By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope Reporter
Bureh Beach, November 5, 2025 The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, supported by the World Bank-funded Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project (SLEDP), convened a community engagement meeting in Bureh Town to discuss the ongoing tourism development project and the Tourism Community Development Fund Manual. This initiative is part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to promote inclusive and sustainable community-based tourism throughout Sierra Leone.
The Tourism Community Development Fund (TCDF) is a locally managed financial mechanism designed to direct tourism-generated revenues into community-led projects. Its primary goal is to foster inclusive and sustainable development, ensuring that local communities reap the benefits of tourism investments in their regions. At Bureh Beach, the Ministry, in collaboration with SLEDP, is developing a Surf Club and other recreational facilities aimed at enhancing local tourism while generating jobs and income for residents.
In her opening remarks, Headwoman of Bureh Village, Danielle Grace, expressed her appreciation to the Ministry for initiating such a transformative project in their community. She reaffirmed the community’s commitment to supporting the initiative and collaborating with the Ministry to ensure its successful implementation.
During the presentation of the Community Development Fund Manual, Prince Gaima, SLEDP Tourism Specialist, explained that the manual was developed by the Government of Sierra Leone and the World Bank as a guiding framework for managing community-based tourism resources. He highlighted that Bureh will be the first community to benefit from the Fund and assured participants that the process will be guided by principles of transparency and inclusion. Gaima also noted that the community will receive five percent of the profits generated from the facility, with a local committee established to oversee fund management.
The meeting concluded with discussions on the community’s roles and responsibilities regarding the project, alongside key principles guiding the Fund: integrity, accountability, inclusion, and collaboration.
This engagement underscored the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that tourism acts as a catalyst for local economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development in Bureh and other destination communities across Sierra Leone.
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