The Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) actively participated in the national validation workshop on the Step-by-Step Guide for Trading Goods under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), held from 11–12 February 2026 in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The workshop brought together government institutions, development partners, private sector representatives, and trade experts to refine practical guidance that supports Sierra Leonean businesses — especially SMEs and agribusiness operators — in effectively accessing African markets under the AfCFTA framework.
Objective of the Workshop
The workshop aimed to review, validate, and strengthen the national trade guide to ensure it reflects real operational procedures, simplifies export/import processes, clarifies Rules of Origin requirements, and enhances accessibility for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Target Beneficiaries
Primary beneficiaries include agribusinesses, exporters, importers, SMEs, women- and youth-led enterprises, trade facilitators, and institutions supporting private sector development across Sierra Leone and West Africa.
Partners and Stakeholders
The initiative involved collaboration between the Ministry of Trade and Industry, development partners, trade institutions, and private sector representatives working collectively to improve AfCFTA readiness.
Role of SLeCAD
SLeCAD contributed private sector insights, particularly from agribusiness operators, ensuring that practical business realities, compliance challenges, and market access concerns were reflected in the guide’s refinement.
Impact on SMEs and Agribusiness Sector
This initiative is expected to:
- Improve trade awareness and compliance readiness
- Reduce export bottlenecks for SMEs
- Strengthen agribusiness competitiveness
- Expand regional market access opportunities
- Enhance Sierra Leone’s participation in intra-African trade
SLeCAD remains committed to supporting agribusiness development, private sector competitiveness, and regional economic integration through continuous engagement, advocacy, and capacity-building initiatives.
👉 Visit our website www.slecad.biz regularly for detailed updates, trade opportunities, and agribusiness support initiatives.
Businesses interested in AfCFTA readiness and agribusiness trade support can connect with SLeCAD.
On Wednesday, 4th February 2026, the Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) participated in a high-level consultation meeting with the World Bank Sierra Leone Country Office as part of the Resilience and Risk Assessment (RRA) Field Mission.
The session focused on understanding Sierra Leone’s resilience landscape — spanning economic, social, institutional, and private sector dimensions — with particular attention to agribusiness development, SME sustainability, and private sector growth as drivers of national stability and economic transformation.
During the dialogue, SLeCAD highlighted critical challenges affecting agribusiness and SMEs, including access to finance, high transaction costs within the banking system, infrastructure gaps such as energy and road networks, export standards limitations, port inefficiencies, and taxation pressures that hinder business scaling.
The discussion also emphasized opportunities: strengthening domestic private sector capacity, improving financial inclusion, enhancing agricultural value chains, fostering innovation at community level, and expanding Sierra Leone’s competitiveness in regional and global markets.
SLeCAD reaffirmed its commitment to supporting policies, partnerships, and investment pathways that enable agribusiness enterprises to thrive while contributing to national resilience, food security, employment creation, and sustainable economic development.
For more insights on our work, partnerships, and agribusiness initiatives, visit: Organization History
The Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) participated in the e-Government Procurement (e-GP) Private Sector Readiness Session held on 28 January 2026 at the World Bank Office in Freetown. The engagement, supported by the World Bank Group, Ministry of Finance, and the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), focused on preparing businesses for Sierra Leone’s digital public procurement system.
The session explored how the e-GP system will improve transparency, efficiency, and access to government procurement opportunities. Discussions highlighted challenges facing SMEs, including digital literacy gaps, internet access limitations, compliance requirements, and awareness of procurement opportunities.
SLeCAD contributed insights on agribusiness readiness, SME participation, and the need for targeted capacity building. The initiative is expected to enhance market access, transparency, and competitiveness for agribusiness SMEs across Sierra Leone and West Africa.
Discover more about our initiatives, partnerships, and agribusiness development efforts at https://www.slecad.biz
The Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) participated in an International Executive Training on Best Practices in Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) held at Wusum Hotel, Makeni, from 14–18 April 2025.
The training strengthened capacity on climate change adaptation and mitigation in agriculture, with a focus on resilient food systems, sustainable productivity, gender inclusivity, and scalable CSA practices eligible for financing. Key stakeholders from agribusinesses, farmer organizations, government institutions, and development partners shared practical experiences on implementing CSA across value chains.
SLeCAD’s participation reinforces its commitment to promoting climate-resilient agribusiness, inclusive growth, and investment-ready agricultural systems in Sierra Leone.
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The Sierra Leone Chamber for Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) conducted a Back-to-Office mission under the SCADeP project from 9th–12th May 2022, covering Bo, Kenema, Kailahun, and Makeni, to assess matching grant beneficiaries and agribusiness investments.
The mission evaluated beneficiary performance across poultry, rice processing, palm kernel oil, soap production, and out-grower schemes, focusing on business growth, job creation, value-chain efficiency, and sustainability. Key beneficiaries visited included Clean Africa for Agricultural Development (CAFAD), Mountain Lion Agriculture, Big Things Company Limited, and other agribusiness operators.
Findings showed strong impact in production capacity, women and youth employment, infrastructure development, and value-chain linkages, while challenges such as machinery gaps, skills development, post-harvest losses, and sustainability were identified. The mission concluded with strategic recommendations to strengthen monitoring, technical assistance, out-grower management, and agribusiness scalability.
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