Network Movement for Justice and Development

12/10/2026

NMJD Hands Over Innovation Business Grants to 36 Youth Groups in Kono District

On Wednesday 7th October 2026, Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) with funding from the European Union (EU) through Christian Aid, formally handed over Innovation Business Grant Cheques to 36 youth groups across Kono District under the Catalysing Youth Leadership in Decision Making and Economic Life for Inclusive Development Project (YouLead).

The YouLead Project seeks to improve youth participation in decision making, enhance civil society activism and promote youth economic empowerment, entrepreneurship and social cohesion as an alternative to illicit mining, and reduce youth unemployment in Kono District. Each of the 36 youth groups received symbolic cheques of varying sums according to the business ideas they submitted to NMJD and the cost involved.

The event was attended by over 150 people representing different groups/communities in the district and from various walks of life. They included the Kono District Council Chairman, Mr. Sahr Augustine Sheku Dukono, representatives of the Paramount Chiefs, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Gender and Children's Affaires, Local Councils, Chief Administrator and Development Officer of the Kono District Council, Christian Aid and members of the press.

In his keynote address, Chairman Sahr Augustine Sheku Dukono commended NMJD, the EU and Christian Aid for complementing the efforts of the Kono District Council towards empowering the youth in the district. He handed over the symbolic cheques to the 36 beneficiary youth groups and formally launched the grant disbursement scheme.

"Kono is known for diamonds. But the district’s greatest resource is its youth. This grant is a challenge to the youth of Kono to prove that they can do business honestly and grow. The Council will monitor the beneficiary youth groups and we will create market linkages for them to sell their products. Do not eat your capital" he warned.

Earlier, in his welcome statement, NMJD Kono District Programme Manager, Mr. Joseph Ansumana, emphasized that the grant was not a gift, but rather a start-up investment meant to support youth to improve their livelihoods and strengthen their capacity. He, therefore admonished them to manage the grant well and with honesty and integrity. He thanked the EU and Christian Aid for the support and for believing in the youth of Kono district.

In his response, the West African Partnership Coordinator at Christian Aid, Mr. Marbey Sartie, expressed satisfaction over the rigorous selection and verification process.

"The EU and Christian Aid are proud to invest in the young people of Kono. We want to see them move from being job seekers to job creators. Use this grant well and we will continue to advocate for more support," Mr Satrtie said.

The Vote of Thanks was moved by one of the beneficiary youths on behalf of all the beneficiaries, Mr Sahr John Kemoh of the Agro Music Empire Garrie Production and Packaging. He’s visually impaired.

"We thank NMJD, EU and Christian Aid. For long, we had nurtured good ideas but we lacked the necessary capital and resources to transform our ideas into businesses. Today, they are here to help us realize our dreams. We appreciate the trust and confidence they have in us. We promise, we will not disappoint you, our chiefs and our district," Mr Kemoh said.

22/09/2026

Consultancy Opportunity!

We are looking for a consultant to review and update our Financial, Procurement, and Personnel Manuals.

Deadline: 26 Sept 2026
E-Mail: [email protected]

Click the link below for more information 👇
https://www.nmjdsl.org/call-for-expressions-of-interest-review-of-nmjd-operational-manuals/

15/09/2026

NMJD Participates in Social Norms Change Workshop in Zimbabwe

NMJD, with support from the Irish Civil Society Programme (ICSP), recently participated in Trócaire’s week-long workshop on Social Norms Change in Zimbabwe. Trócaire and its partners utilize social norms change as a core strategy to challenge harmful societal beliefs that silence women and adolescent girls, limit their leadership opportunities, and expose them to Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

This strategy is implemented through two distinct methodologies: MASIDAMA ("Thinking Differently"), which focuses on building the agency and voice of women and girls, empowering them to step up into leadership positions at all levels of community structures; and SASA! Faith, which focuses on dismantling the systemic barriers that drive gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS among women. As a key implementing partner of Trocaire, NMJD joined the Sierra Leonean delegation in Zimbabwe and shared insights on the progress made so far on the journey towards enhancing women's leadership and empowerment.

The delegation highlighted the impact of engaging men through two vital lenses: as allies (those with interest, influence, and power) and as family members (husbands, sons, and uncles). This intensive week of collaborative learning, paired with an insightful field visit, deeply renewed NMJD’s commitment to fostering an equitable environment for women’s empowerment. NMJD remains dedicated to ensuring that women and girls are safer, more empowered to speak up, ready to demand their rights, and are more equipped to play leadership roles at all levels.

10/09/2026

Check out the report on Social Norms Learning Initiative: Snapshot Report 2024–25
https://www.nmjdsl.org/social-norms-learning-initiative-snapshot-report-2024-25/

08/09/2026

NMJD Provides School Learning Materials to the Koryadu School Pupils.

Schools across Sierra Leone, including the Junior Secondary School at Koryadu, reopened on Monday 7th September 2026. The turn-out of pupils at the Koryadu Junior Secondary School was high, with more than 70 pupils in attendance. This attendance reflected the pupils’ enthusiasm and commitment to continuing their education. As part of the reopening activities, newly promoted JSS 1 pupils who performed exceptionally well in the National Primary School Examination (NPSE) were recognized and given educational materials as gifts, including school bags, pens, and books. The gesture celebrated their hard work and encouraged them to remain committed to their studies.

