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Advocacy
The Chamber conducts advocacy programs to mobilize and create a network involving smallholder farmers, processors marketing companies, research institutions, transporters, policy makers, small enterprises, agribusiness specialists and corporate enterprises to improve productivity and competitiveness of Sierra Leone agricultural produce.
As advocacy is a major source of new agricultural knowledge, this is a key strategic area of focus and intervention by the chamber whose mandate is to promote and facilitate agribusiness development and value addition. From the chamber’s perspective, the interventions in this area are primarily through promoting private investment in the agriculture sector of Sierra Leone and
ensure mutual benefits in information sharing,improving the flow of agricultural research information, ensuring its equitable access and appropriation by all agricultural actors and enabling learning systems to make effective use of it for agricultural innovation.
SLeCAD Calls on IMF to cancel SL’s Debt in Support of President Bio’s “Feed Salone” Programclick here for more on this Freetown, SIERRA LEONE – Ahmed Nannoh, the Executive Secretary of the Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD), has made an impassioned Plea to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to consider restructuring and cancelling Sierra Leone’s debt to enable the government to fully fund the Feed Salone Project. Nannoh conveyed his message to journalists at his Bathurst Street Office in Freetown on Tuesday, October 10th, 2023. President Bio, following his re-election, introduced the ambitious “Feed Salone” Program, aimed at combatting hunger within the country. Highlighting the country’s debt to-GDP ratio, Nannoh stated that it stands at 90-92%. “Easing our debt burden will create room for increased government investment in the agriculture sector, ultimately ensuring the success of the Feed Salone Project,” he expressed. Nannoh emphasized the paramount importance of achieving self-sufficiency in food production. “Our focus should be on agriculture to drive industrialization and elevate Sierra Leone to a position of strength, he added. The Executive Secretary also called upon development partners to provide substantial funding for the “Feed Salone” Program to enhance food security, alleviate poverty, generate employment and wealth, and foster inclusive growth. “Feed Salone has the potential to be a game-changer in Sierra Leone,” he asserted. Nannoh pointed out the significance of agriculture in job creation, stating, “No country in the world has successfully boosted job creation without prioritizing agriculture.’ He praised President Bio’s commitment to agriculture, noting that the President himself has a background in farming, having previously owned tropical Farm, a company engaged in the production and export of organic cocoa to Europe. Furthermore, Nannoh highlighted the government’s allocation of 10% of the budget to agriculture, in line with the Maputo Declaration, a significant increase from the previous 2.6%. Among other suggestions, the Executive Secretary recommended that the Sierra Leonean government impose taxes on rice and allocate the funds to support the agriculture sector, thereby promoting market access and enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector and farmers. Nannoh also urges the Government to review issues related to advance payment guarantees and letters of credit, allowing the private sector to flourish without unnecessary constraints. In addition, he proposed that the Ministry of Agriculture utilize the Agribusiness investment Policy, funded by the World Bank SCADeP, to promote the “Feed Salone” Program. The Executive Secretary encourages mining companies to contribute to the Government’s effort to support “Feed Salone” by increasing their royalties from the current 3%. Lastly, Nannoh called upon the government to conduct feasibility studies that would attract greater private sector, ultimately realizing the goals of the “Feed Salone” initiative. He also advocate for the establishment of agriculture insurance to mitigate risks in the sector and for the mapping and registration of Lands owned by Sierra Leoneans, which could be used as collateral for accessing Finance.
The Chamber of Agriculture (SLeCAD) and International Trade Centre (ITC), West Africa Competitive Programme (WACOMP) Trained 30 Agribusiness Companies, SMEs and Cooperatives to improve on the business environment & trade
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The objective of the training is to build on the advocacy and lobbying capacities of existing cooperatives, SMEs, Agribusiness companies and sector associations to improve on the Business Environment and Trade Integration for The Cocoa, Cassava and Palm Oil value chains in Sierra Leone.
ITC has been working in close cooperation with SLeCAD, an organization with long standing expertise and broad membership in the agribusiness and agriculture sectors in Sierra Leone and around the globe. This activitiy relates to providing support to key institutions like SLeCAD in the provision of services to their members and engagement in effective policy dialogue with the government on sensitive topics for farmers, producers and exporters (access to inputs; product inspection rules; etc.).
