By Dadson musa

Solidaridad West Africa has been awarded the 2025 Award for Excellence in Service by the Sierra Leone Association of Non-governmental Organizations (SLANGO) during its Annual Fundraising and Awards Night held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown.

According to Alice N. James, National Coordinator of SLANGO, Solidaridad was recognized for its outstanding contributions to food security, agricultural productivity, and rural livelihoods through its various programmes across Sierra Leone. The organization was commended for training farmers in sustainable agricultural practices, improving market access, and promoting gender inclusion, especially for women and youth in agriculture.

Speaking at the ceremony, Alice James explained that Solidaridad emerged as Best Non-Governmental organization in agriculture for its initiatives under the Resilient Food and Nutrition Security (RFaNS) Project, supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and implemented in collaboration with the Nutrition Unit of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation. The RFaNS project focuses on improving vegetable and rice production, enhancing nutrition, and promoting better infant feeding practices among farmers, lactating mothers, and caregivers of children under five.

Another key initiative recognized was the Boosting Agriculture and Food Security (BAFS) Project, supported by European Union in Sierra Leone. Through this project, more than 7,000 smallholder farmers across 16 districts have been empowered to adopt best farming practices, increase production, and benefit from improved market opportunities. The project also established a cashew processing unit in Western Rural District for the Waterloo Women Cashew Processors.

As part of its interventions, Solidaridad has provided extension services leading to the cultivation of improved cashew, coffee, and cocoa varieties nationwide. Over 200 Farmer Field Schools have been established to build farmers’ capacity in farm management, along with more than 200 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) to improve farmers’ access to finance.

SLANGO also commended Solidaridad’s Responsible Agriculture Initiative (RAI), which supports women’s participation in agriculture and land governance. In partnership with Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations (FAO), the initiative empowers rural women and supports national agricultural policy development.

“Through their efforts in Sierra Leone, Solidaridad aims to improve food security, enhance the livelihoods of rural communities, and promote environmental sustainability. Their work not only addresses immediate agricultural challenges but also contributes to broader goals such as poverty alleviation and economic development,” SLANGO stated in its citation.

Receiving the award, Andrew Kojo Morrison, Country Representative of Solidaridad in Sierra Leone, expressed gratitude to SLANGO for recognizing the organization’s contribution to strengthening the agriculture sector and supporting the government through the Ministry of agriculture and food security.

On behalf of the entire Solidaridad team in Sierra Leone, I am deeply honored to accept this Award for Excellence in Service, this recognition belongs to the smallholder farmers who embrace innovative practices, our dedicated field staff who work tirelessly in rural communities, and our partners who share our vision of inclusive and sustainable agricultural development,” Morrison said.

He reaffirmed Solidaridad’s commitment to empowering farmers with knowledge, resources, and opportunities to transform their livelihoods.

“Thank you, SLANGO, for this prestigious honor. Together, we will continue to cultivate a brighter, more sustainable future for Sierra Leone,” he added.

The RFaNS project is supported by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while the Developing an Inclusive and Sustainable Cashew Agroforestry Value Chain (DISCA-VC) Project and BAFS projects are supported by the European Union.

Other organizations also recognized at the event included Rainbow Initiative, SEND Sierra Leone, and BRAC for their exceptional service to national development.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 22nd October 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)