Bo, Sierra Leone, 10th September 2026 — The new IFAD Country Director for Sierra Leone and Liberia, Mr. Marcelin Norvilus, has begun his first field engagement with the IFAD and Government of Sierra Leone financed Rural Finance and Community Improvement Programme (RFCIP), placing beneficiaries at the centre of his introductory mission to Sierra Leone.
Mr. Norvilus, who assumed responsibility for the IFAD country portfolio in July 2026, is in Sierra Leone from 7th-17th September 2026 for an Introductory and Strategic Portfolio Implementation Support Mission aimed at strengthening partnerships, addressing implementation bottlenecks and accelerating results across IFAD-supported operations in the country. Following high-level engagements in Freetown with Government Institutions, the Bank of Sierra Leone, the United Nations Country Team and Development Partners, Mr. Norvilus travelled to Bo for direct engagement with the RFCIP Team and clients of the Rural Finance Institutions.
At the RFCIP Bo Office, the Programme team briefed the Country Director on its mandate, achievements, development impact and key implementation bottlenecks. The briefing provided context for his subsequent visits to Fakunya Financial Services Association (FSA) and Taiama Community Bank, where he met with Staff, Board Members, Shareholders and Clients.
The visit to Fakunya FSA marked a significant milestone as the first project site Mr. Norvilus visited in Sierra Leone. “Since I came, I have met with different authorities, but I was keen to seeing the project beneficiaries for whom I will be working,” he said. He encouraged beneficiaries to openly share their experiences, challenges and aspirations, reflecting on where they started, where they are today and where they hope to be.
At Taiama Community Bank, he adopted the same strategy in Fakunya, emphasizing that his engagement was not a formal supervision exercise. “This is not a Supervision Mission. I am here to listen to you, the beneficiaries, and try to understand your challenges and plan how we are going to address them together,” he said. Reflecting on his first experience in Sierra Leone, Mr. Norvilus added: “I come from a far place, Haiti, but when I landed in Sierra Leone, I felt at home.”
Also, at Taiama Community Bank, the Board Chairman, Professor Alieu Mohamed Bah highlighted access to dedicated capital for agricultural financing as a major challenge. “We still have challenges with the bank because one of our major focus is agriculture. However, accessing agricultural loans remains a challenge. We are farmers, and we also work with farmers.” Professor Bah explained that the Bank’s shareholders are part of a university community and are committed to teaching, research and community engagement, with agricultural finance central to their work. He stressed the need for financing mechanisms suited to the longer repayment periods associated with agricultural investments.
RFCIP Programme Coordinator Mr. Mohamed Tejan-Kella described Taiama Community Bank as being on the right track towards sustainability. He noted that profits generated over the years had enabled the Bank to establish an additional branch in Moyamba Town, without support from the RFCIP. He also commended the Bank Manager, Mr. David K. Wubembe for his leadership and commitment to the institution’s growth.
The Mission, led by Mr. Norvilus and supported by Mr. Abu M. Jalloh, IFAD Country Programme Coordinator and Dr. Abdourahmane Bah, Portfolio Management Specialist, seeks to translate identified bottlenecks into practical actions and commitments. It will also support development of a Portfolio Acceleration Compact outlining key decisions, responsibilities and implementation commitments for the remaining part of 2026 and informing preparations for the 2027 work programme. Mr. Norvilus’s first RFCIP field engagement signals an approach grounded on listening directly to the people and institutions at the heart of rural transformation and financial inclusion in Sierra Leone.
The IFAD portfolio in Sierra Leone comprises three major projects: the Rural Finance and Community Improvement Programme (RFCIP), the Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (AVDP), and the Livestock and Livelihood Development Project (LLDP).
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