The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has concluded a five-day Mission on the appraisal of new proposed projects in Agriculture (Cassava Value Chain), Road (Kambia -Kamakwei Road), and Health and Social safety projects.
In a wrap-up meeting held at the Ministry of Finance on Friday, 15th March 2024, the Country Manager for IsDB for Sierra Leone, Omar Davis, stated that the objective of this mission is to prepare and appraise a new Cassava Value Chain, the reconstruction of the Kambia -Kamakwei road 105km Projects, review the implementation progress of other projects in Agriculture and Transport sectors, and also supervise and review GIETRENK Community Driven Development Project (Phase II), the Maternal Health Project and Health Systems Strengthening.
Umar Davis furthered that the mission came with ten experts in different fields to help prepare the document to be presented to the board in June this year. He noted that the mission has engaged and agreed with stakeholders of government from SLRA, MAFFS, and Health on the technical issues that may affect the implementation processes of these new projects, ranging from procurement issues, counterpart funding, project management, financial management issues, disbursement issues etc. Omar Davies further appreciated the government of Sierra Leone and stakeholders from the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA), Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS), Ministry of Health and Sanitation and National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) for managing the IsDB sponsored projects in Sierra Leone.
The Deputy Minister of Finance II, Bockarie Kalokoh, stated that the relationship between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Islamic Development Bank is over forty years, noting that Sierra Leone has benefitted from many projects funded by the bank.
Earlier in the week, in a courtesy meeting, the Minister of Finance, Sheku Fantamadi Bangura, stated that the projects are valuable to the President’s Big Five agenda, noting that the Cassava Value chain project will add value to cassava processing and improve food diversification. Other issues discussed during the mission were increasing grant support, project implementations, new cost-effective technology in road construction, and fostering cooperation between the Bank and the Government of Sierra Leone.
