PI-CREF Convene Partners to Confront Looming Food Crisis

PI-CREF Convene Partners to Confront Looming Food Crisis

By: Musa A. Kamara

FREETOWN, April 23, 2024:– To ensure sustainable, healthy diets for all, the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) has convened a high-level round-table discussion on the importance of strengthening food systems in Sierra Leone while offering practical recommendations to stem the looming food crisis.

 In a press release published by three United Nations agencies, World Food Program (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the UN International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the March 24 report by Cadre Harmonize Food Security Analysis intimated that nearly 55 million people in in West and Central Africa would struggle to feed themselves within the next three months.

The report further indicates that countries in West and Central Africa rely heavily on imported food to meet the needs of their populations. “Import bills continue to rise due to currency depreciation and high inflation, even as countries struggles with major fiscal constraints and macroeconomic challenges.” Annually, Sierra Leone spends about $500 million in imports.

Confronting the crisis with practical solutions. In response to the pending food crisis, PI-CREF brought together food and nutrition experts to review Sierra Leone’s current and future food system to identify key actions and recommendations that would help the nation avert the worsening food and nutrition crisis.

 “GLOPAN works with international and multi-sector stakeholders, to help governments in low-and middle-income countries develop evidenced-based policies that make high-quality diets safe, affordable and accessible,” said Prof. Sandy Thomas, OBE. 

Thomas, who is director of the GLOPAN secretariat, also highlighted Sierra Leone’s vulnerability to the potential crisis and the efforts her organization is working on through a one-year support from the Irish Government. The support from the Government of Ireland seeks a deep dive into the resilience of three African countries (Ethiopia, Malawi, and Sierra Leone).

Peter Kaindaneh, PI-CREF’s Chief Technical Adviser, warmly welcomed stakeholders to the round-table. He expressed confidence that the work being undertaken today will benefit Sierra Leone. “It is, therefore, important that today’s objectives be achieved,” said he.

In his remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Prof. Dr. Abdulai Palmo Jalloh noted the round table’s objectives align perfectly with the Feed Salone flagship program. Jalloh was gracious in acknowledging that role played by Chairman Yumkella that allowed Sierra Leone to be among the three pilot countries.

“Having attended several technical meetings already with Dr. Patrick Kormawa, PI-CREF’s Director of Agriculture and Food Security, I have no doubt that this program will feed directly into the operationalization of the Feed Salone program,” Jalloh said.

For Dr. Patrick Kormawa, the objectives of the round-table are clear. “The experts who are here with us today will guide us to review the recommendations of the joint WFP-FAO-UNICEF and come up with actions to prevent the worsening of the food and nutrition crisis during this year’s lean period. We must also provide recommendations that take into consideration the Sierra Leonean context,” he noted.

Recommendations. Some of the recommendations call on the Sierra Leone government to provide immediate assistance to save lives and protect the livelihoods of people identified as the most vulnerable.

Moreover, government must undertake actions to support livelihoods assets as well as strengthen the country’s capabilities in the areas of early warning systems and food security monitoring.

In addition, the government’s role must include finalizing the national emergency preparedness plan and strengthen the national agricultural survey to better inform decisions and policy makers. Specific recommendations were also targeted for technical and financial partners.