By Mahamood Fofana
The Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project (LLDP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), has officially launched a regional stakeholders’ engagement workshop in Bombali District. The event, held on April 7, 2026, at the Council Hall, brought together key stakeholders, community representatives, and development partners to raise awareness about the project’s objectives and foster inclusive participation in its implementation.
The engagement forms part of broader government efforts to tackle persistent challenges within Sierra Leone’s livestock sector. The LLDP is designed to enhance livestock production and productivity, strengthen veterinary and extension services, improve access to markets, and promote agribusiness development. It also aims to expand credit facilities for farmers and encourage policy dialogue to support the creation of a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable livestock economy.
Speaking during the session, Tejan Koroma, who represented the project, provided a comprehensive overview of its scope and expected impact. He noted that the initiative is geared toward reducing poverty, improving food security and nutrition, and creating employment opportunities, particularly for rural women and youth. According to him, the project will be implemented across 11 districts nationwide, carefully selected based on key indicators such as the concentration of smallholder livestock farmers, poverty and vulnerability levels, weak veterinary services, market potential, and the presence of complementary donor interventions.
Koroma emphasized the importance of stakeholder ownership and active community involvement, urging participants especially young people to fully engage with the project to ensure its success. He further highlighted that the project will focus on key livestock value chains, including small ruminants such as goats and sheep, poultry, and cattle, all of which are critical to rural livelihoods and national food systems.
Adding a gender perspective, Mariatu Songo Kanu underscored the importance of women’s participation in livestock and livelihoods development. She encouraged women across the district to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the project, describing it as a groundbreaking initiative with the potential to transform the livestock sector and improve household incomes.
The LLDP is jointly funded by the Government of Sierra Leone and key international development partners, including the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the OPEC Fund for International Development. The project is expected to benefit more than 373,000 households across its operational districts, with a deliberate focus on inclusion targeting 40 percent women, 30 percent youth, and 5 percent persons with disabilities.
Importantly, the initiative aligns with national development priorities, including the Medium Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024–2030 and the government’s flagship Feed Salone Programme. Through these frameworks, the project seeks to drive economic diversification, job creation, gender equality, and climate resilience, all contributing to poverty reduction and improved national food self-sufficiency.
As discussions continue, stakeholders are expected to play a central role in shaping implementation strategies, ensuring transparency, and building a sense of collective responsibility. The workshop marks a significant step toward strengthening Sierra Leone’s livestock sector and empowering rural communities through sustainable agricultural development.
