By: Saidu Jalloh
In an effort to strengthen institutional ties and enhance agricultural research capacity in Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, hosted senior representatives from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) at its headquarters in Tower Hill, Freetown.
The visiting AGRA delegation included Madam Tamnai Naibei-Kembe, Training Program Coordinator, and Mr. David Situma, Digital Learning Specialist. They were warmly received by key members of SLARI’s management team, marking the start of exploratory discussions aimed at building a strategic partnership—particularly in the area of staff capacity development.
During a productive engagement with SLARI’s Internal Auditor, Mr. Sheku Kanu; Communication Manager, Mr. Moses Sahr Fayiah; the Assistant Senior Finance Officer, and other senior staff, Madam Tamnai emphasized the vital role of continuous professional training in agricultural institutions.
“To remain effective and impactful, research institutions must invest in targeted, ongoing training for their personnel,” she noted.
Mr. Situma further highlighted the transformative power of digital learning in today’s research and institutional environments. He explained that digital tools not only improve skill development and knowledge sharing, but also enhance operational efficiency and institutional performance.
The meeting focused on developing tailored training modules to meet the specific needs of SLARI’s diverse staff across its national research centres. AGRA expressed its willingness to explore collaboration opportunities in key areas such as research management, communication, finance, and digital innovation.
SLARI, in turn, welcomed the initiative and expressed strong interest in formalizing a partnership. The institution affirmed that such a collaboration would be in line with its mandate as Sierra Leone’s leading agricultural research agency and would significantly support its goals of delivering impactful research and improved service delivery.
Both parties concluded the visit on a hopeful note, with the shared vision of advancing agricultural innovation and capacity building in Sierra Leone through sustained institutional cooperation.