{"id":15457,"date":"2026-06-20T12:43:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T12:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.iita.org\/news-item\/empowering-sierra-leones-agricultural-future-through-iitas-transformative-initiatives\/"},"modified":"2026-06-29T20:34:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T20:34:33","slug":"empowering-sierra-leones-agricultural-future-through-iitas-transformative-initiatives","status":"publish","type":"news-item","link":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/news-item\/empowering-sierra-leones-agricultural-future-through-iitas-transformative-initiatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Empowering Sierra Leone’s agricultural future through IITA’s transformative initiatives"},"content":{"rendered":"

IITA<\/a>\u2013CGIAR<\/a> has reinforced its commitment to fostering agricultural progress in Sierra Leone through a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture. The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Sim\u00e9on Ehui<\/a>, and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Henry Musa Kpaka, signifies a significant step towards scaling innovations and promoting agricultural development in the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"IITA
IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui with Sierra Leone Minister of Agriculture, Honourable Henry Kpaka signing the MoU in December.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One notable initiative under this collaboration is the ENABLE TAAT project, being carried out in conjunction with SLARiS and the Ministry of Agriculture. In December, the project successfully executed an extensive training program for 100 youths, aiming to equip them with essential skills in entrepreneurship, business management, and business plan development. The overarching goal is to enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen food security, and unlock agribusiness opportunities across Sierra Leone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A section of the participants during the Agribusiness training.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impact of the training is already evident, as empowered youth are actively establishing viable businesses. These enterprises not only elevate the livelihoods of the youth involved but also contribute to improved food security and the creation of employment opportunities for their peers. ENABLE TAAT is collaborating with Apex Bank in Sierra Leone to provide accessible and affordable finance options to support these emerging businesses further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A group photograph of the participants, the ENABLE TAAT and SLARiS teams.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Sierra Leone embarks on this transformative journey in agriculture, IITA, through its Youth in Agribusiness office, is positioned to take a lead role in the FEED SALONE Project. This initiative aims to make a tangible and enduring difference in Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector, laying the foundation for a sustainable and prosperous future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"IITA
IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui with Sierra Leone Minister of Agriculture, Honourable Henry Kpaka displaying the signed MoU, and Dr Alfred Dixon (r)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The collaboration between IITA and the Ministry of Agriculture showcases a commitment to sustainable agricultural development in Sierra Leone, particularly through initiatives like ENABLE TAAT and the upcoming FEED SALONE Project. The focus on empowering youth, fostering entrepreneurship, and providing financial support underscores the potential for a positive, lasting impact on the nation’s agricultural landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contributed by Jesutofunmi Robinson<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related story<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.iita.org\/news-item\/iita-director-general-signs-mou-with-sierra-leone-minister-of-agriculture\/<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

IITA-CGIAR has reinforced its commitment to fostering agricultural progress in Sierra Leone through a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture.<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":15458,"template":"","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"tags":[],"science-area":[],"program":[],"location":[],"news-type":[],"hub":[61],"crop":[],"impact-areas":[],"item-year":[202],"class_list":["post-15457","news-item","type-news-item","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","hub-western-africa","item-year-202"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-item\/15457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-item"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news-item"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-item\/15457\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27193,"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-item\/15457\/revisions\/27193"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15457"},{"taxonomy":"science-area","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/science-area?post=15457"},{"taxonomy":"program","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/program?post=15457"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=15457"},{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=15457"},{"taxonomy":"hub","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub?post=15457"},{"taxonomy":"crop","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/crop?post=15457"},{"taxonomy":"impact-areas","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/impact-areas?post=15457"},{"taxonomy":"item-year","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iita.org\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/item-year?post=15457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}