Environmental Management and Research Centre

Our role in the pluralistic extension and advisory services system in Sierra Leone

EMARC-SL, as an organization, worked with rural people providing extension services in climate-smart agriculture, rural energy creation, trainings and sustainable agricultural land management practices and also working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security as Service Provider in Southern Province

Our Commitment to Providing Gender Equitable Services

EMARC/SL is a community based organization that operates on the principle of self reliance and empowerment of women and men in vulnerable community in the following areas.

Rice production and value chain

o Linking Agriculture to Natural Resources and Nutrition (LANRN Project). This project work with women to collect natural food resources in forest and prepared high nutritious food for pregnant women and children- Eg pumpkin, is cook like a cassava in Lumps and some edible forests vegetables leaves is cooked as source with snails as meat to produce high value food.

o Women are beneficiaries of snail farms and honey bee production.

o Our constitution has a mandate to give equal opportunity to women especially the most vulnerable groups.

o Our community memberships comprised of 65% of women and 35% of men since women are engaged in vegetable gardening and poultry rearing.

o We train women as well as men in village saving and loan scheme which gears towards women empowerment.

o Sub registered project of EMARC/ SL known as ‘’Integrated Approach to Sustainable Agriculture Project ( INTASAP)

Our Contributions to Improving Nutrition in Sierra Leone

EMARC/SL is registered with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security. This certificate gave mandate to operate in the food security sector which means catering for highly protein food for our targeted beneficiaries. EMARC/SL is highly involved in community project design and have implemented a project called ‘’Linking Agriculture to Natural Resources and Nutrition (LANRN Project)’’. This project work with women to collect natural food resources in forests and prepared high nutritious food for pregnant women and children- Eg pumpkin, is cut in large lumps and cook like a cassava Lumps and some edible forests vegetables leaves is cooked as source with snails as meat to produce high value protein food. We as an organization is also highly involved in distributing chickens, ducks and small ruminants to women group for rearing and marketing. This is replicated each year as they multiply in numbers to other groups. Most of the targeted group working with our organization are engaged in vegetable gardening, snail farming and honey farming to augment their food values.

OUR VISION:

EMARC /SL envision to build stable communities that are environmentally friendly, just, accountable and responsive to the needs of the poor and marginalised with dignity for glorifying the creator and his creation, by integrating environmental sector that achieves right base management of environmental resources inside and outside environmental management areas which benefit present and future generations of Sierra Leone and humankind in general.

OUR MISSION:

EMARC/SL works to enhance institutional and community abilities to recognise and manage environmental problems, while supporting activities geared towards improved and long-lasting environmental management techniques. This entails supporting Government’s efforts to adopt environmental policies consistent with international conventions, develop and implement a comprehensive disaster management strategy and improve national capabilities for sustainable waste management, climate change and natural resource management.

OUR PURPOSE:

EMARC develops and works through networks worldwide to promote environmental safety through networking, action-oriented documentation of environmental degradation and the cross cultural exchange of skills.

OUR VALUES

1. Fairness, equity and justices in all of its operations

2. Respect Earth and life in all its diversity.

3. Care for the community with understanding, Compassion and love.

4. Secure the earth’s bounty and beauty for present and future generation.

5. Protect and restore the integrity of the Earth’s ecological systems, with special concern for biological diversity and the natural processes that sustain life

6. Eradicate or reduce poverty as an ethical, social and environmental imperative

7. Planning and supporting issues relating to gender, children, religious, poor and cultural aspects of the local population.

OUR STATUS

National NGO legally registered with the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development and SLANGO. Affiliated with School of Environmental Sciences, Njala University, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-SL), Ministry Of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS), City And District Councils

OUR AIM :

The higher level aim of EMARC/SL is to respond to the aspiration of the United Nation’s Environmental Frame work by ensuring effective functioning of the various environmental sectors and to achieve sustainable development through sound Environmental Management and by establishing an effective information system that will protect, manage and mitigate sensitive environmental challenges.

OUR OBJECTIVES :

1. To adopt innovative means of information sharing and capacity building to promote environmental protection and reverse environmental degradation.

2. To establish and strengthen environmental protection standards, monitor changes in and publish result on environmental quality and resource management.

3. To reduce the increasing incidence of gender base violence and sexual abuses to women in general and adolescent girls in particular.

4. To promote timely action by integrating prevent- ion and mitigation and adaptation effort into the area of environmental issues and practical management through sustained effort which include reducing people’s vulnerability to environmental changes.

5. To enhance essential ecological processes for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable yield of our natural resources.

6. To address the urgent needs of rural and urban environment in Sierra Leone and assist the economically and socially weaker section of the community towards the improvement of their physical, mental, social and spiritual quality of life.

OUR STRATEGIES:

EMARC undertakes the management and protection of the environment through five major strategic themes; Rural Energy Education and training, Networking and advocacy, Research and Resource centre, Environment and livelihood management, Sustainable agriculture and biodiversity management.