Strengthening Land Governance in Sierra Leone: SLeCAD Joins National Multi-Stakeholder Platform
The Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) participated in the National Workshop on Strengthening Inclusive National Governance – Translating Engagement Findings into a Roadmap for the Development of Robust Land Governance Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (MSPs) held from 2–3 March 2026 at Brookfields Hotel, Freetown.The workshop aimed to review findings from previous engagements on land governance and to develop a roadmap for strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (MSPs) at both national and district levels.
What the Project is About
The initiative focuses on strengthening land governance systems in Sierra Leone through inclusive stakeholder participation.
Land remains one of the most important resources for agriculture, agribusiness investment, food production, and rural livelihoods. However, challenges such as weak coordination among institutions, land conflicts, limited stakeholder participation, and gaps in policy implementation continue to affect land governance.
To address these issues, stakeholders are working toward the establishment of Multi-Stakeholder Platforms (MSPs).
These platforms are designed to bring together government institutions, traditional authorities, civil society, development partners, academia, and private sector actors to collaborate, dialogue, and contribute to land governance processes.
The overall goal is to ensure that land administration systems are more transparent, inclusive, coordinated, and responsive to the needs of all stakeholders.
Why Multi-Stakeholder Platforms Matter
During the workshop, participants emphasized that effective land governance requires collaboration across sectors.
Multi-Stakeholder Platforms are expected to play a critical role in:
- Facilitating dialogue among stakeholders involved in land governance
- Supporting policy consultations and governance reforms
- Promoting transparency and accountability in land administration
- Strengthening coordination among institutions involved in land governance
- Supporting dispute resolution and mediation processes
- Providing advisory input to national decision-making processes
Importantly, participants stressed that these platforms must complement existing government institutions and legal systems rather than duplicate their roles.
Strengthening Land Governance at the District Level
In addition to national coordination, the initiative also focuses on strengthening district-level Multi-Stakeholder Platforms.
District platforms will play an important role in addressing local land governance challenges by:
- Facilitating community engagement on land issues
- Supporting awareness campaigns on land rights and governance
- Providing a forum for addressing land disputes
- Strengthening communication between communities and national institutions
Strong coordination between national and district platforms will ensure that local realities inform national policies and reforms.
SLeCAD Recognized as Agribusiness Representative
As a result of the discussions, SLeCAD was recognized as a relevant private sector representative for agribusiness stakeholders within the national Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP).
This recognition provides a strategic opportunity for SLeCAD to represent the interests of agribusiness actors and ensure that private sector perspectives are integrated into national land governance discussions.
Through this role, SLeCAD will contribute to strengthening dialogue between government institutions, investors, farmers, and agribusiness enterprises.
What This Means for Stakeholders
The establishment of inclusive Multi-Stakeholder Platforms creates several opportunities for national stakeholders.
These platforms will help:
- Improve coordination between institutions responsible for land administration
- Strengthen dialogue between government and non-state actors
- Increase transparency in land governance processes
- Promote inclusive participation in policy discussions
- Address governance challenges affecting land access and use
Ultimately, these efforts will support more effective land governance systems that benefit communities, investors, and the broader agricultural sector.
The National Workshop on Strengthening Inclusive National Governance represents an important step toward building inclusive, transparent, and effective land governance systems in Sierra Leone.
The recognition of SLeCAD as a representative of agribusiness stakeholders within the national Multi-Stakeholder Platform highlights the growing importance of private sector participation in land governance processes.
By contributing to these discussions, SLeCAD will continue to support policies and initiatives that promote sustainable agribusiness development, responsible investment, and inclusive economic growth in Sierra Leone.
Get Involved with SLeCAD
SLeCAD continues to advocate for policies that support sustainable agribusiness development, responsible land investment, and private sector participation in national policy discussions.
We encourage agribusiness stakeholders, investors, farmers, and development partners to engage with SLeCAD and contribute to shaping the future of agriculture in Sierra Leone.
👉 Become a Member of SLeCAD Membership
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