The Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD), in collaboration with European partners under the BIO-VET Project, recently hosted a high-level fact-finding mission aimed at exploring opportunities for cooperation in vocational education, agricultural innovation, entrepreneurship, and skills development in Sierra Leone. The mission brought together a delegation of European experts representing institutions involved in education, innovation, agriculture, and entrepreneurship. The visit formed part of broader efforts to strengthen collaboration between European and African institutions while identifying practical pathways for supporting workforce development, youth employment, agribusiness growth, and sustainable economic transformation.
1st June (Day One)
Engagement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security
One of the mission’s key engagements was a strategic meeting with officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. Discussions focused on Sierra Leone’s agricultural transformation agenda, opportunities within agricultural value chains, agribusiness development, youth participation in agriculture, and the critical role of skills development in improving productivity and competitiveness. The Ministry emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships that promote innovation, modern agricultural practices, value addition, and workforce readiness. Participants also explored opportunities for aligning vocational education and training programmes with the needs of the agricultural sector to support long-term economic growth and food security. The engagement highlighted agriculture’s central role in Sierra Leone’s development agenda and reinforced the need for stronger collaboration between policymakers, educational institutions, development partners, and the private sector.
Visit to Milton Margai Technical University
The delegation also visited Milton Margai Technical University, where they toured training workshops and interacted with faculty members, instructors, and students. The visit provided firsthand insight into the university’s practical approach to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Delegates observed training activities, explored workshop facilities, and discussed strategies for enhancing skills development, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Touring the practical training facilities at Milton Margai Technical Univerisity as part of the BIO-VET fact-finding mission
Faculty members explained the institution’s commitment to competency-based learning and highlighted the importance of practical training in preparing students for employment and self-employment opportunities. Discussions also explored opportunities for international partnerships, curriculum enhancement, faculty exchanges, and stronger collaboration between educational institutions and industry. The visit reinforced the importance of practical, hands-on learning in equipping young people with the skills needed to succeed in an increasingly competitive labour market.
Stragegic Dialogue with the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education
A major highlight of the mission was a high-level engagement with the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education led by Honourable Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie and senior ministry officials. The meeting focused on the future of technical and higher education in Sierra Leone, with discussions centred on curriculum modernization, workforce development, entrepreneurship, innovation, and strengthening institutional partnerships. Ministry officials outlined ongoing efforts to transform technical education through the Community Technical College model, which seeks to align training programmes with local economic activities and labour market demands. Agriculture, renewable energy, ICT, entrepreneurship, and other priority sectors were highlighted as areas where technical education can contribute significantly to national development. The Ministry further emphasized the importance of industry participation in curriculum development and skills training to ensure that graduates possess competencies relevant to current and future labour market needs. European partners shared experiences from successful entrepreneurship programmes implemented across universities in Europe, highlighting approaches that help students develop business ideas, strengthen entrepreneurial skills, and create pathways for innovation and job creation.
Meeting with GIZ
The delegation further engaged representatives of GIZ in discussions focused on skills development, youth employment, entrepreneurship, and institutional strengthening. Participants exchanged perspectives on current challenges and opportunities within the skills development ecosystem and explored areas for potential collaboration. The discussions underscored the importance of partnerships in creating sustainable opportunities for young people and strengthening systems that support workforce readiness and economic participation. The engagement highlighted the shared commitment among stakeholders to promoting inclusive growth, innovation, and long-term development
2nd June (Day Two)
Engagement with the European Union Delegation
The BIO-VET delegation also met with representatives of the European Union Delegation in Sierra Leone. The engagement provided an opportunity to discuss international cooperation, education partnerships, innovation ecosystems, skills development, and opportunities for future collaboration. Discussions explored how partnerships between European and Sierra Leonean institutions can contribute to sustainable development, capacity building, and economic transformation. The meeting reinforced the value of international cooperation in supporting education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development initiatives.
Provincial Engagements and Field Visits
Beyond Freetown, the delegation travelled to Kambia District and other locations to engage local stakeholders and gain firsthand insights into community realities. These field visits provided valuable opportunities to assess local training needs, understand workforce challenges, identify development opportunities, and explore practical ways of strengthening vocational education and agricultural development at the community level. The provincial engagements ensured that perspectives from both urban and rural communities informed discussions and future recommendations.
Key Outcomes of the Mission
Throughout the mission, several important themes emerged:
The need to strengthen links between education and labour market demands.