One of the pupils recognized was Rosaline Bao, the school’s top NPSE performer, who achieved an impressive score of 294 marks and set a new school record. Reflecting on her achievement, Rosaline Bao said she was happy to be named the school’s best-performing pupil and expressed her determination to work even harder to maintain her academic progress.
Rosaline Bao also encouraged her fellow pupils to study hard and stay focused, especially as they are looking ahead towards the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in two years.

Overall, the reopening activity marked a successful start to the new school year and it also created an opportunity to recognize academic excellence, motivate pupils, and promote a culture of hard work and achievement at the Koryadu Junior Secondary School.

07/09/2026

NMJD Returns from Benin World Social Forum (WSF)

With support from Medico International, NMJD joined other CSOs, NGOs, advocacy campaigns, grassroots movements and activists from across the world and championed “Social Justice and Climate Action” at this year’s week-long World Social Forum held in Cotonou, Benin from 4-8 August 2026. This historic global gathering convened delegates from over 120 countries to address critical issues intersecting land rights, water security, gender equality, climate change, and state-led injustices across Africa. NMJD was represented at the WSF by its Programmes Coordinator, Northern Region, Ms. Mariama Alice Kamara. and the Regional Programmes Manager, Eastern Region, Mr. Joseph Ansumana.
As a global platform for uniting diverse civil society groups, the WSF is a clear expression of global activism aimed at creating a more equitable alternative where “another world is possible”. The Benin WSF was held amidst political turmoil in the host country, which saw last ditch attempts by the Benin government to prevent the global event from taking place, and even deny some participants, especially the caravans, entry into the country. These failed attempts raised serious global concerns among progressives and human rights campaigners around the world about the protection and safety of the civil society space.

Despite these initial administrative and regulatory hurdles that delayed the official opening ceremony of the WSF on August 4, civil society organizations (CSOs) demonstrated remarkable resilience and desire to strengthen solidarity and collaboration. Participants quickly mobilized into self-organized working groups to spearhead vital dialogues on climate justice, agroecology, youth empowerment, and gender equality.

NMJD representatives engaged dynamically across various interactive workshops, gaining global insights while also prominently showcasing NMJD’s ongoing grassroots initiatives such as the MASIDAMA Methodology in Karene district and the conflict resolution mechanisms for cattle rearers and crop farmers in Kono district, all geared towards building a peaceful and sustainable societal transformation.

20/08/2026

Karene District continues to face serious challenges after the collapse of the Mathehun Bridge and the ongoing deterioration of the Makeni–Kamakwie road. These failures affect everything from food security to healthcare, education, trade and emergency access for over 290,000 residents.

SEND Sierra Leone and NMJD are calling for urgent government action to secure safe interim routes, mobilise construction, restore ferry services and publish a transparent, time‑bound delivery plan for the entire corridor.

Click the link below to read the full paper.

Urgent Government Action on the Makeni–Kamakwie Road, Mathehun Bridge and Alternative CrossingsBy Amkam / August 20, 2026 Read paper

12/08/2026

Happy International Youth Day!

Today, we honor every young person who is learning, leading, creating, and protecting their communities. Your voice matters. Your ideas matter. Your leadership matters.

Across Sierra Leone, young people continue to inspire us with their courage, innovation, and commitment to building a better future. From community development to climate action, from entrepreneurship to advocacy, youth are shaping the nation with purpose and passion.

At NMJD, we celebrate the incredible young leaders driving change in their chiefdoms, districts, and communities proving every day that when youth are empowered, progress becomes unstoppable.

Happy International Youth Day! Let’s continue building a Sierra Leone where youth potential is supported, celebrated, and truly unstoppable.

06/08/2026

NMJD Mentors Young Women in Karene District

NMJD concluded the first phase of its Leadership, Coaching, and Life Skills Mentorship sessions for young women in Karene district on Saturday 1st August 2026. The two days training session took place in Kamakwie and it brought together 42 of the 54 members of the Karene Young Women in Governance Network (KYWiGN). The participating women received coaching and mentorship skills on key topics, including Advocacy Strategies and Local Resource Mobilization. During the training, members were also guided on how to restructure the network’s leadership in accordance with its constitution to improve its effectiveness and sustainability.

Also, the women were encouraged to revive and strengthen their advocacy efforts in remote communities across the district. The objective of this capacity building engagement is to strengthen the Network, enhance the skills and confidence of its members, and support them to continue to provide the appropriate leadership and advocate inclusive development.

The Network President, Mariama Sesay, together with the Financial Secretary and other executive members, expressed their sincere appreciation to NMJD and Trócaire for their continuous support. They also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Network’s operations and advancing its mission across Karene District.

31/07/2026

NMJD has successfully completed its first phase of political leadership training and accompaniment for women in the Karene district, which was held in Kamakwie from July 29 to 30, 2026. 40 out of the 57 members of the Karene Women in Governance (KWiG) Network participated in the two-day session. They received guidance on improving their leadership structure, the operational effectiveness of the Network, and their dedication to continuous growth. The training also covered key topics like Advocacy Strategies and Political Campaigning. These sessions were led by the NMJD team.

The overarching objective of this training is to ensure the KWiG members demonstrate improved knowledge, skills and confidence to undertake local advocacy, and meaningful community campaigns. The President of the Network, Madam Mbaluza M.J Kamara, along with her 13-member executive team, reaffirmed their strong commitment to strengthening the Network and expressed gratitude for the support received from NMJD and Trócaire