By Sallieu S. Kanu
On Saturday, July 13, 2024, the Sierra Leone Chambers of Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD) and Craving for Development formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bolster agriculture and support the government’s Feed Salone flagship project.
The signing ceremony, held at SLeCAD’s new office on Lumley Beach Road in Freetown, highlighted the importance of integrating the private sector into successful implementation of agriculture projects.
The MoU between SLeCAD and Craving for Development marks a significant step towards enhancing agribusiness and industrialization in Sierra Leone, with a focus on private sector-led initiatives to achieve food security and economic growth.
Ahmed Nannoh, Executive Director of SLeCAD, praised Craving for Development for their impactful work globally, particularly in Africa. He emphasized President Bio’s commitment to private sector collaboration since the inception of the Feed Salone Project but stressed the need for enhanced private sector involvement to achieve food self-sufficiency. Nannoh advocated for allocation of funds private sector players to strengthen to promote food security.
Aminata Kane Balde, Co-Founder and Director of Craving for Development and Muzambiringa, reaffirmed her organization’s dedication to building an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Sierra Leone and across Africa.
She highlighted that their initiatives aimed at nurturing youth entrepreneurship and transforming innovative ideas into sustainable businesses. Balde noted that the MoU represents a formalization of an already existing collaboration, allowing for the generation of shared initiatives.
Balde and Nannoh underscored the significance of collaboration in supporting entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone. They discussed the potential for agricultural development and export, stressing the need for incentives to encourage private sector investment in industry and job creation.