National Water Resources Management Agency

What National Water Resources Management Agency does

The National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA) is the sole statutory body mandated to manage and regulate all surface and groundwater resources in Sierra Leone at local, national, and transboundary levels. Established by Act of Parliament in 2017 and operational since February 2019, the agency headquartered in Freetown issues water use permits, borehole drilling licenses, dam safety licenses, and waste discharge licenses under four regulations certified by Parliament in June 2022. It funds operations through Government of Sierra Leone budget allocations and licensing fees, serving regulated water utilities (SALWACO, Guma Valley Water Company), mining and industrial operators, dam and hydropower developers, and local communities.

NWRMA's core offerings combine regulatory services with public data infrastructure. The agency operates a national hydrological monitoring network comprising automatic stations, 54+ staff gauge readers, and Survey123-based citizen science data collection, with rainfall records extending back to 1921, and publishes data through Surface Water, Groundwater, and Rainfall Data Portals alongside GIS maps built on QGIS and OpenStreetMap. Its flagship initiative is the Western Area Peninsula Water Fund (WAPWF), a $20 million nature-based water security program with projected $55M in economic benefits over 30 years. The agency is governed by a Director General and structured into five departments (Hydrological Services; Planning, Research and Operations; Legal, Regulations and Outreach; Administration and Human Resources; Finance) with 23 staff.

The agency's go-to-market is event-driven and stakeholder-oriented: community engagement, public consultations, drama performances, media training workshops, and partnerships with civil society organizations. Service delivery is direct via the Freetown headquarters with self-serve data access through the agency website. NWRMA extends its reach through MoUs with the Sierra Leone Police (Oct 2022), Anti-Corruption Commission (Oct 2022), and a five-year strategic partnership with IWMI (May 2025), alongside donor-funded programs from the World Bank, UNDP, UNICEF, GEF/IUCN, Catholic Relief Services, and The Nature Conservancy. Leadership transitioned in November 2025 from founding Director General Junisa Patrick Bangali Esq. to Ing. Pierre Palmer.

Name

National Water Resources Management Agency

Legal name

National Water Resources Management Agency - Sierra Leone

Website

https://nwrma.gov.sl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA) is Sierra Leone's sole statutory regulator of surface and groundwater resources, established by Act of Parliament in 2017. It issues water use, borehole, dam safety, and discharge licenses, operates a national hydrological monitoring network, and publishes water data and GIS maps for government, utilities, and communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Resources Management and Regulation

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAMAE

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYEUANAJAA

Regulatory Compliance Monitoring & Reporting (SDWA/CWA/NPDES, permits, audits)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Water & Wastewater Utilities/Water Quality Testing, Compliance & Reporting

SECONDARYBPAIACAG

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

SECONDARYEUAHABAB

Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Regulatory Compliance & Auditing (Air, Water, Waste)

SECONDARYBPAIAMAC

Environmental Monitoring, Data & Reporting (Air/Water/Soil)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

Keywords

• Water resources management
• Water use permitting
• Hydrological monitoring
• Catchment protection
• Water quality regulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Freetown

HQ country

Sierra Leone

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Water Use Permits: Issuance of water use permits for surface water abstraction and catchment protection, required for major water users
2. Borehole/Well Drilling Licenses: Licensing of groundwater development activities and borehole construction
3. Dam Safety Licenses: Licensing and regulation of dam construction and management
4. Waste Discharge Licenses: Licensing for discharge of pollutants to water bodies under Water Pollution Control Regulations
5. Government Funding: Core operational funding from Government of Sierra Leone budget allocations

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

NWRMA is the sole statutory government agency in Sierra Leone responsible for managing, regulating, and safeguarding all surface and groundwater resources at local, national, and transboundary levels. It issues water use permits, borehole drilling licenses, dam safety licenses, and waste discharge licenses, and operates a national hydrological monitoring network supported by GIS mapping, automatic monitoring stations, and a citizen science water quality program. The agency also disseminates water resources data through online portals and publications.

