Land for Life Partners Meet in Makeni to Assess Project Achievements

Land for Life Partners Meet in Makeni to Assess Project Achievements

Land for Life Sierra Leone has engaged its project partners in a consortium meeting in Makeni to review implementation progress, assess preparations for the close-out of Phase Three, document achievements, and develop strategies for sustaining project interventions beyond the current funding period.

The meeting brought together District Directors, District Facilitators, Financial Officers, and staff of the Land for Life Secretariat to assess achievements, identify challenges, and discuss future sustainability opportunities. It was officially called to order by Jacob Wilson, the Project Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and Communications Officer.

During the meeting, partner organisations presented updates on their activities through their District Facilitators, while the Secretariat reviewed progress on key activities, emerging challenges, and other developments affecting implementation.

As part of the close-out preparations, district teams were tasked with conducting self-assessments to determine their readiness for project closure and identify outstanding responsibilities ahead of the final evaluation. Partner organisations were also required to present new outcome-harvesting findings, highlighting significant changes and achievements recorded since the previous exercise.

A major focus was the Secretariat’s vision for sustaining project interventions beyond Phase Three. Each partner organisation was tasked with identifying three new project ideas, either to scale up existing interventions or explore new opportunities for future programming.

Discussions also covered key sustainability issues, including the legal status and organisational structures of partner organisations, office premises, staffing, alternative funding sources, and the development or strengthening of strategic plans.

The meeting confirmed that the project’s scheduled closure in October 2026 had been extended by two months to December 2026, providing additional time to complete outstanding activities and prepare for the close-out and evaluation. Participants also reviewed and prioritised activities for November and December, emphasising continuity, accountability, and the timely completion of responsibilities.

In his remarks, Bern Komba Lebbie, National Coordinator of Land for Life Sierra Leone, urged District Directors, District Facilitators, and Financial Officers to intensify their efforts, demonstrate tangible results, maintain proper documentation, and fulfil outstanding responsibilities ahead of the evaluation.

The consortium meeting is expected to strengthen coordination among project partners, consolidate achievements, address implementation challenges, and support efforts to sustain the gains made under Phase Three.

As the project approaches its revised closure date in December 2026, partners are expected to explore future funding and programming opportunities to continue contributing to inclusive land governance, community development, and peaceful conflict resolution in Sierra Leone.