By- Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

The country  remains particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels, severe floods, erratic and torrential rainfall,  biodiversity loss and associated environmental risks.

The impacts on sectors such as agriculture and fisheries threaten the basis of 60% of the economy and livelihood of 70% of people, thereby increasing conflicts risks.

On Friday, June 30, 2023 ASA Microfinance in Sierra Leone embarked on massive tree planting in afforestation nature in Lungi.

In an exclusive interview with Africa24, Mohammed Awal, Regional Manager of ASA Microfinance Sierra Leone discussed that their orginsation is highly focus on economic empowerment and underprivileged help to the needy.

“Poverty alleviation through economic empowerment by access to capacity building for the development of profit business enterprises to the poor, we believe that alleviating poverty and improving the quality of lives of the poor by providing them with access to financial services is our dreams and expectations at all time, because we trust in financial investment,” he  said.

The Regional Manager, Mohammed Awal confirmed to this medium that ASA Microfinance Sierra Leone was established in 2016 in Sierra Leone, and ASA international has branches in ten (10) regions including Lumley, Mountain Cut, Jui, Congo Town, Waterloo, Tombo, Port Loko, Kenema, Bo, Kono, Makeni, Kabala, Kambia, Tokonkili etc. He affirmed that  ASA-SL is a global financial institution operating in eight (8) countries in Africa namely Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Rwanda and others, adding that the loan caters for women  based on required groups per at least 30.

However, Two Million Leones is the threshold per person (NLe 2, 000,000) with little interest.

Speaking to the Branch Manager of ASA-SL in Lungi, Mohamed Sesay attested that the Hundred (100) Tree Planting is a landmark achievement development in the Chiefdom due to deforestation activities in the District at the moment.

“This is just a pilot phase, our goal is to plant Five thousand (500) trees across the Kaffu Bullom-Lungi in a bid to prevent flooding, erosion and loss of souls during the rains,” he suggested.

Manager Sesay strongly encouraged women within the municipality of Lungi to seize this great opportunity, and as a financial institution, they believe in small loan offer to female entrepreneurs, adding that the core objective of their project is to empower women in the country so that they can contribute to the country’s development effectively.

Basically, the loan is for small business enterprises to help overcome the idea of dependency on money lenders, develop self-help mentality and self-employment capacities of the enterprises.

Overall, their gains are to salvage  underprivileged communities to be self-reliant through involving into income generating activities.

Mabinty Gbla, a trader at Rotifunk Market in Lungi, expressed delight and joy stating that “I am a client of ASA Microfinance Sierra Leone, I have secured a huge  benefit from ASA-SL over the years, I am paying NLe 83,000 weekly.  Through ASA Microfinance Ltd, we are making ends meet with my family because my husband is jobless. We are cash trapped, and my children are going to school. With ASA-SL my family is 50% better because the economic situation in the  country is very humble. Things are very hard for the ordinary Sierra Leoneans,” She explained.