By Amin Kef Sesay
To bolster food security and education in Sierra Leone, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a generous contribution of US$1.4 million from the Government of Iceland. This substantial donation is earmarked for providing nutritious meals to 30,000 school children across 136 public schools in Bonthe district.
The funding will not only fortify the existing school feeding program but also forge partnerships with local smallholder farmers to source at least one food commodity from them, thereby creating a reliable market and enhancing dietary diversity for pupils.
Yvonne Forsen, WFP Representative and Country Director in Sierra Leone, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “When farmers are linked to predictable markets (schools), this will incentivize them to produce more nutritious crops and increase their income.” She described the donation by the Government of Iceland as “a historic first direct contribution from the Government of Iceland to WFP in Sierra Leone.” Adding, “Your commitment is not just a donation; it’s a partnership towards a sustainable future for our children.”
Under this program, WFP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, will implement a climate-sensitive Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) initiative targeting 136 primary schools in Bonthe district. This initiative will not only support local women Farmer Based Organizations (FBOs) but also provide training, agricultural inputs, and market opportunities to empower 1,140 women.
The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey underscored the gains made so far stating, “The HGFS is integral with the Free Quality Education which has seen 69% increase in retention and an additional enrolment of 1 million children into the school systems and a reduction in absenteeism in school since it was first launched in 2018.”
A key aspect of the program is the introduction of fresh vegetables, orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, and locally sourced fish in school meals, thereby enhancing the nutritional content while supporting local agriculture and fisheries. Additionally, the funding will facilitate improvements in school infrastructure, including kitchens and storage facilities, benefiting 1,500 students.
To address sustainability concerns, WFP plans to establish woodlots at schools and provide fuel-efficient stoves to reduce firewood consumption and safeguard the health of cooks.
Elin Rosa Sigurdardottir, Director General at the Embassy of Iceland, expressed optimism about the program’s potential impact, stating, “Our contribution will boost the Feed Salone initiative of the Government of Sierra Leone and enhance access and retention in schools for all children in Bonthe district to reach their full potentials.”
Overall, WFP provides school meals to 238,000 pupils in Sierra Leone across five districts, with 28,000 children covered under the home-grown school feeding program. This initiative aligns with the Government of Sierra Leone’s National School Feeding Policy, underscoring its commitment to leveraging school feeding activities for local food production and procurement, thereby fostering social and economic development within communities.
