Ishmail Kamara

Dynamic professional with extensive experience and expertise in water resources management, hydrological services and water quality monitoring. Proven track record in leading projects, establishing early warning systems, nature-based solutions, Ecohydrology and implementing national water quality initiatives that strengthen environmental compliance and sustainable water management. Skilled in project management, data analysis, and community engagement, with success in developing guidelines, building capacity, and driving climate resilience initiatives. Adept at fostering partnerships and promoting inclusive, community-based monitoring approaches to enhance public health, environmental outcomes, and water resource sustainability.

• Establishment of a hydrological monitoring network and monitoring of hydrological parameters at the Rokel/Seli Catchment, which has led to better water resources management practices and construction of sustainable water and sanitation infrastructures through the DFID/ASI donor-funded project.
• Implement activities on protection, restoration through tree planting, monitoring and evaluation, and establish catchment management committees as part of the Western Area Peninsula Water Fund interventions.
• Developed the National Action Plan (NAP) or Strategic Action Plan for the management of Sierra Leone’s Transboundary River basins under the Mano River Union Ecosystem and Conservation of International Water Resources Management Project, sponsored by GEF and IUCN.
• Application for the Western Area Peninsula to be part of the global Ecohydrology Demonstration site was accepted by UNESCO.
• Development of the Rokel River basin Management plan.
• Produce Sierra Leone guideline for drinking water quality monitoring 2018.
• Conduct Sierra Leone National Water Quality Management Study.
• Manage, coordinate, and give technical guidelines to twelve district water quality laboratories and their staff, which has led to better water quality monitoring interventions and a gradual increase in the provision of safe portable water.
• Coordinate with INGOs, NGOs and implementing partners on water quality monitoring and the setting up of a committee on Water Safety Plans, which has increased awareness on water safety and has also laid the roadmap for implementation.
• Implemented a routine water quality monitoring and chlorination of water supply at flood-affected communities in the August 2017 flood disaster in Freetown.
• Facilitate the establishment and implementation of the National Hand Pump Preventive Maintenance Strategy that improves hand pump functionality and improves community management of water supply.
• Participated in the development and implementation of the FANFAR flood forecasting early warning system.
• Obtained a scholarship to do a Master's in Community Water Supply and Sanitation at Cranfield University in the UK from the African Development Bank worth £21,000.

• Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) certified
• Sierra Leone Institute of Geologist certified

• A Review on the Application of Isotopic Techniques to Trace Groundwater Pollution Sources within Developing Countries, https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/1/35
• Citizen scientists help with rainfall monitoring in data-scarce Sierra Leone, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353310704_Citizen_scientists_help_with_rainfall_monitoring_in_data-scarce_Sierra_Leone
• An assessment of faecal contamination of hand-dug wells due to proximity of pit latrines in Sierra Leone, under review

• Team lead for the Baseline Survey -Strengthening Governance for WASH Systems Delivery-Global WASH Program Phase II - for WHH, March 2026.
• Consultant for the implementation of the “River Stewards: School Clubs Advancing Water Care and Hygiene.” for the Mano River Union, December 2025.
• Consultant for the Baseline Survey Title: Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Survey for Community-led Ecosystem Restoration in Farm-Forest Landscapes in Sierra Leone and Liberia, for WHH Sierra Leone, March 2026.
• Water Resources and Environmental Safeguard Specialist: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report for the Construction of Four Bridges at Moselolo, Komrabai, Sumbuya and Kabba Ferry, in Sierra Leone January 2026. PROJECT ID: P 178686, World Bank funded CAMI Project.
• Consultant for the Project title: Oasis on the Coast: Protection of the Yawri Bay MPA through community-led initiatives and sustainable livelihoods in 8 coastal communities of Sierra Leone, For CSSL and Sierra Leone, March 2026.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ishmail-kamara-0451b879/ 

https://www.youtube.com/@WISH_IshmailKamara

https://www.bold.pro/my/ishmail-kamara-260328173125

• A Review on the Application of Isotopic Techniques to Trace Groundwater Pollution Sources within Developing Countries, https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/1/35
• Citizen scientists help with rainfall monitoring in data-scarce Sierra Leone, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353310704_Citizen_scientists_help_with_rainfall_monitoring_in_data-scarce_Sierra_Leone
• An assessment of faecal contamination of hand-dug wells due to proximity of pit latrines in Sierra Leone, under review