In his opening statement the SLeCAD Executive Secretary and CEO of SLeCAD Mr. Ahmed Nanoh welcomed the participants to the training session and encourage them to use the session as an opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in advocacy to ensure the improvement of the business environment and trade integration for cocoa, cassava, and oil palm that are key commodities for export for S/Leone that will create jobs and wealth, reduce poverty and enhance economic growth in support of the Government New Direction Agenda. He said that the business environment has a lot of challenges and retapes in the government corridors and need the high-level advocacy skills of the agribusiness value chains operators to unlock the Agribusiness and Agro-industrial potential for the betterment of S/Leone. This could only change if the private continue to engage the public sector to bring the desired changed, he stated. He encouraged the participant not to mix politics with business as it will always end to be a defunct business. He said that the agribusiness sector is the largest private sector in the country and if properly managed it should be able to create the needed jobs for the youths, and women in S/Leone where there will be no need for the citizens of S/Leone go for greener pasture overseas. He said, if S/Leone could manage the agriculture sector well the country will be one of the best economise in the sub-region but this could only be achieved through advocacy and public private dialogue. He further emphasised that the training will also provide the introduction to the principles and key functions of trade-related advocacy and policy dialogue, share practical examples on how trade-related advocacy and policy dialogue can contribute to improve livelihoods and performances of your members and clients, improve on participant skills to discuss key linkages between domestic business environment and international trade agreements, help to address opportunities and challenges for Sierra Leone’s businesses in the agricultural sector.
Mr Siaka Kawa, the ITC WACOMP National coordinator, commended the effort of SLeCAD in advocacy and confirmed that ITC finds it vital to partner with SLeCAD to champion the training of agribusiness private sector companies, SMEs and Cooperative in the cocoa, cassava and oil palm to improve on the business environment especially in the area of export promotion and trade integration that will help the Sierra Leone economy to grow and reduce poverty. He said the ITC is excited to support the training since it will unlock the potential of the agriculture sector and promote internal and regional trade key to the economic growth of every country. He encourages the participants to be focused and take the training seriously to enhance their business growth through improved business environment.
In his vote of thanks, Mr. Ibrahim Bockarie Sannoh, Coordinator for Heuwolacheo Cooperative thanked ITC, EU, UNIDO and SLeCAD for offering the Agribusiness Companies, SMEs and Cooperatives the opportunity to be trained in advocacy skills to enhance the improvement of the business environment that promote agribusiness growth. He said that he is coordinating over 2,500 farmers producing cocoa, but stated that the value of S/Leone cocoa in the world market drastically fallen due to poor quality bought from other countries and mixed with S/Leone high quality organic cocoa. He said that there has been non check and balances in the supervision and regulation of the cocoa sector and making the country to lose huge forex that currently negatively impacting on the depreciation of the Leones against the US dollar. He concluded by encouraging all agribusiness private sector players to work with the Chamber head by Ahmed Nanoh to improve on advocacy and make their business competitive and profitable.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (ITC) IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SIERRA LEONE CHAMBER FOR AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (SLECAD) CONDUCTED TWO DAYS TRADE-RELATED ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC PRIVATE DIALOGUE TRAINING FOR SLeCAD STAFFS: INSIGHT AND PERSPECTIVES FOR IMPROVING AGRI-SECTOR COMPETITIVENESS IN SIERRA LEONE.
Purpose of the training is to support SLeCAD to improve on its Advocacy Strategy, to improve SLeCAD Advocacy approach and to strengthen the Chamber’s capacity in Advocacy to advance and improve on the business environment in Sierra Leone. The training also supports the drive to help SLeCAD obtain competitive edge and growth in the Agri-Sector of Sierra Leone and the sub-region. This is all organize to revamp advocacy and public-private dialogue in support to improve the business environment and trade integration of sierra Leone’s agribusiness and industrial value chains.
This project is geared under the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and International Trade Centre (ITC) to supporting the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with the implementation of the European Union (EU)-funded West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP), which aims, inter alia, to support the selected value chains at national and regional levels to promote transformation, better access to regional and international markets, considering social and environmental issues.
WACOMP will specifically aim:
-To improve the climate for business at national and regional levels
-To improve the performance, growth and contribution to industry, regional trade and exports of selected value chains.