The importance of practical and competency-based learning approaches.
The growing relevance of entrepreneurship education and innovation.
Opportunities for strengthening agricultural value chains through skills development.
The importance of partnerships between government, academia, development partners, and the private sector.
The potential for international collaboration in curriculum development, capacity building, and knowledge exchange.
Looking Ahead
The BIO-VET mission successfully established new relationships and strengthened existing partnerships among stakeholders committed to advancing skills development, agricultural innovation, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment in Sierra Leone. SLeCAD remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote inclusive economic growth, strengthen human capital development, and create opportunities for young people across the country. As discussions continue and partnerships evolve, the insights gathered during this mission will contribute to future collaboration efforts aimed at building a more innovative, skilled, and competitive workforce capable of supporting Sierra Leone’s long-term development aspirations. The mission may have concluded, but the journey toward stronger partnerships, enhanced skills development, and sustainable economic transformation continues.
The Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) on Tuesday, 26th May 2026, hosted a high-level Agribusiness Private Sector Engagement Meeting with officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security at the SLeCAD Conference Hall,Beach Road, Lumley, Freetown.
The strategic engagement brought together Government representatives, farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, financial institutions, cooperatives, development partners, investors, and private sector stakeholders to discuss practical solutions aimed at strengthening food production, improving agricultural financing, promoting agro-industrialization, and expanding private sector participation within Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector.
The engagement formed part of SLeCAD’s broader mission to support the Government’s Feed Salone initiative while promoting sustainable agricultural transformation and investment opportunities across Sierra Leone.
Speaking during the forum, the Executive Secretary of SLeCAD, Mr. Ahmed Nanoh, emphasized the critical role of the private sector in transforming agriculture into a commercially driven sector capable of creating employment opportunities, increasing food production, and supporting national economic growth.
According to Mr. Nanoh, SLeCAD was established to promote private sector participation in agriculture while connecting local agribusinesses with investors, development partners, buyers, and international market opportunities.
He disclosed that since 2008, the Chamber has worked with farmers, Government institutions, financial institutions, and development organizations to strengthen agricultural value chains and support agribusiness development despite operating under limited resources.
Mr. Nanoh further stressed the need for Sierra Leone to move beyond subsistence farming and position itself as a competitive agribusiness destination capable of attracting local and international investment.
He highlighted successful agricultural models in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya where agribusiness companies support farmers through financing arrangements, contract farming systems, and guaranteed markets for agricultural produce.
The Deputy Minister II of Agriculture and Food Security reaffirmed Government’s commitment to working closely with the private sector in achieving the objectives of the Feed Salone initiative.
He emphasized that Government alone cannot achieve national food security goals without strong collaboration from private sector institutions, financial partners, development organizations, and agribusiness stakeholders.
The Deputy Minister disclosed that the Ministry is currently working with banks, insurance companies, and development institutions to improve agricultural financing and insurance protection for farmers against climate-related losses and production risks.
He encouraged Sierra Leoneans, particularly young people, to embrace agriculture as a business opportunity capable of driving economic empowerment and reducing dependence on imported food commodities.
The engagement also addressed several challenges affecting agricultural productivity and agribusiness growth in Sierra Leone including limited access to finance, poor road infrastructure, inadequate processing facilities, limited mechanization, storage challenges, climate-related farming risks, and weak market access opportunities.
Stakeholders emphasized the need for increased investment in agro-processing, commercialization, packaging, mechanization, storage facilities, transportation infrastructure, and export readiness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The meeting concluded with renewed commitments from Government officials, private sector stakeholders, development partners, and agribusiness actors to strengthen collaboration toward improving food security, supporting local farmers, increasing agricultural productivity, and advancing sustainable economic growth through agriculture.
SLeCAD continues to position itself as a strategic platform connecting farmers, investors, agribusinesses, financial institutions, development partners, and Government stakeholders in advancing agricultural transformation and private sector development in Sierra Leone.
📌 Watch the full engagement video on our YouTube channel
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The Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD), in strategic collaboration with the EBKUST Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub and with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), continues to strengthen agribusiness enterprises in Sierra Leone through the implementation of the Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) entrepreneurship training programme combined with digital business coaching support.
The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to improve enterprise sustainability, strengthen agricultural value chains, promote employment creation, and enhance the productivity of agribusiness SMEs operating across Sierra Leone.
