Sierra Leone Empowerment Grants: African Development Fund Pledges $19.95M to Transform Lives of Women and Youth

• The African Development Fund has granted $19.95 million to empower Sierra Leone’s women and youth
• The grant aims to create jobs in climate smart agriculture and waste management for women and youth in Sierra Leone
• The project targets value chains like cassava and fisheries, with a focus on gender equality and economic empowerment
• Key targets include creating 9,200 jobs, enhancing climate change adaptation capacity, and increasing MSME revenues
• The initiative aligns with Sierra Leone’s development plans and the African Development Bank’s strategies

The African Development Fund Grants $19.95M to Empower Sierra Leone’s Women and Youth

In a significant move towards empowering the women and youth of Sierra Leone, the African Development Fund has approved a generous grant of $19.95 million. This grant is aimed at boosting job opportunities and livelihoods for the people of Sierra Leone, particularly focusing on the empowerment of women and youth in the country. The grant, part of the Transition Support Facility’s Pillar 1, is a step towards addressing the root causes of fragility and insecurity in Sierra Leone.

Empowering Sierra Leone Through Job Creation

The project titled “Job Creation for Youth and Women in Climate Smart Agriculture Value Chains and Waste Management” is tailored to target key value chains where the youth and women are actively involved, such as cassava and fisheries. The primary goal of this initiative is to create sustainable job opportunities, strengthen climate change adaptation capacity, and increase revenues for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Sierra Leone.

Halima Hashi, the Country Manager of the African Development Bank Group in Sierra Leone, highlighted that a significant portion of the project beneficiaries, specifically 70 percent, will be women. This emphasis on gender equality and economic empowerment underscores the commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society in Sierra Leone. The project aims to create 9,200 jobs, enhance climate change resilience for 3,500 youth and women, and boost MSME revenues by at least 10 percent, aligning with Sierra Leone’s development agenda and the African Development Bank’s strategic priorities.

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Supporting Sustainable Development Goals in Sierra Leone

The grant from the African Development Fund comes at a crucial time for Sierra Leone as the country strives to achieve its BIG FIVE Agenda and medium-term National Development Plan (2024-2030). These national frameworks set ambitious targets for job creation and economic growth, with a particular focus on youth empowerment. By aligning with these goals, the project supported by the grant aims to contribute significantly towards creating 500,000 new youth jobs by 2030, thereby fostering sustainable development and prosperity in Sierra Leone.

Furthermore, the project’s alignment with the African Development Bank’s Ten-year Strategy (2024-2033) and its Country Strategy Paper (2020-2024) for Sierra Leone demonstrates a coordinated approach towards promoting inclusive growth and resilience in the country. Through strategic investments in key sectors such as agriculture and waste management, the project seeks to not only create immediate job opportunities but also build long-term capacity and sustainability for the benefit of Sierra Leoneans.

Partnerships and Collaboration for Sustainable Impact

In addition to the grant from the African Development Fund, the Global Center on Adaptation will provide further support through a grant of $159,600 for technical assistance in developing adaptation strategies, particularly in the area of waste management policies. This collaboration highlights the importance of partnerships and knowledge sharing in addressing complex challenges such as climate change and environmental sustainability.

The project’s focus on empowering women and youth in Sierra Leone reflects a broader commitment to promoting gender equality, social inclusion, and economic empowerment. By investing in the potential of women and young people, the initiative not only creates immediate opportunities for employment and income generation but also lays the foundation for a more resilient and prosperous future for Sierra Leone.