African Development Fund Grants $20M for Sierra Leone Job Creation
Overall, the project aims to create 9,200 jobs, strengthen climate change adaptation capacity for 3,500 youth and women, and increase MSME revenues by at least 10%.
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast— The African Development Fund approved a $19.95 million grant Tuesday to boost job creation for women and youth in Sierra Leone's agriculture and waste management sectors, writes Winston Mwale.
The project, focusing on cassava and fisheries value chains, aims to address root causes of fragility and insecurity in the country.
An additional $159,600 grant from the Global Center on Adaptation will support developing adaptation strategies and waste management policies.
Halima Hashi, the African Development Bank Group's Country Manager in Sierra Leone, emphasized the project's focus on gender equality.
"Seventy percent of project beneficiaries will be women, promoting gender equality and economic empowerment," Hashi said.
Key objectives include enhancing entrepreneurial skills, improving access to funding for small businesses, expanding market access, and building institutional capacity.
The initiative targets:
- Improving funding access for 700 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)
- Training 2,500 people in cassava and fisheries value chains
- Training 1,000 people in waste management
- Creating a digital marketplace benefiting 9,850 farmers and MSMEs
Overall, the project aims to create 9,200 jobs, strengthen climate change adaptation capacity for 3,500 youth and women, and increase MSME revenues by at least 10%.
This effort aligns with Sierra Leone's national development plans and the African Development Bank's strategic goals for the region.