnership with national institutions like the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, the Ministry of Education Science and Technology, National AIDS Secretariat, Office of National Security, National Commission for Social Action and International Organizations like the World Health Organization, UNICEF, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, UNAIDS, MAMASNET; other partners such as the British Red Cross, the Canadian Red Cross, the Danish Red Cross, the European Commission, the Finnish Red Cross/Government, the Icelandic Red Cross, the ICRC, the IFRC (Freetown, Lagos, Dakar and Geneva), the Global Fund, the Netherlands Red Cross, the Norwegian Red Cross, the Spanish Red Cross (and their back donors), the Swedish Red Cross/Government (including Swedish Rescue Services Agency); the Swiss Red Cross/Solidarity Chain, and Private donors. The Sierra Leone Red Cross also works in close partnership with Movement partners such as the International Federation and the International Committee of the Red Cross Delegations in Sierra Leone.

Current context

At the beginning of the year, the socio-political situation in the country was relatively stable and did not impact much on our work. The volatile political situation that prevailed during the August and September elections hampered the smooth implementation of activities particularly during the last two quarters of the year; the SLRCS postponed most of its planned activities and deployed its trained first aid volunteers with staff in at least 48 locations across the country to help in first aid delivery during violent clashes that erupted between rival political party supporters. The continued occupation by the Guinean troops of the town of Yenga in the Kissyteng chiefdom, district of Eastern Sierra Leone is posing a serious security problem for the people of Sierra Leone. This has been disrupting the farming activities of the inhabitants of that part of the country for more than four years. The situation also raises serious humanitarian concerns for humanitarian agencies in Sierra Leone including the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Although Sierra Leone is now out of war, most the social problems affecting the livelihood of its citizens. There is still evidence of corruption and abject poverty. The average Sierra Leonean still finds it very difficult to provide his own food.

2 Progress towards objectives Humanitarian Values

Objective: A culture of non-violence and sustainable development is promoted in war torn communities.

The Humanitarian Values Programme is focussed on assisting children, amputees and communities driven by conflict, to address and cope with the aftermaths of the war. The programme has therefore concentrated its activities for these three beneficiary groups into three distinct projects; War Amputees Reintegration and Empowerment (WARE), Community Animation and Peace Support (CAPS) and Child Advocacy and Rehabilitation (CAR). The three projects in Kambia, Kabala, Port Loko and Kaillahun will, for the next three years, continue focusing on assisting children, amputees and communities driven by conflict, to address and cope with the aftermaths of the war. However, the Waterloo centre (the oldest of the 5 centres) will focus on addressing issues of youth between the ages of 18 to 35 years, guiding them producing and marketing their own products in what is now the Youth Empowerment Project.

Child Advocacy and Rehabilitation (CAR)

Objective: War –affected children are rehabilitated and reintegrated into child friendly communities.

Progress towards objectives In February 2007, the Swiss Red Cross supported the training in Animation, Social Mobilization and Participatory Rural Appraisal Techniques for a maximum of 15 trainees of the Kambia CAR centre. The Swiss Red Cross arranged for a voluntary psychotherapist of the Swiss Red Cross, Cecilia Tuvo, to support that training and coaching for Sierra Leone Red Cross Society. The mission was planned to help build the capacity of the SLRCS especially in terms of providing psychological support to the victims of war in the various CAR centres.

All the Child Advocacy and Rehabilitation (CAR) centres in Kambia, Port Loko, and Kailahun continue their routine activities of skills training and psycho-social support for community children affected by the war. The children in the centres have completed their training programmes for 2007 and those in the Koinadugu branch CAR centre have held their graduation ceremony at the centre in Kabala, the headquarter town of that district. The children were formally handed start-up kits so that they would be able to practice their skills and become self sufficient and useful members of their communities.

The staff at the Youth Advocacy and Empowerment centre in the former Waterloo CAR centre has completed a data collection in the target communities and its surroundings on the number of former CAR beneficiaries that retain and practice the skills they learned in their various communities, in order that these now youth, former beneficiaries of the skills training and counselling can be admitted into the Youth Advocacy and Empowerment Centre, where youth will be guided in the production and marketing of their own products. The construction of the CAR centre in Kailahun is now complete and is now being used by the children thanks to the partners for their funding support. The Port Loko and Waterloo centres were each provided with two motor bikes.

