By: Saidu Jalloh
In a landmark initiative to promote women’s economic empowerment in agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched a seven-day Enterprise Pitch Fair targeting 182 women-led agribusinesses operating within Sierra Leone’s rice value chain.
Funded by the Islamic Development Bank and the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), the initiative seeks to identify and support innovative business proposals focused on post-harvest processing, aggregation, packaging, and marketing.
The pitch fair is being held across three strategic locations: Magburaka (91 businesses), Mile 91 (43 businesses), and Torma Bum (47 businesses). Finalists from each location will receive technical assistance and matching grants under the Empowering West African Women’s SMEs (EWASME) Project.
Speaking at the opening ceremony in Magburaka, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Henry Musa Kpaka reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding access to finance and fostering the growth of women-led enterprises.
“This initiative is a vital step under the Feed Salone strategy to integrate more women into the formal business landscape,” Minister Kpaka stated.
The Feed Salone initiative aims to bring at least 102 women-owned small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and very small enterprises (VSEs) into a structured investment and growth pipeline, enabling them to scale sustainably and contribute to national food security and economic development.
To ensure transparency and credibility in the selection process, an independent Grant Selection Committee comprising representatives from the government, private sector, and donor organizations has been established to evaluate and select the most promising business proposals.
This pitch fair marks a significant step in creating equitable opportunities for women in agriculture, especially in sectors critical to Sierra Leone’s food system and rural livelihoods.