ABC-Development successfully conducted a multi-day training on the MOSABI curriculum in Kambia District as part of the USAID-supported Strengthening Peace Infrastructure and Accountability through Community-led Peacebuilding and Empowerment of Women and Youth as Leaders in Sierra Leone (P2P) project.
The training was held across communities in Bramaia Chiefdom and other selected chiefdoms in the district. It was facilitated by the P2P team of ABC-Development and attended by staff members including Mabinty Suma, Abdulai F. Dumbuya, Foday Capitalist Bangura, and Adama Suma. A total of 300 participants took part in the exercise, comprising 190 women and 110 men drawn from various communities, including youth and persons with disabilities. Participants were organized into 50 Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups, each consisting of 25 members.
The training formed part of broader efforts to empower communities, particularly women and youth, to engage in sustainable income-generating activities and reduce their vulnerability to politically motivated violence. Through the MOSABI curriculum, participants were equipped with practical knowledge in financial literacy, savings mobilization, loan management, record keeping, business profit and loss analysis, and conflict resolution. Each session began with an overview of the P2P project, highlighting its objectives, implementation progress, and the importance of economic empowerment as a foundation for peacebuilding.
During the sessions, facilitators also discussed the root causes of conflict in Sierra Leone and emphasized the role of financial inclusion, trust, and cooperation in promoting peaceful coexistence. Special attention was given to inclusive participation, ensuring that women, youth, and persons with disabilities were actively engaged throughout the training. Participants shared experiences from their communities and explored how the MOSABI approach could be applied to address challenges in areas such as education, health, agriculture, and household livelihoods.
The training was highly interactive, with participants actively contributing to discussions and practical exercises. Time management was effective, and the majority of participants demonstrated a strong willingness to adopt the VSLA principles introduced during the sessions. Community stakeholders played a key role in mobilizing participants, which helped ensure broad participation despite challenges such as the farming season and trading activities, particularly on weekly luma market days.
Some challenges were encountered during implementation, including limited financial resources for the activity and competing livelihood demands on participants’ time. However, the strong working relationship between ABC-Development and community leaders helped mitigate these challenges and ensured that the targeted groups were reached across the selected communities.
As a result of the training, women, men, and youth increased their knowledge of financial literacy and gained improved understanding of how to access and manage financial services through VSLAs. The activity contributed to strengthening community capacity for savings, credit access, and collective problem-solving, which are essential for economic stability and peacebuilding.
An additional highlight of the training was the involvement of members of the artists’ union, who used drama skits and music performances to reinforce key messages from the MOSABI curriculum. This creative approach enhanced community engagement and made the sessions more lively and memorable for participants.
Overall, the MOSABI training reinforced ABC-Development’s commitment to promoting peace, accountability, and economic empowerment at the community level. By strengthening financial skills and encouraging inclusive participation, the activity has laid a foundation for increased resilience, reduced conflict risk, and sustainable development in Kambia District.