Community Animation and Peace Support

Objective: War torn communities’ capacity is strengthened for poverty reduction and post war reconstruction and development.

Progress towards objectives The activities include the construction of three wells and seven latrines in three of the 24 targeted

3 villages Masao, Bengie and Fulahun in the . The various farming groups in CAPS communities in Pujehun have now begun harvesting their crops- The Project Animators, the Project Supervisor and the Field Officers continue to monitor these farming activities. Also, about 100 community members of the CAPS communities, drawn seven village communities received training on participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation in the Pujehun branch; these communities were also helped to identify and analyze their own hygiene and sanitation problems and address them through their own appropriately chosen methods. The CAPS project was provided with six new 125cc XL Honda motorbikes to help facilitate the movement of staff in the field.

War Amputees Reintegration and Empowerment

Objective: War amputees are empowered for sustainable reintegration and resettlement.

Progress towards objectives The War Amputees in Pujehun, Bombali and Koinadugu continue to benefit from skills training on tailoring and empowerment through agricultural support in the form of seeds and tools to do backyard gardening from the War Amputees Reintegration and Empowerment project of the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society. They are also receiving training in Soap Making in Pujehun and Kabala. Some of the amputees have started harvesting their vegetables in the Port Loko and Koinadugu branches. Amputees in the Western Area received school aid from the Sierra Leone Red Cross in the form of school fees and text books for at least 300 children. The project has also made it a priority to help these amputees maintain an average level of economic self sufficiency in their various communities by constantly monitoring their skills retention and supporting them for a period of six months after graduation.

Community Reintegration and Development Project

Progress towards objectives This project is funded by the European Commission and bi-laterally implemented by both the Spanish Red Cross team and the Sierra Leone Red Cross in over 50 village communities in the Koinadugu, Bombali, Tonkolili and Kono districts; helping those communities in their peace consolidation and economic development through agricultural support for improved harvests. However, the European Commission is ending its support to the implementation of this project in December this year.

The project continues to monitor the activities of farming groups in the Rowala, Makrabai, Mabaripoli, Kumrabai, Robkankan in the Gbonkolenken chiefdom; Magbankoh, Rothunk, Mange, Maraka, Rothawa, Makoblo and Macamp in the Kholifa Rowalla chiefdom and to 20 communities in Kono. All CRDP communities continue to engage in income generating activities such as soap making and selling of agro-products.

The purchase of livestock has been completed and they have been distributed to the various farming groups in the target communities. Drying floors have been constructed and are now been used by the community people. Partners for the programme include the Spanish RC (and back donors), IFRC, European Commission.

Disaster Management

Goal: The effects of disasters in the districts most at risk in Sierra Leone are mitigated through efficient interventions of Sierra Leone Red Cross Society and enhanced capacities of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the Office of National Security (ONS) at district and national levels.

Objective: The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, at chiefdom, district and national levels are actively

4 saving lives through disaster prevention, mitigation and response.

Progress towards objectives This Programme is funded by the European Commission to implement a disaster management capacity building project in Sierra Leone. The Disaster Management Coordinator and the Assistant Community Based Health Programme Coordinator with technical inputs from the Federation Delegation in Freetown, and with funding support from the EU/ECHO and Federation Regional Office in Dakar, have been coordinating series of disaster and health emergency responses in the country, instituting control and prevention methods for watery diseases such as Cholera through training. First aid Actions Teams that were deployed in 48 locations through out the country, continue to provide first-aid services to people in their various localities.

At the recently held presidential inauguration, more than 100 casualties who either suffered from exhaustion or fainting received emergency first aid services and hospital referrals to the central Government Hospital by the western area branch volunteers. The Disaster Management Programme together with the Fundraising and Communications departments of the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society has just concluded a commercial first-aid training session at the British Council at Tower Hill for some staff members of the Justice Sector Development Programme as well as some staff of the International non governmental organization, WAR CHILD.

The 45 communities in the nine disaster management capacity building branches continue to carry out risk reduction activities- construction of river banks and fire belts, after completing the Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment in their various communities. Monitoring meetings were held with officials of the European Commission and the EU monitor at the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to measure progress against objectives. There was marked success in implementation. Partners for the programme include Finnish RC/Government, Swedish RC/Government/Swedish Rescue Services Agency, ICRC, IFRC (Freetown, Lagos, Dakar and Geneva), European Commission, Office of National Security and Private donors.

