Strengthening Financial Resilience and Peace Through MOSABI Training in Kambia District
Strengthening Peace Infrastructure and Accountability through Community-led
Peacebuilding and Empowerment of Women and Youth as Leaders in Sierra Leone (P2P)
ABC-Development successfully conducted a multi-day training on the MOSABI curriculum across communities in Bramaia Chiefdom and other selected chiefdoms in Kambia District.
The activity was implemented as part of the USAID-supported Strengthening Peace Infrastructure and Accountability through Community-led Peacebuilding and Empowerment of Women and Youth as Leaders in Sierra Leone (P2P) project.
The training reached 300 participants, comprising 190 women and 110 men, including youth and persons with disabilities.
Participants were organized into 50 Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups, providing a foundation for communities to strengthen savings, access credit, develop income-generating activities, and build greater economic resilience.
Facilitated by the ABC-Development P2P team, the MOSABI training focused on practical financial and business skills that participants can apply within their households and communities.
Key areas included:
Financial literacy
Savings mobilization
Loan management
Record keeping
Business profit and loss analysis
VSLA principles and management
Conflict resolution
Each session also provided an opportunity to discuss the objectives of the P2P project, its progress, and the relationship between economic empowerment and peacebuilding.
Participants were encouraged to consider how improved financial management and collective savings can strengthen household stability and create sustainable alternatives to economic vulnerability.
The MOSABI training went beyond financial literacy by exploring the links between livelihoods, community relationships, and peace.
Facilitators discussed some of the root causes of conflict in Sierra Leone and highlighted the role that financial inclusion, trust, cooperation, and economic stability can play in promoting peaceful coexistence.
Participants examined how stronger household and community economies can help reduce vulnerabilities that may contribute to politically motivated violence.
The discussions also connected financial empowerment to practical community challenges in areas such as:
Education
Health
Agriculture
Household livelihoods
Small business development
By strengthening the ability of communities to save, borrow responsibly, manage finances, and work collectively, the training contributes to stronger community resilience.
Inclusive participation was a key feature of the training.
Women, youth, and persons with disabilities were actively encouraged to participate in discussions, practical exercises, and group activities.
Participants shared experiences from their communities and explored how the MOSABI approach could be adapted to their local circumstances.
The formation and strengthening of VSLA groups also creates opportunities for participants to build trust, support one another, and collectively address financial and livelihood challenges.
For women and young people in particular, access to savings and credit mechanisms can contribute to greater economic participation and increased confidence in pursuing income-generating opportunities.
An additional highlight of the training was the involvement of members of the Artists’ Union.
Artists used drama skits and music performances to reinforce key messages from the MOSABI curriculum, including financial management, savings, cooperation, and peacebuilding.
The creative approach increased participation and made the training sessions more lively and memorable.
Using locally relevant forms of communication also helped connect technical financial concepts with everyday community experiences.
The training was highly interactive, with participants actively contributing to discussions and practical exercises.
Community stakeholders played an important role in mobilizing participants and supporting the implementation of the activity.
Despite challenges associated with the farming season and competing livelihood activities, including weekly Luma market days, the strong relationship between ABC-Development and community leaders helped ensure that the targeted groups were reached.
The activity encountered several challenges, including:
Limited financial resources: Available resources placed some limitations on implementation.
Competing livelihood activities: The farming season and trading activities created competing demands on participants' time.
Market-day conflicts: Weekly Luma market activities sometimes overlapped with training schedules.
Despite these challenges, effective coordination with community leaders and stakeholders helped mitigate the challenges and maintain participation.
The experience reinforces the importance of considering local livelihood and market calendars when planning community-based activities.
The training contributed to increased knowledge and awareness among participants in several important areas.
Participants gained:
Improved financial literacy
Greater understanding of savings and credit mechanisms
Knowledge of how VSLAs can support household and community livelihoods
Improved understanding of loan management and record keeping
Practical knowledge of business profit and loss
Increased awareness of collective problem-solving
Greater understanding of the connection between economic empowerment and peacebuilding
The establishment and strengthening of 50 VSLA groups provides a practical platform through which participants can continue applying the knowledge gained through the training.
The MOSABI training forms part of ABC-Development's broader commitment to strengthening peace, accountability, inclusion, and economic empowerment at community level.
Economic vulnerability can affect people's ability to make independent decisions and can increase exposure to political manipulation and conflict.
By strengthening financial literacy and creating opportunities for communities to save and access credit collectively, the P2P project is helping participants build greater economic resilience.
For women and youth, these opportunities can also support greater participation in household and community decision-making.
The knowledge and skills gained through the MOSABI training provide a foundation for continued support to VSLA groups and community members.
Moving forward, continued engagement will be important to support groups in:
Applying VSLA principles consistently
Maintaining accurate financial records
Strengthening savings practices
Managing loans responsibly
Developing sustainable income-generating activities
Resolving group and community conflicts peacefully
Strengthening cooperation and trust among members
When women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other community members have access to financial knowledge, savings mechanisms, credit opportunities, and supportive community networks, they are better positioned to withstand economic pressures and contribute positively to their communities.
Through the P2P project, ABC-Development continues to promote a model of peacebuilding that connects economic empowerment, inclusion, accountability, and community participation.
Stronger financial skills can create stronger livelihoods. Stronger livelihoods can create stronger communities. And stronger communities are better positioned to build and sustain peace.
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