PICOT Ends Chiefdom Land Governance Exercise in Pujehun
The Partners Initiative for Conflict Transformation (PICOT), supported by WHH through the Land For Life Secretariat, concluded its monthly Chiefdom Strengthening Exercise with Land Committees in Kpanga Chiefdom, Pujehun District, on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Held at the Kpanga Court Barry in Pujehun Town, the workshop brought together Paramount Chief PC Andrew Ibrahim Jaiah Kaikai, section chiefs representing nine sections, landowners, land users, local women leaders, and delegates from the Pujehun District Multi-Stakeholder Platform.
Maxwell V. Kemokei, District Director for PICOT in Pujehun, explained that the initiative focuses on building the capacity of local land committees to ensure transparent, accountable, and inclusive management of land resources.
"This session offered committee members a platform to clarify their roles, evaluate ongoing operational challenges, and design actionable solutions for local land disputes," Kemokei noted.
He re-affirmed that PICOT and the Land For Life Secretariat will maintain ongoing support for community structures to foster stronger collaboration among traditional leaders, property owners, and land users across the district.
The regular strengthening exercises form a key component of a wider campaign aimed at educating citizens on statutory rights, obligations, and conflict resolution mechanisms under national legislation, including the Customary Land Rights Act of 2022 and the National Land Commission Act of 2022.
To date, PICOT has established active Chiefdom Land Committees across five chiefdoms: Kpanga, Kpanga Krim, Makpele, Soro Gbeima, and Malen.
Sylvernus Joseph Karim, PICOT District Facilitator, stressed that local involvement is critical to achieving sustainable, community-led land management.
"Ensuring that land decisions are made through participatory processes strengthens local governance structures and supports the seamless implementation of Sierra Leone's land legal framework," Karim said.
Organizers emphasized that continuous engagement, monitoring, and training will be essential to turn these capacity-building sessions into long-term improvements in local land management.
Moving forward, PICOT and the Land For Life Secretariat plan to extend their technical assistance and capacity building throughout Pujehun District.
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