Emmah’s story may not be very different from that of many other women in coastal communities. For many residents of Sierra Leone’s coastal communities, their livelihoods hang on the benevolence of the sea. When fisher folks catch low volumes of fish or are unable to go to sea because of high tides, the entire community suffers. This situation appears to be recurring often as a result of climate change effects.

Access to finance is one of the major problems affecting coastal communities and Conakridee is no different. The banking system is not available within the coastal communities and even if they are, they could not afford the prerequisite to access loans.

In 2019, the VSLA scheme was introduced in Conakridee through UNDP/Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project “Adapting to Climate Change Induced Coastal Risks Management in Sierra Leone”, as an alternative livelihood opportunity through which groups member will save their resources and borrow among themselves without collateral.

Through the VSLA, women in the coastal communities are taking control of their financial destinies, fostering self-reliance, and creating opportunities for themselves to survive and support their families.

The VSLA provides a platform for women to come together, pool their resources, and engage in savings and lending activities. By contributing a portion of their income to the VSLAs, these women create a communal fund that acts as a financial safety net for all members. This collective effort enables them to access credit for their businesses and invest in income-generating activities.

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