Francis Anthony Reffell is a social justice and development professional with 24 years’ experience in the NGO sector. His professional journey includes roles in both local and international agencies, spread across rural and urban settings, which have furnished him with an in-depth understanding of Sierra Leone’s development landscape, including in the fields of disaster risk management and locally-led climate adaptation.Currently, Francis is the Founder and Executive Director of the Centre of Dialogue on Human Settlement and Poverty Alleviation (CODOHSAPA). He is also the trailblazer behind the establishment of the Federation of Urban and Rural Poor (FEDURP), a robust network of savings groups operating in diverse rural and urban areas. FEDURP’s mission is to provide a platform for impoverished populations and communities to drive their own developmental aspirations. CODOHSAPA complements this vision by acting as the professional supporting organisation, providing FEDURP with necessary technical and financial support. This alliance is the Sierra Leone affiliate of Slum/Shack Dwellers International, a global network of NGO professionals and slum dweller federations that support local and global actions to uplift the welfare and living conditions of deprived populations and localities.Francis sits on the Management Board of the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre and is Treasurer of the Management Board of the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organisations. He holds an MSc in Rural Development and a BA General in Geography, Sociology, and General Linguistics.