The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)’s Country Director for Sierra Leone and Liberia, Ms Pascaline Barankeba, noted that the strong and longstanding partnership between IFAD and the Government of Sierra Leone was once again reaffirmed during the Implementation Support Mission for the Livestock and Livelihoods Development Project (LLDP). She also commended the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Honourable Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, for his leadership and continued commitment to the design, launch, and implementation of the LLDP. The LLDP is a Government flagship project officially launched by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio in October 2025.
Madam Barankeba commended the LLDP Project Implementation Unit (PIU) for the progress achieved during the project’s first six months of implementation. She explained that the mission aimed to provide strategic and technical support, assess implementation progress, identify gaps and bottlenecks, and strengthen readiness for the effective delivery of sustainable livestock-based livelihoods for rural communities especially women and youth.
Madam Barankeba further noted that the mission came at a critical stage following the official launch of the project by H.E. the President of Sierra Leone, and the completion of the start-up workshop, emphasizing that the LLDP must now transition from a well-designed project to a well-delivered programme with tangible impact.
She highlighted that the multidisciplinary mission team was deliberately assembled to provide expertise across key areas of the program to boost its implementation and impact on rural economy and livelihood.
She explained that the LLDP was designed to contribute to poverty reduction, improved food security and nutrition among rural households, and increase employment and economic opportunities for rural women and youth.
Barankeba called on all stakeholders to strengthen coordination, maintain momentum, and accelerate implementation to ensure the successful delivery and long-term impact of the project.
The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the timely and effective implementation of the LLDP. He emphasized that the project is a flagship intervention under the Government’s “Feed Salone” strategy and stressed the need for accelerated implementation to ensure visible and measurable impact before 2028.
He urged the PIU to ensure the timely delivery of activities to improve livelihoods in rural communities.
