BOARD OF ADVISORS
OF NMJD
Western Area
Mrs. Juliana Ganda
(Chairperson)
Executive Secretary, National
Commission for Democracy
Abu A. Brima
(Secretary)
Executive Director, NMJD
Southern Region
Dr Braima Josiah
Lecturer,
Mrs. Edna Caulker
Lecturer,
Eastern Region
Chief Kenneth Sahr
Tommy
Section Chief, Yengema
Mrs. Marian Moijueh
Benefits Officer, NASSIT, Eastern
Region
Rev Fr Edward
Bockarie
Vicar General, Diocese of Kenema
Northern Region
P. C. Bai Shebora
Kassagna II
Paramount Chief of Bombali Shebora
Chiefdom
Western Area
Mr Mohamed Kanu
Senior Operations Engineer,
National Petroleum
MANAGEMENT TEAM OF NMJD
Abu
A. Brima
Executive Director
Mrs. Josephine Koroma
Deputy Executive Director
Mrs. Alice A. Macarthy
Administrator
Mrs. Aminata Kelly-Lamin
Regional Director, West
Paul Lansana Koroma
Regional Director, South
S. Beny Sam
Regional Director, East
Khalidu M. Abu
Financial Controller
Sallieu Kamara
Knowledge Management and
Communication Unit Manager
ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND
OF NMJD
The Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) is a national
civil society organization. It was established in 1988 in Kenema, eastern
Sierra Leone, by nine former members of the Young Christian Students (YCS)
Movement with the aim of working towards building a just and self–reliant
Sierra Leone, where the marginalized and exploited would be equipped with the
necessary skills and knowledge and empowered to take control of their own
lives.
The inspiration to establish the Movement was borne out of the
unflinching commitment of the founders to the total liberation of the poor and
marginalized in society. The moving force in the lives of these young YCSers
was their collective commitment to the preferential ‘option for the poor’
orientation and the ‘See, Judge, Act’ methodology of ‘Training for
Transformation.’
Desirous to make this ‘option’ concrete and remain faithful to their
orientation as well as put into practice the ‘Review of Life’ methodology,
formal and informal reflection sessions brought them together to establish a
common vision and mission/agenda.
The common focus is on empowering the people as well as strengthening
their capacity to build a free, just and democratic society where there is
respect for human rights and sustainable development for the benefit of all. It
also facilitates the promotion of the collective strength of people, fosters
justice and builds the capacities of civil society organizations in solidarity
with all those struggling for empowerment, free and democratic society as well
as sustainable livelihoods.
NMJD is, therefore, generally committed to promoting good governance,
participatory democratic practices, public accountability, human rights, gender
equity and justice, social and economic justice, and a culture of peace, among
others.
Within two
years of awareness raising and community animation in Kenema district, eastern
region, the Movement soon spread to all the other districts in the eastern
region and, later, to Bo and Moyamba districts in the southern region. Today, NMJD
has extended its programmes and activities to cover the entire country.
The Network Movement for Justice and Development is a Sierra Leonean
civil society organization that engages in advocacy and strengthens/enhances
the capacity of civil society organizations to effectively engage women, men,
children, communities, government and other actors for the transformation of
society.
VISION
A just and self-reliant society (Sierra Leone) where women, men,
children and communities are conscientized and live in dignity without fear and
discrimination especially on grounds of sex, race, faith, socio-economic and
political status.
CORE VALUES
Commitment to the transformation
of society.
We believe in resilience, perseverance and motivation to work together
in pursuance of genuine and progressive change in society.
Participation and
inclusiveness at all levels
We believe in the promotion of a culture of inclusion and participation
of all partners and stakeholders.
Mutual accountability and
transparency
We recognize the importance of mutual accountability and transparency as
a practice, which promote trust and sustainable development without
discrimination. We regard these as values that NMJD is obliged not only to
promote through its work and those it interacts with, but a culture to be role
modeled for others.
