The Government of the Republic of Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has launched a 5.8 million-dollar Green Jobs for Youth in Resilient Agrifood Systems Project in Sierra Leone to expand employment opportunities for young people and strengthen the country’s agricultural sector.
The project, launched in Freetown, is being implemented with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations as its technical partner.
Read also: Death Row Inmate Hospitalised Again After Botched Execution
The KOICA Country Director, Eunsu Kim, led a delegation to the launch, which brought together Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, represented by Dr Isata Kamanda, FAO Representative, Saeed Banice, and other stakeholders.
In his remarks, the KOICA Country Director highlighted Korea’s development partnership with Sierra Leone, emphasising investment in young people, growth in productive sectors and sustainable partnerships.
Representing the government, Dr Kamanda said the initiative aligned with the country’s Feed Salone agenda, particularly its focus on youth participation, skills development, innovation and private-sector engagement.
The FAO Representative also highlighted the organisation’s technical role in the project, including providing expertise and supporting effective implementation to create decent employment opportunities for young women and men.
The initiative is designed to equip young people with relevant agrifood skills, expand access to green and digital employment opportunities and strengthen micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Read also: SUNUSI BATURE: THE PATIENCE OF GOODNESS, HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE HAS PAID OFF
It is also expected to contribute to increased agricultural productivity, improved food security and sustainable livelihoods through a more resilient and inclusive agrifood system.
Beyond the project launch, the KOICA delegation held strategic engagements with District Councils, the International Trade Centre (ITC), VenturePort, UNICEF and the KOICA Alumni Association in Sierra Leone (KAASL).
Discussions focused on strengthening local institutional capacity, reviewing the implementation and sustainability of the READY Salone project, and exploring opportunities for venture capital development and support for the country’s startup ecosystem.
The delegation also explored potential areas of collaboration in youth development, vocational training, climate resilience, early childhood development, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
Engagements with KAASL also provided an opportunity to review the association’s achievements and strategic priorities for 2027.
Read also: NITDA to Train Arab Women in Digital Skills, Offers 10 Laptops
The meetings further included preparations for monitoring visits to READY Salone project sites, scheduled to commence the following day.
The engagements are expected to strengthen existing partnerships, identify new areas of cooperation and advance KOICA’s development support in Sierra Leone.