PEACE AND SECURITY
The 11 years civil conflict in the country resulted to lawlessness and brutality at all level as well as human rights/violations such as arbitrary arrest and detention and attacks on innocent citizens, whose legacies remained even after the war in our communities. This is manifested by the proliferation of Kangaroo courts, which levy fines on people especially the poor, coupled with the incompetence of local court staff that are untrained and appointed by paramount chiefs. This resulted in a situation where people especially the illiterates (women, youth and poor old men) have little or no access to structures that redress/address conflicts for them. The programme seeks to promote and maintain a fair justice system that is accessible by all regardless of status, peaceful co-existence among the people and the protection of human rights.Read more

MINING AND EXTRACTIVES
High influx of foreign mining companies and the lack of pro-poor mining policies coupled with inadequate implementation mechanisms reinforce the powerlessness of the people and undermine their livelihood goals. Artisanal mining is largely uncontrolled and uncoordinated resulting to high rate of smuggling, environmental hazards and poor living/working conditions The government is largely promoting the economic agenda of the International Financial Institutions to the extent that the real livelihood needs of the poor are compromised in favour of foreign mining companies/investment. The programme seeks to promote good corporate governance , environmental protection, community beneficiation and strict adherence to international standards. Read more

YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
Youths constitute two-thirds of the Sierra Leone population and the work force of the country, yet they are the most disempowered. They lack voice in decision-making processes and even in matters regarding their welfare. They lack access to employment, education and training opportunities. The focus of the programme is on improving the standards of youths by ensuring that their livelihood concerns are effectively represented in government and non-government planning, budgeting and implementation processes at all levels. Read more

PROMOTING FOOD SECURITY
Farmers form about 70 percent of the country's five million plus people; 80 percent of them live in rural areas where poverty is more severe. Farming in Sierra Leone is generally characterized by poverty, hardship and suffering, as virtually all the farmers are engaged in subsistence arable farming. Agriculture, which used to be the mainstay of the economy, now accounts for only 45 percent of the country's gross domestic product. Globalization has also had its devastating consequences on the lives of poor people in the country. It makes their situation worse off than ever before, as prices of basic food stuffs keep on rising beyond the reach of the ordinary woman and man.

The food security project aims at building on several years of NMJD's advocacy and capacity building work with local communities. It focuses on promoting food sovereignty in five districts in the south and eastern regions through the establishment of community seed banks and the mobilization and organization of local communities into functional farmers' associations/cooperatives. Presently, NMJD is supporting 26 farmers associations in Bo, Pujehun, Kenema, Kailahun and Kono districts. The project involves the provision of seeds, food for work, tools, training and agricultural extension services to farmers, as well as value-adding equipment such as garri processing and rice milling machines. The project is implemented using the rights-based approach. This is because NMJD considers food as a right, which every citizen must enjoy to the fullest.

ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE (ODC) PROCESS
NMJD undertook an Organizational Assessment (OA) process in August 2006 to identify and examine the factors affecting the growth and development of the organization. This exercise was undertaken against the background of the changing environment in Sierra Leone in recent years and how NMJD would respond to these challenges effectively within a rapidly changing environment.

This requires working in new dynamic ways. The exercise examined nine organizational domains: strategic direction and relevance, impact, resources, programmes, systems and processes, governance and leadership, learning, external relationships and organizational culture. This was followed by the development of the ODC Strategy and Plans. These plans aim at addressing areas of ineffectiveness so that NMJD can be better able to meet its organizational goals, as well as building on its strengths. The Change Management Team (CMT) was set up to drive forward the implementation of the ODC process.

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION (KMC)
NMJD has a long history of building effective relationships with its partners, with local communities, and with civil society organizations. The very essence of NMJD's work is communications: communicating to build the confidence and capacity of others, communicating to change policy and communicating to secure funding. Yet, during the OA process, undertaken to 'identify and examine the factors affecting the growth and development of NMJD', communications, and in particular the area of knowledge management (sharing and learning), emerged as a key concern.

In response to this Assessment, and in recognition of the need to secure more effective communications systems both within and outside NMJD, the organization established a Knowledge Management and Communications Unit. The role of the Unit is to oversee a process whereby attitudinal and cultural shifts, as well as new communications systems and resources, will be introduced to increase the effectiveness of the organization's internal and external communications. With the communications capacity of NMJD staff built, there will be sharing of information and learning from one another more effectively, leading to the development of programmes that have a significant impact on NMJD's work.