The African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors has approved a $2.25 million financing package to strengthen agricultural productivity and food security in Sierra Leone through the Fostering Africa’s Agricultural Productivity through Fertilizer Value Chain Financing (FOSTER) project. Implemented by Welthungerhilfe, the initiative aims to help thousands of smallholder farmers access quality fertilizers using innovative credit and guarantee mechanisms that will attract private investment and improve the country’s fertilizer value chain.
The financing package includes 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 funds are expected to mobilize about $9 million in private financing, facilitating the distribution of 9,500 metric tons of fertilizer to more than 126,000 farmers, of whom 40% are women and 10% youth.
Although Sierra Leone has vast agricultural potential, fertilizer use remains extremely low at 12.8 kg per hectare, far below the 131 kg per hectare recommended by the Nairobi Declaration. This has led to depleted soils, low yields, and a growing reliance on rice imports, which reached over 351,000 tonnes in 2021. The FOSTER project seeks to reverse these trends by increasing productivity, restoring soil health, and reducing dependency on imports.
According to Halima Hashi, the Bank’s Country Manager, FOSTER represents a timely and strategic intervention to tackle one of the key barriers to agricultural growth in Sierra Leone. By mitigating risks along the fertilizer value chain and creating a more supportive policy environment, the project will lay the groundwork for sustainable agricultural expansion and improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers.
The project’s design features three interconnected components. First, a credit guarantee facility will enable financial institutions such as Apex Bank, Rokel Commercial Bank, Ecobank Sierra Leone, and Safe Capital Microfinance to provide loans to fertilizer suppliers and agro-dealers. Second, in collaboration with Sierra Leone’s National Fertilizer Regulatory Agency, the project will promote gender-sensitive and environmentally sustainable fertilizer policies, build a database of agro-dealers, and strengthen regulatory oversight. Third, it will encourage good agricultural practices through soil testing, the establishment of 100 demonstration plots, and training for over 126,000 farmers across the Bo, Kenema, Pujehun, and Kono districts.
With a strong focus on gender equality and youth empowerment, FOSTER aligns with the African Development Bank’s priority of Improving Access to Capital and Transforming the Demographic Dividend. It aims to raise fertilizer application rates from 2.8 kg to 35 kg per hectare and boost the yields of key crops such as rice, onions, tomatoes, and soybeans by up to 30%.
In addition to enhancing productivity, the project emphasizes soil health management and climate-resilient agricultural practices, reinforcing the Bank’s agenda for building sustainable and resilient infrastructure. Running from December 2025 to November 2028, FOSTER marks a concrete step toward inclusive and climate-smart agricultural transformation in Sierra Leone, reflecting the African Development Bank’s broader commitment to strengthening food systems and improving livelihoods across Africa.
