By: Aminata Sesay
As the Smallholder Commercialization and Agribusiness Development Project (SCADeP) approaches its official closing date of 30 June 2025, farmers across Sierra Leone are calling for an urgent extension to ensure the completion of key infrastructure works that have already begun to transform rural livelihoods.
At a recent review meeting held at the Youyi Building in Freetown, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) joined the visiting World Bank Mission team to assess the project’s progress and discuss the road ahead. The session focused not only on celebrating SCADeP’s achievements but also on maintaining the momentum it has generated in Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector.
“For many farmers, these feeder roads and bridges are more than just infrastructure they are lifelines,” said Dr. Theresa Tenneh Dick, Deputy Minister 1 of MAFS. “We are grateful to the World Bank, and we ask that they extend the project to finish what we started.”
Launched in 2015 with World Bank support, SCADeP has become a cornerstone of rural development under President Julius Maada Bio’s administration. To date, the project has exceeded expectations by rehabilitating 354.61 kilometers of feeder roads and constructing four major bridges. These developments are expected to reduce travel time by 65% and improve market access for 1.7 million people. The project has also created over 10,000 jobs in rural communities, significantly boosting household incomes and enhancing food security.
“We’ve seen a real shift in how smallholder farmers operate,” noted Dr. Henry Yamba Kamara, Acting Project Coordinator for SCADeP. “Access to markets has improved, agribusinesses are growing, and the project is directly addressing poverty.”
Despite these successes, stakeholders warn that unfinished infrastructure—particularly bridges in key farming regions risks undermining the project’s long-term impact. Dr. Adetunji Oredipe, the World Bank’s Task Team Leader, acknowledged the importance of an extension, emphasizing that while financial accountability remains crucial, completing the remaining work will deliver widespread benefits.
“The work already done is impressive,” Dr. Oredipe stated, “but finishing strong is just as important. We’ll do our best to push for an extension.”
Representatives from the Farmers Federation, who also attended the meeting, echoed this call. “The roads have helped, but the unfinished bridges hold us back,” one farmer said. “We need this support to continue.”
With the project’s deadline fast approaching, the call for an extension has united government officials, donors, and beneficiaries alike. For the farmers at the heart of this initiative, the hope is simple: that the bridges to a better future will not be left half-built.