Protected Areas & Biodiversity: NPAA has started a five-day IMET assessment workshop for five protected areas—Western Area Peninsula National Park, Gola Rainforest, Outamba-Kilimi, Loma Mountains, and Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary—aiming to check management progress and strengthen biodiversity conservation. Budget Support & Climate-Smart Governance: AfDB has resumed engagement on budget support after a three-year pause, with a 10-day appraisal mission reviewing reforms and prior actions for a planned $11.5m disbursement tied to fiscal efficiency, transparency, and mining/transport reforms. Coastline Waste & Sports Tourism: The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, with the Sports Ministry, unveiled a Community Beach Sports Tourism Initiative to link beach football and volleyball with cleaner, healthier coastlines and better waste management. Food Security & Water/Seeds: Sierra Leone and Korea signed a $5.6m rice production agreement (K-Ricebelt) for 2026–2030 in Rokupr, Kambia—modern seed production, irrigation rehabilitation, machinery, and farmer training to boost domestic supply. Extreme Heat Response: Freetown is training frontline health workers to tackle growing heat-health risks, while other health-focused training is also expanding to strengthen response to extreme heat. Digital Safety: Rokel Commercial Bank ran a cybersecurity and digital financial empowerment programme in Freetown, urging communities to protect themselves against cybercrime. Wildlife & Forest Pressure (Regional): A report highlights deforestation pressures from cacao expansion in Liberia’s rainforests, a reminder of how land-use change can threaten biodiversity across the region. Health Emergency (Regional): DR Congo’s Ebola outbreak has surpassed 2,000 confirmed cases, with response capacity and funding stretched thin.