Aminata Tarawally (10 years old) is in class 4 at KDC Primary School in Dar Es Salaam Community. Kadiatu is eating a hot meal of rice and vegetables provided by the WFP supported school feeding program. On request from the Government, the World Food Programme implements school feeding in Sierra Leone, reaching over 216,000 children in 970 primary and pre-primary schools (as at May 2022). WFP provides one mid-morning hot meal per child per day, its food basket comprising of cereals, pulses, fortified vegetable oil and iodized salt. WFP’s assistance is intended to draw children to school, enable their learning and improve attendance and completion rates. In addition to providing food, as well as cooking items in some schools, WFP trains school staff in hygiene and stores and commodity management for accountability and food safety.
Recent data from the World Food Programme (WFP) reveals that 77% of Sierra Leone’s population is currently food insecure, marking a modest 3% decrease from the previous quarter. This progress is attributed to initiatives aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and improving food distribution systems. Programs like the Home-Grown School Feeding initiative, which provides locally sourced, nutritious meals to students, have contributed significantly, supporting both education and the local economy.
Despite this improvement, food insecurity remains alarmingly high, driven by economic challenges, climate-related vulnerabilities, and dependence on imported staple foods such as rice. Approximately 35% of the country’s rice supply is imported, exposing Sierra Leone to global market fluctuations. From September 2023 to September 2024, the prices of local and imported rice rose by 18% and 28%, respectively, further exacerbating food access challenges.
Sierra Leone’s widespread poverty—where over half the population lives on less than $2 a day—compounds these issues. The country’s underdeveloped agricultural sector, limited infrastructure, and high unemployment rates further heighten vulnerabilities, leaving it prone to food crises and malnutrition.
In response, the government has secured over $620 million from development banks to drive food self-sufficiency. Plans include improving infrastructure and incentivizing rice production. However, concerns remain that these efforts may prioritize large-scale agribusinesses over the millions of smallholder farmers who form the backbone of the nation’s agricultural sector.
WFP, which has been active in Sierra Leone since 1968, continues to collaborate with local partners to combat food insecurity. Efforts include promoting climate-smart agricultural practices, enhancing market access for smallholder farmers, and expanding nutritional programs. Additionally, the construction of milling houses equipped with modern machinery aims to increase local rice processing capabilities, reducing reliance on imports.
The September 2024 bi-annual post-harvest Food Security Monitoring System (FSMS) assessment revealed a reduction in the proportion of severely food-insecure households from 28% in 2023 to 17% in 2024. While these findings offer a glimmer of hope, experts emphasize that sustained efforts and comprehensive strategies are critical to achieving long-term food security in Sierra Leone.
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