By: Saidu Jalloh
The National Social Protection Commission (NaSCA) has announced that it has exceeded several key targets under its 2024–2025 operational plan, citing early project completions and strong performance across multiple sectors. The announcement was made during the Commission’s 2026 budget presentation held at the Ministry of Finance Conference Hall in Freetown.
NaSCA highlighted what it termed “remarkable achievements” under the government’s Feed Salone agenda, particularly in the areas of livestock development, crop production, agro-infrastructure, mechanization, and social safety net expansion.
According to officials, NaSCA constructed 25 goat pens, 25 sheep pens, and 7 poultry houses, fully meeting its livestock development targets. The Commission also distributed 350 goats and 350 sheep to Smallholder Agricultural Groups (SAGs) and Medium Enterprise Groups (MEGs) across multiple districts.
In terms of crop production, NaSCA successfully cultivated 1,200 acres of rice, cassava, and groundnuts across the Falaba, Tonkolili, and Pujehun Districts, fulfilling its planned targets. So far, 6,042 vulnerable farmers have received support half of the Commission’s 12,000-farmer target for the period.
NaSCA also reported significant infrastructural gains, including the construction of 20 greenhouses in seven communities: Mange, Panguma, Bradford, Mabang, Gbinti, Sembehun, and Masingbi, five grain storage facilities, five boreholes with water towers in Kambia District and four model markets in designated rural growth poles, which are 85% complete
In the area of agro-mechanization, the Commission supplied including 25 power tillers, cassava and sweet potato processing machines to various farmer groups, 88,000 fingerlings to fish farmers across seven rural growth poles
Under the Human Capital Development pillar, NaSCA exceeded its Social Safety Net target, providing income support to 11,606 aged households, surpassing the initial target of 10,000.
The Commission also launched the Sierra Leone Social Health Insurance (SLeSHI) Register in 15 districts, excluding the Western Area Urban. To date, 53,434 individuals have been enrolled, comprising 41,565 women and 11,869 men.
Additionally, NaSCA successfully convened the Annual Inter-Agency Forum Meeting, reinforcing its coordination role in the national social protection landscape.
NaSCA leadership emphasized that these achievements reflect the Commission’s commitment to food security, rural livelihood development, and vulnerable population protection. Officials stated that the progress made has created a strong foundation for implementing 2026 priorities under the government’s broader *Feed Salone and Human Capital Development agendas.