The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has ended a Five-day Technical Start-Up workshop for the Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project (LLDP) at Atlantic Hotel, Lumley in Freetown from 26–30 January 2026. This event brought together key stakeholders to finalize the project work plan and align priorities that can benefit smallholder farmers in the livestock sector. The project is financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), OPEC Fund for International Development, HEIFER International, and the Government of Sierra Leone.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, praised the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and its co-financier, the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), for achieving the first disbursement within a short period under the new Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project, describing it as a major milestone after a year of preparation. He acknowledged the collective efforts of the Project Management Unit (PMU), development partners, and officials from the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture in bringing the project to life.
Minister Kpaka viewed the project as a landmark investment under the government’s Feed Salone agricultural transformation agenda and noted its strong national significance, with the full attention of President Julius Maada Bio. He urged all partners to remain aligned, treat the intervention as one unified national project, communicate challenges early, and maintain close collaboration and regular technical engagement to ensure smooth implementation and successful outcomes for the livestock sector.
Mr. Sabiu Auwal highlighted that the Livestock Project was carefully designed and is under close technical supervision. He urged the PMU to use IsDB reporting templates for consistent and compliant reporting. He reaffirmed IsDB/LLF’s continued support in key areas like procurement, financial management, capacity building, and beneficiary mapping, encouraging the Ministry to take full ownership of the project while relying on their ongoing guidance.
Mr. Kenneth King, speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, reaffirmed the Government’s strong commitment to the successful implementation of the project and assured stakeholders that it will honor all financial obligations agreed upon with development partners.
Mr Tejan Koroma, The Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project Coordinator assured IsDB and it co-financeer LLF and all other participants that their recommendations will be thoroughly reviewed by the project team and assured the Bank that the project will aligns its activities with the Feed Salone initiative and the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP).
Key noticeable areas discussed during the workshop sessions:
1. Financial Management:
• Adherence to financial disbursement procedures.
• Proper use of the Withdrawal Application process
• Strengthening governance and control measures to ensure accountability and compliance
2. Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) & Climate Adaptation
• Highlighted as key cross-cutting themes under LLF-2, with emphasis on:
• Inclusiveness in project implementation
• Promoting women’s participation
• Delivering measurable positive impacts in the lives of women
3. Strategic and Operational Priorities
• Aligning implementation with agreed strategic goals
• Ensuring clear operational direction for effective execution
4. Project Communication:
• Enhancing the visibility of project interventions.
• Developing a comprehensive Communication Plan.
• Following standard communication procedures.
• Ensuring stakeholder alignment.
• Maintaining transparency in reporting.
• Promoting accurate information dissemination.
• Producing monthly reports with evidence, including newsletters and audio-visual documentation of project activities
The Technical Start-Up Workshop brought together stakeholders from a wide range of sectors.