• International Workshop on the Frontiers in Ecohydrology in Chongqing, China, October 2025
• Multi-stakeholder Workshop: Monitoring and Reporting of SD6 6.4 Targets (Water Scarcity and Use) in Africa- Akosombo (Ghana) 10th – 14th November 2025.
• Water Fund Training, UNESCO, 2025-04-07 to 2025-04-10, Freetown, Sierra Leone
• Workshop on strengthening the Ecohydrological approach, 2021-07-26 to 2021-07-29, Abuja, Nigeria
• Second FANFAR Workshop on the operationalisation of a Flood Forecasting System for West Africa, 2019-04-09 to 2019-04-12, Accra, Ghana
• 11th General Ministerial Assembly and 7th AMCOW African Water Week, 2018-10-29 to 2018-11-02, Libreville, Gabon
• FANFAR Workshop on Flood Forecasting, 2018-09-17 to 2018-09-20, Niamey, Niger
• Advanced Groundwater Investigation and Modelling, 2018-05-29 to 2018-06-08, Padova, Italy
• Water Quality Management, 2018-02-01, Egypt
• Regional Workshop for the Validation of IWRM Indicators of ECOWAS regional water observatory, 2017-10-25 to 2017-10-27, Lome, Togo
• GEMS/UN Water Monitoring programme and network design for surface water bodies, 2017-12-01, Kenya
• Workshop on the Draft Directive for The Management of Shared Water Resources in West Africa, 2017-05-01, Dakar, Senegal
• Study Tour to Ghana’s Water Resources Commission, 2017-09-01, Ghana
• Sub-regional training workshop on Enhancing Skills of Water Professionals, 2017-10-03 to 2017-10-04, Ghana
• Training in Ground Water Development, 2016-05-10 to 2016-05-13, UK
• WEDC Conference on CLTS, 2016-01-01, Kumasi, Ghana
• Training in managing public sector investment and capital projects, 2014-01-14 to 2014-01-18, UK
• Training in Water Integrity, 2013-04-08 to 2013-04-12, Ghana
• Training in Isotope Hydrology, 2013-09-24 to 2013-10-19, Rabat, Morocco
• World Water Week 2013, 2013-01-01, Sweden

Developing water resources course on Youtube

Spatial analysis

• Team lead for the Baseline Survey -Strengthening Governance for WASH Systems Delivery-Global WASH Program Phase II - for WHH, March 2026.
• Consultant for the implementation of the “River Stewards: School Clubs Advancing Water Care and Hygiene.” for the Mano River Union, December 2025.
• Consultant for the Baseline Survey Title: Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) Survey for Community-led Ecosystem Restoration in Farm-Forest Landscapes in Sierra Leone and Liberia, for WHH Sierra Leone, March 2026.
• Water Resources and Environmental Safeguard Specialist: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report for the Construction of Four Bridges at Moselolo, Komrabai, Sumbuya and Kabba Ferry, in Sierra Leone January 2026. PROJECT ID: P 178686, World Bank funded CAMI Project.
• Consultant for the Project title: Oasis on the Coast: Protection of the Yawri Bay MPA through community-led initiatives and sustainable livelihoods in 8 coastal communities of Sierra Leone, For CSSL and WHH, March 2026.
• Consultant for the Development of the Western Area Peninsula National Park Management Plan 2025 - 2035, for the National Protected Area Authority
• Consultant (Assistant Management Plan Specialist) for the Stakeholders Mapping and Capacity Assessment for an Integrated and Adaptive Landscape Management in Sierra Leone: A Case of the Western Area Peninsular Forest, under the Sustainable and Integrated Landscape Management of the Western Area Peninsula Forest Project, December 2024. Funded by UNDP.