Respect for individual’s
dignity
We recognize the dignity of every person and strive to listen to the
views and opinions of others and promote and protect this dignity in all our
activities.
Gender equity and justice
We recognize the value of women's contribution to society and that this
value has been demeaned and undermined for a long time. We thus seek to raise
their status and empower them not only to be recognized, but to speak up and be
heard. We believe that this can best be achieved by women, together with men,
who are sensitive to and aware of the unequal treatment and injustice suffered
by women. We commit to promote such
instruments like CEDAW etc.
Self-determination
We believe that all persons have a right to self-determination and, as
such, ensure that this right is promoted and protected in all aspects of our
work.
Teamwork and collectivism
We believe that by working in teams we are able to support one another
and thus create greater impacts in our work.
Reflection, learning and
sharing
We believe in socio-cultural and economic transformation at all levels
as the basic solution to poverty in
Mutuality in partnership
We believe in partnership as a strong means to realizing our mission and
vision. We therefore believe that all stakeholders (primary and secondary)
should be involved in decision-making and implementation of all NMJD’s activities. “Mutuality in Development Cooperation” is our
watch phrase.
Solidarity with the poor
and those struggling for change in society
We believe in solidarity with all those with whom we think alike and
remaining steadfast in our commitment to stand by the poor in their struggle to
address the root causes of poverty.
DISTINCTIVENESS
The Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) aspires to
continue to be the vanguard for social change by facilitating the mobilization
and organization of social movements and enhancing their capacity to engage at
all levels for socio-economic, cultural and political transformation using
innovative approaches and promoting alternative value systems.
PARTNERSHIPS, NETWORKS
The Network
Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) realized right from the outset that
there is value in coalition building, networking, mobilizing and enhancing the
capacity of civil society groups and communities to be able to determine their
own destiny. It was in recognition of this fact that NMJD has always encouraged
and aspired to not only play a vanguard role in the formation and maintenance
of coalitions and networks, but also working closely with them so as to maximize
their impact. Key among them are the following:
Civil Society Task Teams on the
The Network
Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) engaged the Poverty Reduction
Strategy Process way back in November 2003; one of the key outcomes of this
engagement was the emergence of regional Civil Society Task Teams on the
Civil Society Task Forces on Mining
The launch in
Canada by Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) and in Sierra Leone by the Network
Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) of the research report entitled: The
Heart of the Matter: Sierra Leone’s Diamonds and Human Security in
January 2000 which traced the uncontestable link between diamonds and some of
the bloody wars in Africa prompted the need for civil society to create a
platform where issues around mining could further be discussed and solutions
sought. The Campaign for Just Mining (CJM) in
Civil Society Alternative Process
The Civil Society Alternative
Process Sierra Leone (CSAP-SL) is a consortium of grassroots and
community-based civil society organizations operating in various parts of the
country, and which have broad-based constituencies. It was established in 2004
to provide an alternative to previous initiatives that have failed in providing
the required visionary leadership for the civil society. CSAP-SL has a
membership of over 300 active organizations and groups operating across the
country, and functional structures at chiefdom, district, regional and national
levels.
The circumstances
which normally gave rise to the convergence of the Sierra Leonean civil society
to take a common position on national issues did not create room for democratic
structures and processes to be put in place as well as developing a mode of
operations and engagement with the government and donor partners when the need
arose. This is because the issues to be addressed were very urgent and needed
emergency treatment. In the absence of popularly accepted structures and
processes, a few people, usually the leaderships, took advantage of the gaps to
pursue personal agendas. The national cause then became subjected to the whims
and caprices of a few individuals itching to occupy political offices. The
unity and cohesion of the civil society easily collapsed and became vulnerable
to political manipulations.
