Nutrition and food security are closely linked in the fight against hunger and poverty. For too long, Sierra Leone has struggled with malnutrition, which disproportionately affects women and children in communities. Despite efforts by the government and various partners, education about nutrition remains a critical area that requires further attention and sensitization.
As a project under the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, one of our objectives is to support the government in promoting nutrition-sensitive agriculture, ensuring that every Sierra Leonean has access to equitable, resilient, sustainable, and nutritious food.
To achieve this, the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP), under the Food System Resilience Program (FSRP), has supported the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to train 90 food actors in nutrition education. The participants, composed of 98% women and youth and 2% men, were selected from various value chains across the four regions of Sierra Leone.
Tejan Koroma, the GAFSP Focal Lead, stated that the training aimed to equip participants to become Nutrition Ambassadors, empowering them to share essential knowledge about healthy eating and sustainable food practices within their communities. He emphasized that GAFSP, through the FSRP, focuses on supporting nutrition-sensitive agriculture by empowering women and youth with training, inputs, and agricultural infrastructure needed to grow nutritious foods.
Mrs. Mariama Turay, the Head of the Women and Nutrition Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture, noted that the government has made significant strides toward achieving food self-sufficiency, which must be accompanied by comprehensive education on nutritious food. She acknowledged that a major concern affecting Sierra Leoneans is the lack of awareness about healthy eating. Therefore, this training supported by FSRP through GAFSP will enhance communities’ capacity to consume home-grown food instead of relying on imported products.
This initiative strengthens local capabilities to improve food security and promote better nutrition across Sierra Leone.