As part of the programme implementation, SLeCAD successfully facilitated a five-day intensive Improve Your Business (IYB) training programme designed to strengthen the business management capacity of agribusiness entrepreneurs, particularly enterprises operating within the poultry, cassava processing, palm oil production, and vegetable production value chains.
The programme brought together agribusiness entrepreneurs, SMEs, and value chain actors, many of whom are members of SLeCAD, to participate in practical entrepreneurship and business management sessions tailored to address real operational challenges affecting agribusinesses in Sierra Leone.
The SIYB training methodology developed by the International Labour Organization provides a globally recognized entrepreneurship framework aimed at improving enterprise planning, financial management, productivity, market positioning, and business sustainability.
During the training sessions, participants engaged in six major modules under the SIYB Improve Your Business framework, including:
Planning for Your Business
Record Keeping
Costing
Marketing
People and Productivity
Buying and Stock Control
The sessions focused on strengthening the managerial and operational capacity of entrepreneurs through practical learning approaches, case studies, business simulations, and agribusiness-centered discussions.
Under the Costing module, participants learned how to calculate production costs, determine appropriate pricing systems, improve profitability, and make informed financial decisions capable of supporting business growth.
The Record Keeping and Planning for Your Business sessions emphasized the importance of proper financial documentation, business planning, operational monitoring, and strategic growth management.
Participants also explored key areas in Marketing, where facilitators discussed customer development, market positioning, product promotion, and improving access to competitive markets.
The People and Productivity module focused on improving workplace culture, staff management, productivity systems, employee motivation, and maintaining healthy and productive business environments.
In the Buying and Stock Control sessions, entrepreneurs learned practical techniques for inventory management, supplier coordination, purchasing systems, and stock monitoring in order to reduce losses and improve operational efficiency.
As part of the programme, Agribusiness Business Clinics were also organized to provide entrepreneurs with opportunities to discuss real business challenges affecting their enterprises. The clinics addressed practical issues including feed costs in poultry enterprises, efficiency in cassava processing, productivity in palm oil production, and market access for vegetable producers.
To strengthen post-training impact and sustainability, participants will continue receiving business development support through the Hustle Coach digital platform, a digital coaching tool designed to reinforce the principles of the Improve Your Business methodology.
Through the platform, entrepreneurs will continue receiving guidance in areas such as:
Financial management
Costing and pricing decisions
Marketing strategies
Business growth planning
Enterprise sustainability
Speaking on the importance of the programme, SLeCAD emphasized that strengthening the managerial capacity of agribusiness SMEs remains critical to improving enterprise sustainability, employment creation, food systems, and private sector participation within Sierra Leone’s agricultural economy.
The Chamber further noted that entrepreneurship development and capacity building continue to play a major role in empowering SMEs, increasing competitiveness, and promoting sustainable agribusiness transformation across the country.
The programme also reflects the growing collaboration between SLeCAD, EBKUST Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub, and the International Labour Organization in strengthening agribusiness ecosystems and supporting entrepreneurs through practical, scalable, and impact-driven interventions.
SLeCAD remains committed to promoting agribusiness development, entrepreneurship support, private sector growth, and enterprise sustainability through strategic partnerships, training programmes, and capacity-building initiatives across Sierra Leone.
📌 “When entrepreneurs are empowered with practical business knowledge, enterprises grow stronger, communities become more resilient, and economies become more sustainable.”
📌 “Capacity building is not only about training people — it is about transforming businesses, creating opportunities, and strengthening livelihoods.”
For more updates, training opportunities, partnerships, and agribusiness initiatives, follow SLeCAD on all digital platforms and visit our website regularly.
The Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) has successfully concluded another impactful Internship and Capacity Building Programme aimed at equipping university students with practical workplace exposure, professional mentorship, and real-world corporate experience.
The internship programme, which officially commenced on 16th March 2026 and concluded on 20th April 2026, brought together students from Njala University, the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), and Milton Margai Technical University.
As part of SLeCAD’s continuous commitment to youth empowerment, entrepreneurship development, agribusiness growth, and private sector strengthening, students were attached both internally at SLeCAD and externally to partner institutions including Bennimix and PAJAH & I.J SL LTD.
The initiative was designed to bridge the gap between academic theory and practical workplace application while exposing students to the realities of the corporate environment, organizational ethics, teamwork, communication, digital systems, agribusiness operations, and workplace responsibilities.
