The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), through its Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project (LLDP), has commenced regional stakeholder engagement aimed at raising awareness about the project’s goals and ensuring community participation in its implementation.

The engagement, held at the Council Hall in Makeni, Bombali District, marks the start of a nationwide initiative designed to strengthen Sierra Leone’s livestock sector while addressing long-standing challenges affecting production, veterinary services, and market systems.

According to MAFS, the project forms part of the government’s broader efforts to boost livestock production and productivity, improve veterinary services, strengthen markets and agribusinesses, expand access to credit, and promote policy dialogue for a more resilient and inclusive livestock sector.

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Presenting on behalf of the project, LLDP Project Coordinator, Mr. Tejan Koroma, provided an overview of the initiative, stating that it is focused on poverty reduction, job creation, and the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities. He explained that the project will support restocking and ensure the availability of animal feed across eleven targeted districts in the country.

Mr. Koroma noted that the selection of these districts was based on key factors such as the concentration of smallholder livestock farmers, poverty levels and vulnerability, weak veterinary and extension services, as well as market potential and value chain linkages. He also highlighted the importance of aligning with existing donor interventions to ensure complementarity.

He further disclosed that while the project initially set a target of 30 percent participation for women, it has already surpassed expectations by achieving 40 percent female participation. He encouraged stakeholders to actively involve young people and urged all participants to take ownership of the project to ensure its success.

Speaking on behalf of women stakeholders, Madam Mariatu Songo Kanu, District Regional Coordinator of Women, emphasized the importance of women’s participation in livestock and livelihoods development. She urged women to fully engage with the project, describing it as the first initiative of its kind with a strong focus on livestock development.

The LLDP is jointly funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), the OPEC Fund for International Development, Heifer International, and the Government of Sierra Leone.

The project is expected to benefit more than 62,000 households across eleven operational districts, with a target of 40 percent women, 30 percent youth, and 5 percent persons with disabilities.

MAFS stated that the LLDP aligns with the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024–2030 and the Feed Salone Programme, with a focus on supporting economic diversification, job creation, gender inclusion, and climate resilience, all aimed at reducing poverty and achieving national food self-sufficiency.