NMJD Launches New Project in Kono and Kenema Districts

From 26 to 30 May 2026, the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) formally launched its new project titled: “Empowering Communities to Demand Transparency in the Mining Sector and to Use Natural Resource Revenues for the Common Good,” in Lower Bambara Chiefdom, Kenema District, and in Koidu, Njagbewema and Sewafe in Kono district.  The launch was superintended by NMJD’s Programmes Coordinator, Sallieu Kamara. He also introduced and presented the Community Animators, who will coordinate and anchor project activities in their respective communities. Several community stakeholders participated in the project launch, including local authorities, chiefs, women, youth, Community Development Committees, mining companies, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, National Minerals Agency and PWDs.

The three-year project seeks to contribute towards addressing the challenges in the following three priority areas, namely:

1. Limited transparency and accountability among the mining companies and other others entrusted with the responsibility of managing subnational mining revenues, including the Community Development Fund (CDF), Agriculture Development Fund, District Development Fund, Chiefdom Development Fund and Constituency Development Fund, among others.
2. Rising food insecurity in mining-affected communities, driven largely by the operations of mining, which usually lead to environmental damage and the destruction of farmlands.
3. Low awareness among affected mining communities of their rights, as well as the mining laws and regulations designed to promote and protect those rights.

Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through INKOTA, the project will be implemented in Tankoro, Nimikoro, and Nimiyama Chiefdoms in Kono District, and Lower Bambara Chiefdom in Kenema District.