Throughout the internship journey, students were engaged in practical assignments, presentations, mentorship sessions, supervision exercises, interviews, documentation processes, digital communication activities, inventory management, customer service, marketing activities, and organizational operations.
At SLeCAD, all interns participated in the organization’s regular Monday morning devotion sessions and staff engagements, which served as an avenue for orientation, mentorship, motivation, teamwork, discipline, and professional interaction.
Several students attached internally at SLeCAD gained practical exposure in Information Technology, Administration, Reception Management, Corporate Communication, Digital Systems, Office Coordination, Reporting, Customer Service, and Professional Ethics.
Students attached to partner institutions also participated in practical agribusiness and operational activities including inventory supervision, marketing engagement, customer relations, logistics support, production support, and general workplace coordination.
One of the major highlights of the programme was the positive transformation observed among many of the students. Several interns who initially had limited practical exposure to corporate systems, workplace communication, digital tools, and organizational operations demonstrated significant improvement throughout the internship period.
The programme also provided students with opportunities to interact directly with professionals, managers, supervisors, entrepreneurs, and industry stakeholders, thereby strengthening their confidence, communication skills, teamwork abilities, leadership exposure, and understanding of workplace expectations.
As part of the internship monitoring and evaluation process, supervisors from participating universities visited the respective internship locations to assess student performance, supervise activities, and engage management teams regarding the effectiveness of the programme.
Evaluation reports submitted by supervisors and partner institutions highlighted the students’ commitment, willingness to learn, adaptability, discipline, responsibility, and growing professional competence throughout the internship period.
At PAJAH & I.J SL LTD, students attached under the programme demonstrated commendable commitment and professionalism. One of the students attached through the programme eventually transitioned into a staff role after demonstrating competence and reliability within the institution.
At Bennimix, students were exposed to practical agribusiness and marketing operations, where they gained direct experience relating to product engagement, marketing activities, organizational coordination, and professional interaction.
SLeCAD also conducted interviews and interactive assessment sessions with interns in order to evaluate their learning outcomes, challenges encountered, practical experiences gained, and recommendations for future improvement.
During these interactions, many students described the programme as impactful, practical, educational, and transformational. Several interns testified that the programme helped them better understand the practical application of concepts previously learned only in classrooms.
The internship programme additionally emphasized the importance of digital literacy, professional reporting, formal communication, workplace ethics, documentation, organizational responsibility, teamwork, and self-development.
As part of the documentation and visibility process, SLeCAD also produced a full internship documentary featuring interviews, testimonies, office activities, mentorship engagements, and student experiences throughout the programme.
🎥 Watch the Full Internship Documentary Here:
📸 More internship photos and highlights are also available in our Gallery Section.
SLeCAD remains committed to promoting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, agribusiness development, practical learning, and sustainable private sector growth through strategic partnerships, mentorship programmes, training initiatives, and internship opportunities across Sierra Leone.
The Chamber appreciates all partner institutions, supervisors, universities, staff members, and stakeholders who contributed to the success of this year’s internship programme.
The Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD), in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), successfully facilitated a three-day Food Safety Handbook Training Workshop held from 14th to 16th April 2026.
The workshop brought together agribusiness stakeholders, including farmers, processors, aggregators, and food system actors, with the objective of strengthening knowledge and practical understanding of food safety standards across agricultural value chains.
This training forms part of ongoing efforts to improve the quality, safety, and competitiveness of agricultural products in Sierra Leone, while aligning local agribusiness practices with international standards.
Participants were introduced to key principles outlined in the IFC Food Safety Handbook, focusing on:
Food hygiene and safety practices
Risk identification and mitigation
Standardization and compliance
Handling, processing, and storage requirements
Improving market readiness and consumer confidence
The interactive nature of the training enabled participants to share experiences, identify challenges, and explore practical solutions to food safety issues within their respective operations.
The initiative is expected to enhance the capacity of agribusiness actors to meet both local and international market requirements, ultimately contributing to improved public health outcomes and increased economic opportunities within the sector.
SLeCAD remains committed to building the capacity of its members through continuous training and the provision of practical learning resources, including the IFC Food Safety Handbook, which serves as a key reference for strengthening food safety practices across the agribusiness sector.
Training materials, including the IFC Food Safety Handbook, are available at the SLeCAD Secretariat for members and stakeholders.
