About Us
Develop Salone (DESAL) is a leading national NGO dedicated to driving sustainable development in Sierra Leone.
Organizational Overview
Founded in 2009, Develop Salone (DESAL) is a leading national NGO dedicated to driving sustainable development in Sierra Leone. Operating across eight districts— Falaba, Koinadugu Bombali, Karene, Port Loko, Tonkolili, Kambia, and Western Rural—DESAL works to empower vulnerable communities by fostering self-reliance, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and enhancing resilience against the impacts of climate change. Our organization addresses critical areas such as food security, women's empowerment, education, environmental protection, and good governance. Through innovative programs and partnerships, we work tirelessly to create lasting positive change in the communities we serve.
Organizational Overview
Founded in 2009, Develop Salone (DESAL) is a leading national NGO dedicated to driving sustainable development in Sierra Leone. Operating across eight districts— Falaba, Koinadugu Bombali, Karene, Port Loko, Tonkolili, Kambia, and Western Rural—DESAL works to empower vulnerable communities by fostering self-reliance, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and enhancing resilience against the impacts of climate change. Our organization addresses critical areas such as food security, women's empowerment, education, environmental protection, and good governance. Through innovative programs and partnerships, we work tirelessly to create lasting positive change in the communities we serve.
Our Mission
DESAL sets out to empower communities through innovative and sustainable solutions in food security, women empowerment and environmental and climate change.
Our Vision
DESAL envisions a poverty-free society that is socially cohesive, economically self-reliant and conscious about basic rights and responsibilities.
Our Mission
DESAL sets out to empower communities through innovative and sustainable solutions in food security, women empowerment and environmental and climate change.
Our Vision
DESAL envisions a poverty-free society that is socially cohesive, economically self-reliant and conscious about basic rights and responsibilities.
Our Approach
We prioritize community-based capacity-building and behaviour change in agroforestry, water and sanitation, and climate justice, including the support of livestock production, and community gardening. Our interventions target women, youth, and other vulnerable groups. Our work is driven by community buy-in, key stakeholder engagement and a continuous feedback loop that informs our decision-making in all communities we serve.
Strategic Partnerships
DESAL has cultivated strong relationships with international donors and development partners, including:
Irish Aid, Solidaridad West Africa, MISEREOR, Trocaire, European Union, COOPI
Our History
Develop Salone (DESAL) is a non-governmental organization established in 2005 by a philanthropist named Al-Hassan KS Sesay after he graduated from Njala University. He was motivated during his course of study in Benin to establish a non-governmental organization, upon which he called Mr. Mohamed K. Sesay and explained to him his dream and idea that he derived from what he was seeing while in Benin. Upon several discussions and planning, they decided to establish a local NGO in Sierra Leone. When Al-Hassan KS Sesay returned from Benin, he decided to call some of his colleagues' students, with whom they had graduated from Njala University. They came together as a family to form an organization called Develop Salone (DESAL) in 2005 and later established an office at Clinetown in Freetown after the registration of the organization in 2009.
2005
DESAL founded by Al-Hassan KS Sesay and colleagues from Njala University.
2009
Official registration of the organization and establishment of the first office in Clinetown, Freetown.
2012
Relocation of headquarters to Makeni to better serve provincial communities.
2014
First project implementation - Ebola Recovery project funded by Trocaire.
2015-2016
"SULDIGA" project funded by Irish Aid increases public awareness of DESAL's work.
2016-2019
MISEREOR project further enhances the organization's visibility.
2019-2022
Implementation of EU consortium project "Governance Accountability under Gender Empowered Development by Civil Society (GAUGED)"
As a young organization, there were many challenges to overcome, such as the fact that some employees were not paid and had to use their savings to fund the organization's day-to-day operations and growth. Purposefully, DESAL operations focus on the provinces, and the organization's mission and vision are to help poor rural communities achieve sustainable development.
Our Core Values
Value | Description |
|---|---|
Commitment | We are committed to providing efficient service delivery to our beneficiaries and their communities. |
Integrity | Honesty and accountability are the bedrock of our organization. We maintain a two-way communication line with stakeholders through sharing important miles stones, successes and challenges and encourage community feedback. |
Dignity | We strive to relate with beneficiaries in a way that their self-worth is not eroded because they are recipients of humanitarian services. Rather, we prepare them with livelihood skills for self-reliance. |
Equity and Inclusion | We believe everyone deserves equal access to resources and opportunities, regardless of their background or identity. |
Sustainability | We strive to create solutions that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. |
Innovation | We embrace new ideas and technologies to drive progress and achieve greater impact. |
Collaboration | We partner with communities, governments, and other organizations to amplify our reach and effectiveness. |
Accountability | We are committed to measuring our progress and using data to learn and improve. |
Key Achievements
Our Team
Our diverse team is committed to driving positive change, empowering communities, and making radical inclusion a reality in Sierra Leone.Â
Al-Hassan K. S. Sesay
Founder & Executive Director
Ibrahim Kamara
Programs Manager
Mohamed Khabin Sesay
Admin Manager
Emmanuel Bobson Samson Conteh
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Communications Officer
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Salamatu Sahid Kamara
Volunteer
Fatmata Dawo
Head of Finance
Ibrahim Sesay
District Coordinator - Port Loko & Kambia District
Foday Al-Hassan Sesay
District Coordinator - Tonkolili and Koinadugu Districts
Abdul Dixon Kamara
Field Officer
Abubakarr Sesay
Field Officer
Mariama Kabba
Volunteer
