From the organisation?s experience, two approaches that proved very effective at promoting gender equality, empowering women and overcoming many of the obstacles women face, and which have impacted directly on improved livelihoods security, are Community Conversations (CC) and Living peace groups (LPG), two approaches that complement each other: the first approach covers general community concerns which the community itself is facilitated to identify; while the second approach focuses purely on gender issues especially on domestic and sexual based violence, and aims to address the inequitable norms and beliefs about male and female identities and social roles that sustain violence. It is based inside the household and with couples that become community role models for improved gender equality. Through CC, community members come together to discuss issues affecting their development (especially gender inequality, and disability issues) and identify strategies to address them. It aims to generate behaviour change, especially with men?s attitude and treatment of women, and to encourage communities to identify ways to address gender and disability issues that affect their livelihoods and wellbeing. Experience gained with the AVDP and MDF West Africa Training and Consultancy projects were very positive in building social cohesion and empowering participants (farmers) to work together successfully in the different groups that were formed to run the activities. The LPG approach has a transformative impact on behaviours and relationships. It was used in all communities we operate in Tonkolili District, with very positive impacts. From a gender perspective, these changes have addressed issues of equity, by improving the conditions of women and disable people, in terms of their freedom from sexual and gender based violence, reduced workloads, improved health, food security and improved relationships across all family members. This strategy also showed evidence of addressing women?s strategic interests, by starting to address the structures that oppress women. This is seen in reports of women?s involvement in decision making about and control of household rice stores, as well as their involvement in household, reproductive health issues and agricultural planning. This approach will greatly help in facilitating much greater engagement of women and youths in climate change, food production and other income generating activities of the project. Both CCs and LPGs will be included alongside the core activities to ensure improved social cohesion and gender equality and tackle some of the root causes of poverty

Local stakeholders have been identified and involved in project development including Paramount Chiefs, section and village Chiefs, landowning families and communities bordering the project area, women, youths and disabled persons. These stakeholders and others will continue to be directly involved with the implementation of activities throughout the lifetime of the project. A comprehensive package of benefits to ensure the integrity of the project area has been agreed with local stakeholders. The package includes provision of infrastructural supports, sustainable livelihood projects focusing on, sustainable agriculture, savings and lending schemes, and a community development fund for targeting disabled youths and women in the 3 Chiefdoms.

SEF-SL is a community-based organisation that is badly in need of support from donors, INGOs and Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the form of organizational development, technical support to staff to increase their effectiveness in delivering on the project. The organization also needs material support (computers, printers, digital cameras, furniture, motorbikes etc.) in order to fully function as a key proponent in conserving the protected areas in Tonkolili. Even though the organisation has competent and motivated personnel that are ready to deliver on projects, visible in all Chiefdoms in Tonkolili, yet it lacks some basic equipment that will help ensure quality output in a timely fashion. SEF-SL has experienced working with vulnerable people in communities in Tonkolili most especially on health and livelihoods projects. Staff have been trained in concept note development/preparation; familiar with the terrain and have very good negotiations and communication skill. This project has been built on the progress made by other interventions in the district in setting up the farmer associations, VSLA, youth groups, School Nature Clubs etc. in supporting their organisational development and helping them to improve their techniques, by taking them to the next step

The establishment of community natural resource management committees will involve significant participation of indigenous people through discussions with the stakeholders, particularly the roles of local government and the Traditional Chiefs (who hold significant authority in Central Sierra Leone and, as they hold a position for life, are expected to take a longer-term view of NRM). Also a broad representation from all stakeholder groups identified in the project area will be involved with project. Also, the translation, publication and distribution of IEC materials on forest management (the Dos and don?ts) and community bylaws in the local dialect spoken by indigenes of the area which is Themne and Mende will be used to translate, document and disseminate widely for better understanding and enforcement

The project intends to introduce the use of Eco-stoves to communities and is used to reduce pressure on forest and use of fire wood and charcoal production mostly by women and children. It is a clay based cooking pot which can be made with materials from termite hills and a simple mould (usually used cans and paint tins). It is cheap, affordable and dignifying while at the same time reducing the time families spend collecting firewood and producing charcoal for domestic and commercial purposes. The stove also reduces the amount of smoke produced which is also beneficial for the health of the family. The stove replaces traditional cooking stones that tend to use more firewood. Promotion of Eco-stoves technology will be done at village level and sessions will be targeted at women and youth including the disabled.

The project intends to organise an ?end of project? meeting to share the End of Project Evaluation (EOP) report with all stakeholders at local and national levels. The meeting will be organised by the project to share the project progress, implementation and achievement of project goals including its relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact, sustainability and learnings. A key outcome of the meeting will be the incorporation of learning into the project implementation for future improvement and possible upscaling.