By: Saidu Jalloh
In a significant effort to strengthen the capacity of Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) extension staff, a comprehensive training workshop was held at the MAFS conference hall, Youyi Building. The event, organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP), MAFS, and the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), aimed to address gaps in the country’s Food and Recipe Lists through facilitated group discussions.
The one-day workshop focused on equipping extension staff with essential skills to identify key chiefdoms across districts, engage local communities effectively, and prepare participants for Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). This training is part of a broader initiative to support the Sierra Leone Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey (SLFCMS), which seeks to create a comprehensive database on food consumption patterns and micronutrient intake nationwide.
Dr. Martha S. E. William-Ngegba, the lead of the SLFCMS project, opened the session with a detailed overview of the survey and the objectives of the training. She emphasised the critical role this initiative will play in strengthening Sierra Leone’s nutritional database, which will, in turn, influence policy decisions and improve food security interventions across the country.
Mr. Sahr Hemore, Deputy Minister II of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted the importance of empowering extension staff to engage with local communities and address pressing food security issues. He stressed the government’s commitment to ensuring the success of the SLFCMS project and enhancing agricultural extension services.
The Senior Permanent Secretary also reaffirmed the government’s strong support for the project, emphasising its dedication to improving agricultural services and food security outcomes in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Aiah Joseph Thorlie, Deputy Chief Agriculture Officer, encouraged participants to apply the skills learned in the workshop to improve data collection efforts within their districts. Dr. Prince E. Norman, Deputy Director General for Research and Innovation Development at SLARI, underscored the role of research and innovation in enhancing the resilience of the country’s food systems.
Dr. Busie Maziya-Dixon, Senior Nutritionist at IITA, Nigeria, shared the vital role that nutrition data plays in shaping food security policies and improving public health outcomes. Her insights reinforced the importance of accurate and comprehensive data in formulating effective interventions.
Moderated by Mrs. Mariama Turay of MAFS, the workshop featured highly interactive sessions, offering participants hands-on training that they could immediately apply in their work. One of the key components of the workshop was learning how to lead group discussions effectively to extract relevant data from community members. The training also provided guidelines to ensure the accuracy and reliability of data collection efforts.
Participants were trained on the importance of teamwork and the distinct roles that each member of the data collection team should fulfil. Additionally, strategies for selecting and engaging the right individuals from target communities were shared to ensure diverse and inclusive representation in the discussions.
The workshop concluded with all parties expressing their commitment to advancing food security and nutrition research in Sierra Leone. The skills gained from the training are expected to play a crucial role in addressing gaps in the Food and Recipe Lists and strengthening the resilience of the country’s food systems.
Ultimately, the workshop not only provided valuable skills to MAFS extension staff but also contributed to the broader effort of improving food security and nutrition in Sierra Leone. With enhanced data collection capacity, the country is positioned to make significant strides in addressing food consumption patterns and micronutrient deficiencies, paving the way for more effective food security interventions and policies in the future.