Community Based Health and Care

Goal: The morbidity and mortality rates of children below five years of age and women of child-bearing age (WCBA) have been reduced and health status of the most vulnerable improved.

Progress towards objectives Through a network of trained volunteers, the Red Cross has been engaging the local population to raise awareness of the most acute health issues such as Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB). The importance of breastfeeding and immunization are also promoted. During the reporting period, some 7,841 pregnant women, 673 lactating women, 18,211 children under five years, 11,605 children over five years and adults were reached. About 20,540 children had their growth monitored; 19,922 people, including 7,841 pregnant women and 18,201 children aged under-five were immunized against Measles. Traditional birth attendants (TBAs), overseen by the Red Cross, assisted in 1,878 deliveries. Red Cross clinics that were previously supported by the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society partner organizations have been working on a cost-recovery basis offering medical consultations, treatment, essential drugs, immunization and growth monitoring services.

The SLRCS health coordinator organized the training workshop for public health emergency and avian influenza in Freetown. This was co-facilitated by both the disaster management and community based health and care coordinators of the SLRCS and an expert from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. The report will be circulated. It is expected that the capacities of the NS Health staff and volunteers in public health in emergencies will be strengthened and prepare the NS especially volunteers in the event of an Avian Influenza, particularly with regards surveillance and reporting early warning signs. Also, the programme received and directly worked with the senior health and care advisor of the British

5 Red Cross visited the national society on 11 November 2007 who visited the national society to learn about the SLRCS activities on the field, particularly the activities that have to do with tuberculosis and other community based health and care programme, to help the national society do more on the TB work. The British Senior Health and Care Advisor visited selected branch health clinics and other operational communities of the SLRCS community based health and care programme in Moyamba, Bo, Kenema and Pujehun branches.

The community based health programme organized basic training for 260 volunteers on community based first aid and cholera preparedness, employing the participatory method, enabling participants to share ideas as well as learn from others.

The Branch Health and Branch Field Officers have been monitoring the use of ITNs by communities where these mosquito nets were distributed. Social mobilization for community people in the 13 operational branches in Sierra Leone – Bo, Koinadugu, Port Loko, Kambia, Bonthe, Tonkolili, Kono, Kailahun, Pujehun, Bonthe, Kenema, Moyamba and the Western Area on the use of the bed net, environmental sanitation and the use of the new malaria treatment (Amodiaquine and Artesunate – ACT) was done by the Community Based Health Officers and some trained volunteers.

Supported by the Federation delegation, the SLRCS developed and submitted a 12 month proposal to the European Union. The objective of the proposal is to combat Lassa fever in the 16 Chiefdoms of the . The response to the proposal by the EU has not been positive. WHO country office has been awarded the contract.

The President, Acting SG and the HoD Federation held meetings with representatives of Mamasnet to explore ways of supporting the health activities of the NS. Mamasnet is a United States based NGO specialized in working with third world countries to address community based health and environmental problems. Further discussions will be held in due course.

The activities of the Malaria Keep-up programme. Many of the volunteers could now venture out on their regular house-to-house visits for fear of being misinterpreted as campaigning for a certain political party and then manhandled in the process. Sierra Leone Red Cross Society volunteers are working in close collaboration with Ministry of Health and Sanitation staffs in the implementation of the programme. Volunteers do not only refer sick people to health clinics for treatment and immunization, but they sometimes accompany them, and in some cases assist nurses with growth monitoring and health education.

Partners for the programme include British RC, Danish RC, the Spanish RC (and their back donors), Finnish RC/Government, Swedish RC/Government, ICRC, IFRC, European Commission, Global fund, National AIDS Secretariat and Private donors.

Organizational Development

Goal: The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society is a well functioning Red Cross Society.

Objective: The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society becomes a more efficient, credible and transparent national society, with strong and durable partnerships making available the needed human, material and financial resources at its headquarters and branch levels to provide quality services to the most vulnerable populations of Sierra Leone.

