By Michaella Faith Wright

The Women’s Advocacy and Agricultural Development Organization (WAADO), a Sierra Leonean community-based organization (CBO) founded in 2007 by Doris Fatima Webber, has empowered over 1,000 vulnerable women and girls through skills training and advocacy initiatives aimed at economic empowerment and policy change.

With its motto, “Women Can Build a Better Nation,” WAADO has dedicated itself to enhancing the lives of women and girls across Sierra Leone. The organization’s efforts focus on providing alternative livelihoods to women and girls, especially those previously engaged in forest encroachment, by equipping them with vocational skills.

The WAADO skills training center, launched in 2011 with support from Welt Hunger Hilfe, has trained women in diverse trades, enabling many to become self-reliant or gain employment. This initiative forms part of the organization’s broader mission to empower women economically while advocating for inclusive policy changes.

Through partnerships with local, national, and international organizations, WAADO has successfully influenced policy change and collaborated with various stakeholders, including MDAs and development partners across Sierra Leone. The organization also works on health, education, peacebuilding, and agriculture, contributing to holistic community development.

WAADO’s commitment to fostering change has solidified its position as a leading women-focused civil society organization, making tangible strides toward building a better nation.