Solidaridad West Africa has been awarded the 2025 Award for Excellence in Service by the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO) during its Annual Fundraising and Awards Night held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.
According to Alice N. James, National Coordinator of SLANGO, Solidaridad was recognized for its outstanding contribution to food security, agricultural productivity, and rural livelihoods through its various programmes across Sierra Leone. The organization was particularly commended for training farmers in sustainable practices, improving market access, and promoting gender inclusion, especially for women and youth in agriculture.
Speaking at the ceremony, Alice, the Coordinator of SLANGO, explained that Solidaridad emerged as Best NGO in Agriculture for its initiatives under the Resilient Food and Nutrition Security (RFANS) project, implemented in collaboration with the Nutrition Unit of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. The RFANS project focuses on improving vegetable and rice production, enhancing nutrition and infant feeding practices among farmers, lactating mothers, and parents of children under five.
Another key programme recognized was the Boosting Agriculture and Food Security (BAFS) project supported by the European Union in Sierra Leone, through which over 7000 smallholder farmers across 16 districts have been empowered to adopt best agricultural practices, leading to increased production and the establishment of a cashew processing units at Western Rural for the Waterloo Women Cashew Processors.
Through this initiative, farmers received extension services that resulted in the planting of improved cashew, coffee, and cocoa varieties on hectares nationwide —the project also established over 200 Farmer Field Schools to build farmers’ capacity in farm management and created over 200 Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) to enhance farmers’ access to finance.
SLANGO also highlighted Solidaridad Responsible Agriculture Initiative RAI, Programme, which supports women to invest in agriculture and strengthens their participation in land governance. In partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Solidaridad has been at the forefront of empowering rural women and supporting national agricultural policy development.
“Through their efforts in Sierra Leone, Solidaridad aims to improve food security, enhance the livelihoods of rural communities, and promote environmental sustainability. Their work not only addresses immediate agricultural challenges but also contributes to broader goals such as poverty alleviation and economic development,” SLANGO stated in its citation.
Receiving the award, Andrew, Country Representative of Solidaridad in Sierra Leone, expressed gratitude to SLANGO for acknowledging the organization’s work in supporting the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to strengthen the agriculture sector and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 1 — No Poverty.
“On behalf of the entire Solidaridad team in Sierra Leone, I am deeply honored to accept this Award for Excellence in Service.
This recognition belongs to the smallholder farmers who embrace innovative practices, our dedicated field staff who work tirelessly in rural communities, and our partners who share our vision of inclusive and sustainable agricultural development,” Andrew said.
He reaffirmed Solidaridad’s commitment to strengthening Sierra Leone’s agriculture sector and empowering farmers with the knowledge and resources they need to thrive.
“Thank you, SLANGO, for this prestigious honor. Together, we will continue to cultivate a brighter, more sustainable future for Sierra Leone,” he added.
The Resilient Food and Nutrition Security (RFANS) project is supported by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while the Developing an Inclusive and Sustainable Cashew Agroforestry Value Chain (DISCA-VC) and Boosting Agriculture and Food Security (BAFS) projects are supported by the European Union in Sierra Leone.
Other development partners like Rainbow Initiative, SEND Sierra Leone, and BRAC for their exceptional service in Sierra Leone.