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“ This Is Where We Have Scored ”: Exploring the Interface between Project and Institutional Sustainability Facilitated by a Faith-Based Development Organisation in Sierra Leone

Author

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  • Stephen Morse

    (Centre for Environment and Sustainability (CES), University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK)

  • Nora McNamara

    (Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, Brookville, West Park, DO5 KOY3 Dublin, Ireland)

Abstract

This paper explores the issue of project sustainability through an analysis of the experiences of a Faith-Based Development Organisation (FBDO) in Bo, Sierra Leone. The FBDO in question was approached by members of their local Catholic Women Association (CWA) to help them with the planning and management of a farm that had been donated to them by a chief. They agreed to this, and a series of workshops were held in June 2014, along with follow-up discussions with local experts and businesses as to what could be done to help support the women in their endeavour. Amongst other priorities, the women identified the need for the farm to produce food, income and help with their development. However, an outbreak of the Ebola virus that occurred between 2014 and 2016, following as it did on the back of an 11-year (1991–2002) civil war in Sierra Leone, led to a re-evaluation of the farm project in the eyes of the FBDO as they decided to shift to earlier priorities in education and health care. Given the constraints regarding resources and personnel, community projects, such as the CWA farm project, became of much lesser importance even though it resonated strongly with the goals of the FBDO and government, and had garnered much support amongst international donors. The paper sets out that story, beginning with the workshops and discussions held in 2014, and the ramifications of these responses to various ‘shocks’, such as those presented by the civil war and disease outbreaks (Ebola and COVID-19); it also provides recommendations that might be of use regarding the interface between project and institutional sustainability within FBDOs and, indeed, the wider community of development organisations.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephen Morse & Nora McNamara, 2023. "“ This Is Where We Have Scored ”: Exploring the Interface between Project and Institutional Sustainability Facilitated by a Faith-Based Development Organisation in Sierra Leone," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:9:p:7292-:d:1134637
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Krystin Zigan & YingFei Héliot & Alan Grys, 2021. "Analyzing Leadership Attributes in Faith-Based Organizations: Idealism Versus Reality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 170(4), pages 743-757, May.
    2. Hana Cadzow & Tony Binns, 2016. "Are groups a good thing? Evaluating group associations among vegetable farmers in Freetown, Sierra Leone," Development in Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(4), pages 406-419, May.
    3. Elijah Bitange Ndemo, 2006. "Assessing sustainability of faith‐based enterprises in Kenya," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 33(5/6), pages 446-462, May.
    4. Goldsmith, Peter D., 2011. "The Role of Private Sector in Agricultural Development: An Executive Interview with Joseph Zed Bahsoon," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 14(1), pages 1-4, February.
    5. Abraham Harrison Lincoln Larkoh & Anne Dressel & Katherine Riebe, 2021. "Inviting women to the table: addressing food insecurity in Sierra Leone," Development in Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(8), pages 971-976, November.
    6. Elijah Bitange Ndemo, 2006. "Assessing sustainability of faith-based enterprises in Kenya," International Journal of Social Economics, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 33(5/6), pages 446-462, May.
    7. Leviton, Laura C. & Herrera, Carla & Pepper, Sarah K. & Fishman, Nancy & Racine, David P., 2006. "Faith in Action: Capacity and sustainability of volunteer organizations," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 201-207, May.
    8. Richards, Paul, 2020. "Ebola and COVID-19 in Sierra Leone: comparative lessons of epidemics for society," Journal of Global History, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(3), pages 493-507, November.
    9. Tricia Glazebrook & Emmanuela Opoku, 2020. "Gender and Sustainability: Learning from Women’s Farming in Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-20, December.
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