The United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has partnered with the Government of Sierra Leone to launch an ambitious $105.5 million Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project (LLDP) aimed at addressing poverty and strengthening food security in the country’s rural communities.
The eight-year initiative, which is expected to directly benefit 500,000 people, will focus on improving livestock farming in Sierra Leone, a sector that remains underdeveloped despite its significant potential. IFAD is contributing $30 million in grant funding, with additional support from the Islamic Development Bank and the OPEC Fund for International Development.
The project is set to target around 373,500 smallholder farmers, with a particular emphasis on empowering marginalized groups, including women, youth, and individuals with disabilities. Approximately 40% of the project’s beneficiaries will be women, 30% youth, and 5% people with disabilities, marking a key effort to foster inclusive development and close longstanding resource gaps, such as access to essential farming tools and equipment.
Agriculture is a cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s economy, accounting for nearly 60% of the country’s GDP and providing employment to more than half of the population. However, livestock farming has remained limited, with many rural communities relying on subsistence methods, especially in the aftermath of the Ebola outbreak in 2014. The LLDP seeks to enhance livestock productivity for 62,500 smallholder farmers, aiming to create more resilient supply chains and stimulate the rural economy.
Bernard Hien, IFAD’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa, stressed that the LLDP is central to Sierra Leone’s rural economic transformation. “By strengthening livestock production, we aim to boost incomes, improve nutrition, and ensure food security for the most vulnerable communities,” Hien said.
In addition to improving agricultural practices, the LLDP will focus on enhancing market access for farmers and bolstering institutional and policy frameworks to attract more investment into the country’s livestock sector. The project will also work on increasing farmers’ resilience to climate change and other economic shocks by promoting cooperative models and enhancing market infrastructure.
Sierra Leone’s Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Henry Musa Kpaka, welcomed the partnership, emphasizing its importance for the nation’s long-term development. “The LLDP will create sustainable jobs, improve nutritional health, and provide livelihoods, particularly for women and youth,” Kpaka noted. “It aligns perfectly with our broader goals of rural development, poverty reduction, and food security.”
As part of Sierra Leone’s broader strategy to revitalize its agricultural sector and build resilience in rural communities, the LLDP represents a pivotal step toward sustainable economic growth. By improving livelihoods and food security, it also contributes to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and IFAD’s mission of alleviating poverty through agricultural investment.
