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The Government of Sierra Leone has secured a €12 million economic empowerment programme funded by the European Union to strengthen small businesses and agricultural enterprises across the districts of Bo District, Kenema District and Kailahun District.
The initiative, known as the ”Salone Access to Finance Project”, includes a €6 million grant facility aimed at helping local entrepreneurs expand their operations, increase productivity and create employment opportunities in rural communities.
The programme is being implemented through a partnership involving the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), Vista Bank and Safe Capital Microfinance. Under the arrangement, the institutions are providing matching grants, financial services and technical support to businesses seeking to scale up their operations.
According to project stakeholders, several enterprises across the eastern and southern regions are already reporting improvements in production and market access as a result of the initiative.
One of the beneficiaries, Sinava Women in Agriculture, received a grant of 400,000 SLE which the group used to purchase processing equipment that has enabled them to expand gari production. The investment has also allowed the women’s cooperative to diversify its product line by introducing new cassava-based products, including cassava ice cream.
Another beneficiary, Ngoyeilah Agriculture Business, owned by Yema Hassan, has increased its rice production capacity through the project’s support. The business now supplies rice to the school feeding programme operated by the World Food Programme, strengthening local food supply chains while improving income opportunities for farmers.
The Ever Green Women Agricultural Business is also benefiting from the programme. The enterprise is transitioning from manual processing to mechanized gari production, a shift expected to improve efficiency, increase output and enhance product quality to reach wider markets.
In the eastern district of Kailahun, cocoa cooperatives Lanaya Cocoa Cooperative and Liloma Cocoa Cooperative have received financial support that allows them to purchase larger volumes of organic cocoa from local farmers. The cooperatives are also investing in improved storage facilities to strengthen product handling and quality control.
The expansion is helping the cooperatives reinforce their supply relationship with Tradin Organic, a Dutch company that buys organic agricultural commodities on the international market.
Beyond grant funding, the Salone Access to Finance Project is providing participating enterprises with access to low-interest financing as well as training to improve financial management, governance and competitiveness in the market.
Development partners involved in the programme say strengthening small businesses and agricultural cooperatives is essential for building resilient local economies. They noted that investing in farmers, processors and rural enterprises will help unlock economic opportunities while supporting job creation and food security.
As the programme continues to expand across districts including Bo and Kenema, stakeholders believe the EU-funded initiative will play an important role in empowering entrepreneurs and supporting sustainable economic growth across Sierra Leone.
