The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with Solidaridad West Africa, has initiated the third phase of capacity development training, targeting representatives of key organisations pivotal in empowering rural women in Sierra Leone.
The objective is to replicate the RAI training across the Bonthe, Falaba, Kailahun, Karene, and Tonkolili districts. Presently, 25 (twenty-five) facilitators from these districts are undergoing training organised by Solidaridad and FAO aimed at assisting rural women in identifying their challenges in engaging in responsible agricultural investment and proposing potential solutions.
Andrew Kojo Morrison, Country Representative for Solidaridad West Africa in Sierra Leone, expressed satisfaction with the partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations during the opening of the Training of Trainers (ToT). He highlighted the previous phases of the project, conducted in 2022 and 2023 across various districts in the country.
Morrison emphasised the initiative’s goal of empowering rural women to actively participate in decision-making processes related to responsible agricultural investment, enabling them to voice their concerns, needs, and proposals for more gender-responsive investment.
Dr. Austine Bitek, the International Epidemiologist and Officer-in-Charge of FAOR, highlighted the gender disparities within Sierra Leone’s agri-food systems, stressing the challenges faced by rural women in accessing opportunities compared to men.
He acknowledged collaborative efforts with the government of Sierra Leone to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment through responsible agricultural investments.
Dr. Bitek outlined the objectives of RAI, emphasising FAO’s commitment to promoting responsible agricultural investments in Sierra Leone since 2020, with a focus on making investments more gender-responsive.
Maud Oustry, Capacity Development Expert from FAO/Rome, elaborated on the training programme’s aims to strengthen rural women’s capacity to advocate and participate in decision-making processes related to agricultural investments, employing participatory learning approaches.
Dr. Mahoi, the Minister of Gender and Children Affairs, commended Solidaridad’s intervention in supporting women farmers across agricultural districts in Sierra Leone, stressing the importance of addressing gender biases and discriminatory norms to maximise women’s potential in agriculture.
She highlighted the critical role of responsible investments in agriculture for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and outlined areas of focus, including training in Good Agricultural Practices and advocacy for women’s land rights.
The minister expressed gratitude to FAO for funding the training and commended Solidaridad’s Country Representative, Andrew Kojo Morrison, for his dedication to women’s empowerment. Following the opening ceremony, the four-day training commenced at the Sierra Palm Hotel on Aberdeen Beach in Freetown, titled “Empowering Rural Women to Engage in Responsible Agricultural Investments (RAI) in Sierra Leone.”