Progress towards objectives The NS Organizational Development (OD) plan continues to be implemented. The detailed strategy and its marketing version have now been finalized and circulated to partners. The next steps in the coming months is the elaboration of an implementation plans for each of the core programmes for the

6 next three years. The OD plan has so far received about 25% funding. More support is needed to enable the SLRCS implement this very important programme. The National Society has been able to hold its statutory meetings. The Central Committee and Managing Committee meetings where all work by staff in programme implementation are sort of evaluated to be able to ascertain the capacities, success and gaps in the operation of the National society.

The Organizational Development and Volunteer Management coordinator has been coordinating and monitoring the administrative, financial; logistic and Management systems ensuring that efficiency, accountability and communication are improved in all the branches in line with the decentralization plan.

The programme has been able to coordinate training for all the branches as well as headquarters budget holders on Fundraising and Financial Management. Various activities of the decentralization and gender process such as the reassessment of the communications sets by the Information Technology Officer, the training in Human Resource Development, Financial Management, and communications and on Reporting and the various types of reports and the channels and modes of reports have been done. However, the programme implementation was suspended as the contingency plans for the just concluded general and presidential elections overwhelmed the operations of the National Society.

The new finance development delegate took up duties. He brings along a wealth of experience working within and outside the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement in project and financial management, organisational development–project development, implementation, monitoring, reporting, controls, and institutional change/building, administration and support services fields. In particular, he has been a Financial Management and Development Advisor in Sri Lanka, a Finance Development Delegate in Nigeria, a Finance and Administration Coordinator, Tanzania and Kenya and as Finance Manager, Bangladesh and Malaysia. Over the next nine months, the finance development delegate will be accompanying and supporting the SLRCS in the organisation of the finance function and promoting improved financial management controls/mechanisms and thereby becoming a Well-functioning National Society.

With the support of the Finance Development Delegate, the SLRCS: • Reviewed the current chart of accounts which is used for data entry for 2006. It has been agreed to revise the current chart of account for data entry 2007 and onward. • Reviewed the Great Plain accounting software which in use by SLRCS and considered to use with upgraded version based on proposed New accounting system – 2007 and reporting requirements. • Developed draft SLRCS New Accounting System -2007 which is handed over to the SLRCS and PCL (Software technical support provider). Based on draft system, PCL presented demo to the SLRCS, IFRC, ICRC and Spanish Red Cross. The demo presentation is accepted by SLRCS and Donor representatives. The PCL has submitted a further draft contract for the technical support for computerization by them. The draft contract is under review and signing. • Produced the draft Account 2006 by using Great Plan accounting Software. The review will be continued to finalize and hand over to the SLRCS management and auditors. • Prepared training material for the workshop for finance staff at HQs based of New Accounting system – 2007. Organized a day workshop to train SLRCS Staff on their New Accounting System – 2007. The main objective was to provide understanding for the SLRCS New Accounting System and better usages of Chart of Accounts and Dimensions into the Great Plain Accounting Software for financial reporting and analysis. • Finance staff started coding the accounting information for 2007 from 29 November 2007 which will expedite the data entry for all financial management of the SLRCS. • Prepared a budget for SLRCS Finance Development and submitted to partners for funding. The Logical framework is in progress.

7 The Secretary General, Mr. Emmanuel Tommy and the Director of Communications Mrs. Vanessa Johnson attended a skills share training workshop in London UK. The SG also participated in the Pan African coordination Team (PACT) meeting in Manchester UK. The full reports were shared with the other members of staff and governance at the General Assembly meeting. Partners for the programme include British RC, Canadian RC, Danish RC, Netherlands RC, Norwegian RC, the Spanish RC, Finnish RC/Government, Icelandic RC, Swedish RC/Government, ICRC and IFRC (Freetown, Lagos, Dakar and Geneva).

Implementation and coordination

Context The IRFC Freetown Delegation continues to coordinate the work of the movement partners in the country in support of the National Society’s priorities. They have also been participating in a number of meetings with other national as well as international organizations to represent the Sierra Leone Red Cross, and have also been soliciting funds on behalf of the National Society.

Progress towards objectives Support to programme implementation has been provided by the ICRC and the IFRC Delegations in Sierra Leone in close collaboration with local partners. The IFRC has prioritized the integration process in line with the 10 areas for improvement in the Federation of the Future over the next few months. This process has been endorsed by the SLRCS management committee. The implementation of the integration plan has progressed well with the Logistics units. The two admin units of the Federation and the SLRCS will have been fully integrated by the end of 2007. With the support of the new Finance Development delegate, a road map has been designed to integrate the two Finance units. The plan is to have fully integrated finance management systems by the end of 2008.

