📋 Tender Overview
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Bread and Water for Africa(r) says it is supporting a new agricultural and food self-sufficiency training effort in Sierra Leone, aimed at improving smallholder farming practices and household livelihoods. The programme will train 75 women and 25 youth over the coming months, with training delivered by the in-country partner Faith Healing Development Organization (FHDO).
The initiative will take place in Rutile and Yenkesa villages in Bonthe and Bombali districts, according to the programme description. Participants are set to receive inputs and supplies, including tools and fertilizer, alongside training intended to help them maximize harvests and strengthen food security on their small plots.
Background and local context
Sierra Leone faces persistent challenges to food availability in some impoverished regions, where limited access to resources can constrain both production and household resilience. The programme description frames the training as a response to those constraints, focusing on capacity building for rural women and young people.
Bread and Water for Africa(r) states that FHDO initiated the training programme to support sustainable agricultural development and to promote shifts away from traditional farming methods toward improved practices.
What the programme will do
The agricultural and food self-sufficiency training is described as including best agricultural practices and support materials needed to apply what participants learn. The programme will also provide training in business and management skills, with the goal of helping trainees use farming to support household needs and generate income.
According to FHDO programme manager Francis A.B. Rogers, the work involves empowerment and capacity building of economically active rural women and youth, paired with materials provided for use at Rutile and Yenkesa in Bonthe and Bombali districts. The organization also says the programme includes support intended to help households afford school fees, alongside strengthening livelihoods.
Expected reach and beneficiaries
Bread and Water for Africa(r) says the direct participants are 100 people--75 rural women and 25 youths. It also reports an estimate by Francis that indirect beneficiaries, including members of trainees households and others who may benefit from access to locally grown produce at fair and affordable prices, will exceed 21,800 individuals in surrounding villages.
The initiatives outcomes are described in terms of improved farming knowledge, potential reductions in poverty and unemployment, and increased ability for families to keep children in school. The statement does not specify independent verification of these outcomes within the programme timeframe.
Why agricultural training and livelihood support matter
Training smallholder farmers on improved agricultural practices can address multiple barriers at once: it can improve food availability, support income generation, and strengthen resilience at the household level. This programmes emphasis on women and youth aligns with development priorities around gender equality and economic inclusion.
Bread and Water for Africa(r) positions the effort as contributing to food security while also supporting household-level economic empowerment through farming-linked skills, including business and management training.
Key figure and delivery approach
Bread and Water for Africa(r) attributes implementation details to FHDO through programme manager Francis A.B. Rogers, who described the programme as targeting rural women and youth with training and materials. The training is scheduled to run over the next few months, though the source does not provide exact start and end dates.
Key Details
Initiative or programme: Agricultural and food self-sufficiency training program for smallholder farmers (business and management skills included)
Lead organization: Bread and Water for Africa(r)
Partners: Faith Healing Development Organization (FHDO)
Funding amount: Not specified in the source material
Geographic focus: Rutile and Yenkesa villages, Bonthe and Bombali districts, Sierra Leone
Target groups: 75 rural women and 25 youth (100 total)
Duration or timeline: Over the next few months (exact dates not specified)
Expected reach or outcomes: Bread and Water for Africa(r) estimates indirect beneficiaries will exceed 21,800 individuals, based on trainees households and surrounding villagers buying locally grown produce
Why This Matters
For NGOs and development practitioners, this announcement highlights continued attention to farmer training as a pathway to strengthen food security while supporting household income--especially for women and youth. It also reflects the operational role that local partners can play in delivering training and inputs, reinforcing the localization agenda.
The programmes combined focus on improved farming practices and business/management skills may offer a design reference for organizations working on rural livelihoods and agricultural resilience. It also underscores the importance of linking agricultural support to education-related affordability for households, as described in the programme materials.
