Our Community

Community Engagement at West Africa Blue

Community partnership and consent is central to West Africa Blue’s mission to preserve, restore, and sustainably manage coastal ecosystems across West Africa.

Our mission can only be achieved with the active participation and commitment of the communities on whose lands our projects reside.

We are deeply committed to upholding the principles of free, prior, and informed consent. We seek to ensure that the voices and decisions of the communities directly affected by our projects are at the forefront of our endeavors and that the benefits of our projects are shared with these communities through equitable and transparent benefit-sharing agreements.

Read-on below to learn more about the work we’re doing with local communities and the people who make it happen.

Meet Neneh Barrie!

Cookstove Captain, York Island, Sierra Leone​

Neneh leads the cookstoves team on York Island, Sierra Leone. Thanks to Neneh and her team’s energy and advocacy, over 100 cookstoves have been built on York Island. A key participant in Blue’s workshops and engagements in her community, Neneh’s passion for conservation and the future of her community has inspired countless others to get involved in their community and to help protect vulnerable mangrove forest ecosystems. ​

FPIC at West Africa Blue

At West Africa Blue, building strong partnerships with the communities in which we operate is essential to our mission. We are committed to fostering meaningful connections, respecting local traditions, and ensuring that every voice is heard in the pursuit of our mission to protect and restore mangroves in West Africa.​​

Central to our approach is the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent, a fundamental concept that respects the rights and dignity of indigenous peoples and local communities. ​

What is Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)?​

FPIC ensures that communities are informed about and have the opportunity to provide their consent to activities that may affect their lands, resources, and way of life. It is a cornerstone of our commitment to responsible and ethical environmental stewardship. ​​

FPIC embodies the idea that communities have the inherent right to make decisions about their lands and resources, free from coercion, and with access to all relevant information. FPIC is not merely a box to be checked; it is a process of genuine engagement, dialogue, and partnership.​

Meet Sallay Bendu!

Woodlot Supervisor, Gbongboma, Sierra Leone​

Sallay leads the community’s woodlot establishment in Gbongboma, Sierra Leone. A passionate and knowledgeable advocate for Blue’s work in the area, Sallay manages the community’s woodlot, which serves as an alternative fuel source for cooking (as opposed to cutting-down mangroves) and contributes to Blue’s habitat restoration efforts. A passionate leader and educator, Sallay has been an innovator in adapting cookstoves to her community’s needs and inspiring others to adopt mangrove-friendly cooking methods.​

How West Africa Blue Promotes FPIC

At West Africa Blue, we are dedicated to ensuring that FPIC is not only a guiding principle but a tangible reality in all our projects. We actively promote FPIC through the following key initiatives:

  • Community Workshops and Training Sessions: We conduct regular workshops and training sessions in collaboration with local communities. These sessions empower community members with knowledge about our projects, their rights, and environmental stewardship, enabling them to make informed decisions.

  • Extensive Consultations: We engage in extensive consultations with local stakeholders, including community leaders, elders, women and youth. These discussions enable us to understand their concerns, aspirations, and expectations, helping us shape our projects to align with community values.

  • Inclusive Representation: Throughout every stage of a project's lifecycle, we prioritize inclusive representation of local communities. We work closely with community leaders and organizations to ensure their voices are not only heard but also actively contribute to decision-making processes.

Our commitment to FPIC reflects our respect for the rich cultural heritage and diverse perspectives of West African communities. We are honored to work alongside these communities to protect and restore the vital mangroves of West Africa, recognizing that sustainable conservation can only be achieved through shared understanding, collaboration, and respect.

Meet Alpha Bundor!

Cluster Representative, Bonthe, Sierra Leone

A tireless advocate for communities, Alpha is Cluster Representative, meaning he represents a cluster of communities in his area. Alpha’s hard work and dedication supports the implementation of project activities within 8 vulnerable communities in the Bonthe area of Sierra Leone. As a Cluster Representative, Alpha is Blue’s first-line eyes and ears on the ground in communities, where he acts as a liaison between Blue and these communities to help further project activities and bring concerns and suggestions from the community to Blue. ​