The World Bank has approved an additional grant of $18.34 million to support Sierra Leone’s efforts in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The funding, sourced from the Least Developed Countries Fund under the Global Environment Facility, aims to expand activities under Phase 2 of the West Africa Food System Resilience Program (FSRP). This phase focuses on Nature-Based Solutions.
The new grant will be used for integrated landscape management, biodiversity conservation, and climate-sensitive projects. Investments will target research, innovation, and building local capacity to improve food security and protect vulnerable landscapes. The funding will also help promote climate-smart agricultural practices at the community level.
“Climate change poses a severe risk to food security and livelihoods, especially in rural areas where most people live,” said Abdu Muwonge, World Bank Group Country Manager for Sierra Leone. “This additional financing will help Sierra Leone further strengthen its ability to adapt to these challenges, promoting more sustainable agricultural practices and a more resilient food system. The grant reflects the ongoing partnership between the World Bank and the Government of Sierra Leone in addressing critical development challenges and fostering a more secure and prosperous future for its citizens.”
Launched in 2022 with an overall budget of $1.17 billion through a Multiphase Programmatic Approach, the FSRP addresses food insecurity across eight West African countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. It also supports regional organizations such as ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), CILSS (Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel), and CORAF (West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research). With this latest grant included, total FSRP funding allocated to Sierra Leone now amounts to $153.34 million.
“This grant will accelerate Sierra Leone’s transition to a sustainable agri-food system by supporting activities that advance climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives, such as restoring degraded landscapes and modifying agricultural production techniques to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Adetunji Oredipe, World Bank Senior Agriculture Economist and Task Team Leader. “The additional resources will enable the project to reach more beneficiaries and ultimately contribute to a stronger and more resilient food sector for the nation.”
The initiative is part of a blended IDA-GEF project led by Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in cooperation with other government agencies focused on watershed management. It aligns with national strategies like Sierra Leone’s 2021 Nationally Determined Contribution plan as well as its National Adaptation Plan.