Organizational Development has been central to the Federation in their support to the senior management, budget holders and branch management of the National Society and its local staff. To achieve this, the Federation Delegation has been engaging the National Society in a cohesive transformation process with key activities such as strategic planning, supporting governance, working with partners and coaching the National Society in line with the 8NS initiative and accompanying the management in the implementation of their various activities. As the focal point for the 8NS at the British RC, Josephine Shields Recass (Africa Team Leader National Society Support & Programmes Department) has been actively soliciting support from the various partners to support the OD plan of the SLRCS. As a result, the responses from the partners in supporting OD have been very positive.

As a result of non justification of advances, the Federation delegation suspended new working advances to the SLRCS until the amounts owed by the SLRCS are brought down to an acceptable minimum level. The Acting Secretary General and the senior Governance members met with the budget holders and the Finance department with a view to resolving the problem of working advances. Two weeks later, the results were very positive, as the amount owed had been brought down by some 50%. New advances have now been released for the Humanitarian Values, CBHP and OD. The DM programme that still holds high amount of working advances has had their request turned down until further improvements are made.

The Movement Coordination Group held its monthly meeting where issues of common concern were discussed. Amongst the topics discussed were the salary increase and the revision of the Memorandum of understanding. The MCG meting in October discussed outstanding issues on the 15% salary increase as from October 2007. Feedbacks on the MoU have now been received from the Swedish RC, Finnish RC, the ICRC and the Federation Secretariat. There is a revised that was to be circulated before its next meeting in December. The Head of Delegation, Federation, held meetings with the American Red Cross, Mamasnet and the Management Systems International where issues around support to SLRCS programmes were

8 discussed. Partners for the programme include British RC, Danish RC, Finnish RC/Government, Icelandic RC, Swedish RC/Government,

Looking Ahead

The International Federation Delegation continues to implement the integration process with the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society. The next step for the Federation Delegation over the next quarter will therefore be to agree on a model and timeline on how the administrative and financial units will be integrated taking into account existing capacities at both levels. Continue to play an active role in the Movement coordination mechanism. Thanks to the financial support of the Swedish RC, British RC, the ICRC and the Federation, the President, the SG and the Chairman of the Youth Commission will be attending the forthcoming statutory meetings in Geneva. The Sierra Leone Government will also be represented at the international Conference. The SLRCS and the Federation delegation will be represented at the forthcoming West Coast regional meeting by the President, the SG, HoD, the FAD and the FDD. The meeting will discuss among other things; Coordination, programming, shared learning and Organisational development.

How we work All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response (Sphere) in delivering quality and accountable assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, please access the Federation’s website at http://www.ifrc.org The International Federation’s Global Agenda Goals: activities are aligned with its Global • Reduce the numbers of deaths, injuries and impact from Agenda, which sets out four broad disasters. goals to meet the Federation's • Reduce the number of deaths, illnesses and impact from mission to "improve the lives of diseases and public health emergencies. vulnerable people by mobilizing the • Increase local community, civil society and Red Cross Red power of humanity". Crescent capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability. • Reduce intolerance, discrimination and social exclusion and promote respect for diversity and human dignity. Contact information • In Sierra Leone: Mr. Emmanuel Hindovei Tommy, Secretary General, Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, Freetown; [email protected]; phone: +232 22 22 23 84; fax: +232 22 22 90 83 • In Sierra Leone: Momodou Lamin Fye, Federation Head of Sierra Leone Delegation, Freetown; momodoulamin.fye@ ifrc.org; phone: + 232 76 67 21 25; fax: +232 22 22 81 80 • In Sierra Leone: Christophe Hartmann, ICRC Head of Sierra Leone Delegation, Freetown; [email protected]; phone: +232 22-233-162; +232-22-233-172; fax: +232-22-230 898 • In Senegal: Alasan Senghore, Head of Zone Office, Federation Operating Zone for West and Central Africa, Dakar, Senegal; [email protected]; phone: +221 33 869 36 41; fax +221 33 820 25 34

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