African Development Bank Approves $2.25 Million to Boost Agricultural Productivity in Sierra Leone


$1.5 Million Credit Guarantee and $700,000 Grant to Enhance Fertilizer Access for Over 126,000 Smallholder Farmers



In a move set to boost Sierra Leone’s food security and crop yields, the African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a $2.25 million financing package for the Fostering Africa’s Agricultural Productivity through Fertilizer Value Chain Financing (FOSTER) project.

Implemented by Welthungerhilfe, the initiative will help thousands of smallholder farmers gain access to quality fertilizers through innovative credit and guarantee schemes, unlocking private investment and strengthening the country’s fertilizer value chain.

The package comprises a $1.5 million Partial Credit Guarantee from the Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM), a $700,000 grant for soil health management, and $50,000 in-kind support from Welthungerhilfe. Together, these resources are expected to mobilize around $9 million in private financing, enabling the distribution of 9,500 metric tons of fertilizer to more than 126,000 farmers — 40 percent women and 10 percent youth.

Despite its vast agricultural potential, Sierra Leone’s fertilizer use averages just 12.8 kg per hectare — a fraction of the 131 kg recommended under the Nairobi Declaration. This has contributed to low yields, depleted soils, and a growing dependence on rice imports, which exceeded 351,000 tonnes in 2021. The FOSTER project aims to reverse this trend by driving a more productive and resilient agricultural sector.

“The FOSTER project represents a strategic and timely intervention to address one of the most critical constraints to agricultural development in Sierra Leone. By mitigating risks across the fertilizer value chain and strengthening the enabling environment, we are laying the foundation for sustainable growth, enabling smallholder farmers to enhance their productivity and improve their livelihoods,” said Halima Hashi, Country Manager.

The project features three interconnected components. Through the credit guarantee facility, financial institutions, including Apex Bank, Rokel Commercial Bank, Ecobank Sierra Leone, and Safe Capital Microfinance, will extend credit to fertilizer suppliers and agro dealers.

Working with Sierra Leone's National Fertilizer Regulatory Agency, the project will support gender-sensitive and environmentally sustainable fertilizer policies, including creating an agro-dealers database and strengthening regulatory frameworks. The project will also promote good agricultural practices through soil testing, 100 demonstration plots, and training of 126,667 farmers through 120 field days in the districts of Bo, Kenema, Pujehun, and Kono.

With 40 percent of beneficiaries being women and 10 percent youth, the FOSTER initiative will provide targeted training, resources, and access to finance, directly contributing to the African Development Bank’s priority of Improving Access to Capital and Transforming the Demographic Dividend. The project is expected to increase fertilizer application rates from 2.8 kg per hectare to 35 kg per hectare and boost the yields of key crops, including rice, onions, tomatoes, and soybeans- by up to 30 percent.

Through its focus on soil health management and sustainable farming practices, FOSTER also supports the Bank’s agenda for Building Climate-Resilient Infrastructure.

The three-year project, implemented from December 2025 through November 2028, represents a concrete step toward achieving inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agricultural transformation in Sierra Leone.The FOSTER project aligns with the African Development Bank's commitment to build inclusive and resilient agricultural sectors across Africa.




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