There have never
been any sustained efforts in peace time to organize civil society into a
strong force that would be looked at as a critical and relevant stakeholder
that could contribute meaningfully and effectively to the setting up of the
national development agenda of the country. The Civil Society Alternative
Process (CSAP) is therefore poised to use the mistakes of the past to chart a
new path and a new role for the Sierra Leonean civil society in the governance
and development processes. There is, as
a first step, the need to reclaim the respect, admiration and confidence which
the citizenry and the international community used to accord the Sierra Leonean
civil society whose erosion was due partly to the continuing silence of the
leaderships over critical national issues that required their swift
interventions, as well as their sometimes open collusion with the political
class to perpetuate and maintain bad governance.
Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP)
The Global Call to
Action Against Poverty is a worldwide alliance, committed to making world
leaders keep their promises, and to making a breakthrough in the fight against
poverty . It is not a formal institution/organization but a coming together of
hundreds of organizations from diverse backgrounds all over the globe-from
trade unions to religious groups, and from the biggest international coalitions
to the smallest civil society and grassroots organizations.
The Global Call to
Action Against Poverty Coalition Sierra Leone Chapter was launched in March
2005. The Coalition has an active membership of more than 50 civil society
organisations ranging from national and international NGOs, CBOs, religious
bodies, trade unions, student bodies, farmers, traders, women’s and youth
groups. In addition to the three key demands of the
National Advocacy Coalition on Extractives (NACE)
The National
Advocacy Coalition on Extractives (NACE) is a coalition of broad-based
independent and autonomous civil society organizations, human rights and
environmental advocacy groups, trade unions, peacebuilding, public
accountability, community development organizations that are concerned about
the extent to which mining can impact poverty reduction. The establishment of
the Coalition was premised on the fact that mining activities hugely contribute
to undermining community livelihood and promote social conflicts, environmental
degradation, child and human rights abuses and a host of other problems
resulting in poor health, hunger, poverty and general backwardness. Mining
could still be an engine for wealth creation that will lay the solid foundation
for economic growth, if only it is properly and effectively managed and
monitored.
Community Radio Network
The Community
Radio Network (CORNET) is a non-governmental, non-profit and indigenous
association working to promote electronic media professionalism by building the
capacity of media practitioners/broadcasters through training and provision of
radio equipment. By supporting the
establishment of community radios across the country, CORNET is providing a
platform at community level where Sierra Leoneans could participate in dialogue
on issues of democracy, peace, conflict resolution, social justice, gender and
children’s rights. The formation of CORNET was premised on the important role
community radio could play in the overall development of the country and in
consolidating the peace process.
National Forum for Human Rights (NFHR)
The National Forum
for Human Rights (NFHR) is a coalition of human rights organizations and
institutions that were very much concerned about the appalling human rights
situation in the country in 1997 and the absence of any coordinated efforts to
address this ugly situation, which had the potential to plunge the country into
a state of anarchy. The Forum is the
product of the common desire of national human rights organizations and
institutions to form a strong umbrella organization that would coordinate
activities geared towards reversing the human rights situation, monitor
violations and protect and promote human rights issues in the country through
awareness raising, education, research, publication, documentation and
reporting. Through the intervention of the Forum, the attention of the
international community and media was drawn to the human rights situation in
the country and many actors became interested in working with Sierra Leoneans
to draw the curtains on this era of impunity.
Partners in Conflict Transformation (PICOT)
Partners in Conflict
Transformation (PICOT) is a coalition of three organizations: Network Movement
for Justice and Development (NMJD), Methodist Church of Sierra Leone (MCSL) and
Sulima Fishing Community Development Project (SFCDP) who are desirous to
consolidate and strengthen existing peace-building and development efforts,
particularly with like-minded organizations at the community level. PICOT
facilitates pulling together of initiatives and skills in peace-building and
conflict transformation and enhances linkages between community representative
structures and policy makers at other levels - regionally, continentally and
globally.
The coalition was
borne out of the realization that civil society initiatives on peace building
were disorganized and not properly coordinated to create the desired impact on
especially local communities where the fundamental root causes of the war were
still visible and prevalent. This made the likelihood of
African Initiative on Mining, Extractive and Society
(AIMES)
The African
Initiative on Mining, Extractive and Society (AIMES) is a coalition of civil
society organizations across