Product overview

The National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA) operates as a government regulatory agency rather than a traditional product company. Its core offerings center on water resources data access through multiple portals (Surface Water, Groundwater, and Rainfall Data), GIS mapping services, publications and reports, and regulatory services including water use permits and licensing. Additionally, the agency manages the Western Area Peninsula Water Fund (WAPWF), a $20 million nature-based initiative for water security. The agency provides downloadable hydrological data, interactive maps, and regulatory frameworks rather than software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Surface Water Data Portal Provides public access to historic river stage (level) and flow data for major rivers of Sierra Leone, including records from the 1976 Hydrological Year Book and Bumbuna Dam data. Used by water utilities, researchers, and the public for hydrological analysis.
• Groundwater Data Portal Provides access to groundwater level monitoring data from hand-dug wells and boreholes monitored during the Water Security Project. Serves researchers, utilities, and communities assessing groundwater resources.
• Rainfall Data Portal Provides access to historic and current rainfall data, with some records extending back to 1921, collected from various monitoring stations across Sierra Leone. Used for climate analysis and water resource planning.
• GIS Maps National and river basin maps including Sierra Leone's river basins, proposed monitoring networks for rainfall, surface water and groundwater, and basin-specific maps produced using QGIS and OpenStreetMap data.
• Publications and Reports Scientific reports and studies related to water resources monitoring and management, including basin delineation reports, water quality monitoring reports, and strategic planning documents available for public download.
• Water Use Permits and Licensing Services Regulatory licensing service issuing water use permits, borehole/well drilling licenses, dam safety licenses, and waste discharge licenses under the NWRMA Act No. 5 of 2017 and four parliamentary-certified regulations (Water Use and Catchment Protection, Groundwater Development and Protection, Dam Safety, and Water Pollution Control). Required for utilities, mining/industrial operators, and dam developers.
• Western Area Peninsula Water Fund (WAPWF) A $20 million nature-based water fund initiative addressing water security challenges in Freetown and the Western Area Peninsula, expected to generate $55 million in economic benefits over 30 years through watershed protection and upstream community support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Managed and regulated water resources for a nation with abundant but underutilized water resources
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• International Water Management Institute (IWMI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2025Five-year MOU (May 2025-May 2030) focused on collaboration in co-developing decision-support systems for transboundary water management, drought/flood forecasting, agricultural water efficiency, joint knowledge-sharing platforms, institutional capacity strengthening, scaling circular water economies, and collaborative proposal development aligned with Sierra Leone's water master plan.
• UNICEF Sierra LeonecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2025UNICEF supports the Kono Groundwater Assessment Mission led by NWRMA to understand declining water levels in Kono District. UNICEF funding enables field teams to analyze groundwater resources and identify sustainable solutions for communities.
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2024CRS is a key partner in the Western Area Peninsula Water Fund (WAPWF), a $20 million initiative. CRS supports nature-based solutions for water security in Freetown and the Western Area Peninsula, working with NWRMA on conservation financing and upstream community support.
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2024TNC is a key partner in the Western Area Peninsula Water Fund (WAPWF) and provided Regional Water Fund Training. TNC supports Water Fund design, watershed restoration, sustainable financing, and monitoring frameworks. TNC brings expertise in nature-based solutions for water security.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024UNEP supports community volunteer training for water quality monitoring in the Taia/Pampana River basin through the Neville Shulman Award, in collaboration with GEMS Water and Earthwatch Europe.
• Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2022MoU to ensure corrupt practices related to water resources are prosecuted, existing water resources management laws are enforced, and defaulters are punished. Both parties agree to undertake compliance activities, complement each other's efforts in fighting corruption, and exchange information and data.
• Sierra Leone Police (SLP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2022MoU to strengthen ties and ensure that existing water resource management laws are enforced and defaulters punished. Collaboration between NWRMA and Police to protect water resources from illegal activities.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022UNDP supported the development of four water regulations: Water Use and Catchment Regulations, Water Pollution Control Regulations, Groundwater Development and Protection Regulations, and Dam Safety Regulations through funding a consultant.
• Mano River UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNWRMA collaborates with Mano River Union for transboundary water management with Guinea and Liberia. The GEF/IUCN project is implemented by MRU for the benefit of NWRMA and National Protected Area Authority. MRU supports creation of transboundary water committees.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Global Water Partnership (GWP): Global network supporting Integrated Water Resources Management in developing countries, often working alongside national water agencies like NWRMA on capacity building, river basin planning, and climate resilience. Comparable as a thematic ecosystem peer supporting similar mandates.
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI): IWMI is NWRMA's flagship research and capacity-building partner under a five-year MOU, focused on transboundary water management, drought/flood forecasting, and decision-support systems. Relevant peer as an enabler/thematic partner shaping NWRMA's technical direction and data capabilities.
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC): TNC is a core partner in NWRMA's $20M Western Area Peninsula Water Fund, providing water fund design, watershed restoration, and sustainable financing expertise. Relevant as an enabling/thematic partner in the nature-based water finance and catchment protection space.

Direct peers

• Water Resources Commission (WRC) - Ghana: Ghana's lead agency for water resources management, responsible for regulating water use, allocating rights, and managing river basins including transboundary bodies. Closely mirrors NWRMA's mandate around water permits, groundwater regulation, and integrated water resources management in West Africa.
• Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) - Zambia: Zambia's statutory national water resources regulator with comparable mandate to issue water use permits, manage water allocation, and oversee groundwater and surface water across the country. Directly comparable in scope, regulatory function, and African developing-economy context to NWRMA.
• Directorate of Water Resources Management (DWRM) - Uganda: Uganda's national water resources regulator under the Ministry of Water and Environment, responsible for water permit issuance, water quality monitoring, and catchment management. Comparable as an African statutory regulator with similar hydrological monitoring, permitting, and community engagement functions.
• Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) - Kenya: Kenya's independent regulator for water services and water resources, issuing licenses and setting standards for utilities and water users. Comparable peer in terms of regulatory framework for water use permitting, catchment protection, and tariff oversight across a national jurisdiction.

Regional players

• Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO): National water utility that NWRMA regulates, drawing on raw water sources under NWRMA permits. Domestic sector counterparty rather than a true peer; included as the principal regulated entity within Sierra Leone's water value chain.

Broad incumbents

• Federal Ministry of Water Resources - Nigeria: Nigeria's federal ministry overseeing water resources policy, regulation, and river basin authority coordination across 12 basin authorities. Larger incumbent peer in West Africa with overlapping mandate around water allocation, dam safety, and transboundary water governance.
• Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) - South Africa: South Africa's national department responsible for water resources management policy, regulation, and infrastructure. A larger, more established peer operating a similar water allocation, licensing, and catchment management mandate at greater scale and with deeper institutional capacity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NWRMASierraLeone
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-water-resources-management-agency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Water Resources Management Agency