SCALING UP NUTRITION OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT CONDUCTED A DAY WORKSHOP TO VALIDATE THE FOOD SYSTEM REGIONAL DIALOGUE SYNTHESIS REPORT.
Among eminent stakeholders representing the private sector as team lead for the food system dialogue was the executive secretary of SLeCAD Mr. Ahmed Nanoh. Mr. Nanoh being a technical committee member for the food system, the regional curator for the northwest region and team lead for key private sector express profound gratitude for being part of the validation exercise as it is an important event haven gone through the process in the northwest region. He ascend that multitude of private sector were involve in the entire process and make significant input in the development of the food system document. He further by extending thanks to the Government especially the convenor Hon. Minister of state Office of the Vice president who display unique leadership skills in putting together all relivant stakeholders to reach were we are today.
As private sector, they have play fundamental role through engaging the government and all key stakeholders in getting the food system right. As private sector they are contributing to national development through the government agenda Mr. Nanoh asserted.
After making significant input in to this document as private sector, we are here today to make a thorough review on some of the input made and validate them to become a national blue print on the food system document.
However, the Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) as a leading private sector player working with other Agribusiness private sector players has been working towards the development of Agriculture not only today but ten years back working with the ministry of Agriculture and ministry of Trade.
Having gone through the Dialogue through out the Northwest, most of the issues that came up are critical challenges that have been affecting the private sector. Issues ranging from access to finance, Market access and why Sierra Leone has not been able to get our own market share in the international market. And these are key issues that the food system is trying to address.
Issues that have to do with Business environment, Technology and input.
And Mr. Nanoh finally remind participants that, the purpose of this validation is to look into all those issues wether they are properly address in the document. As private sector, they see it as opportunity in as much as the country is facing huge challenges in all of the issues highlighted. As private sector they are prepared to contribute in salvaging the problems of :
- Closing the gap on our import expenses which Government is spending huge resources on ( Up to $ 400,000,000 )
- To promote the protein requirement within the country.
- Solving the problems of Babe food imported into the country.
The above are all challenges the food system is going to Address according to Mr. Nanoh on behalf of the private sector.
He concluded his statement by thanking the office of the Vice president, the national coordinator, the technical team and the Minister of Agriculture for their relentless effort in getting the job done.
SLeCAD IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SCALING UP NUTRIRTION OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT SIERRA LEONE UNDERTAKE A FOOD SYSTEM DIALOGUE IN THE NORTHWEST REGION.
Mr. Ahmed Nanoh the executive secretary of The Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) and also doubles as the regional curator for the North West region champion this all important event.
After giving an overview of the said event, Mr. Ahmed Nanoh took his time to Mentor all participant through some motivational statements and Advice participants to do Justice to this document as it is a national call and not a political thing. He further elaborate on the benefit this document will bring to the entire world if given the utmost attention it requires.
He further Lament on the Background to UN interest in Food system. And remind participant that, the United Nation recognizes food as a very critical element of life and it underpins our culture, our economy and our relationship with the natural world. It is in connection with the above mentioned the United Nation Secretary General calls on all world Leaders to take part in a summit that will help establish the future direction for food systems and accelerate collective action on the following premises:
- Support increase recognition that transforming food system must be central in the efforts to achieve all the 17 SDG’s by 2030.
- The COVID-19 pandemic shows the fragilities and inequality in food systems and underscores the urgent needs to ensure that food systems are more sustainable, inclusive and resilient.
Mr. Ahmed Nanoh stated it clearly that, the United Nation recognize that everyone inputs is meaningful and will play significant role in the development of any policy. It is with such believed the United Nation Secretary General calls on world leaders to follow the bottom to top Approach in developing the food system.
Mr. Ahmed Nanoh further makes a comprehensive explanation on the following areas:
1. What a sustainable food system is? And outline the following as a bid in answering the aforementioned question:
–It is profitable throughout (economic sustainability);
–It has broad-based benefits for society (social sustainability); and
-It has a positive or neutral impact on the natural environment (environmental sustainability).
2. A break down on the structure of the Food System National Dialogue.
3. Expected outcome of the National Dialogue.
4. Status of the Food system Dialogue in the Country.
In his concluding submission Mr. Ahmed Nanoh emphasize on the critical role this document will play in drawing the attention of the United Nation in supporting our beloved country and appeal to participants to put all their best by making meaningful contribution towards the development of this document.
