WFP In Numbers* Country Brief 419 mt of food assistance distributed June 2021 USD 124,352 cash-based transfers made

USD 17.6 m six months (June–November 2021) net funding requirement

288,270 people assisted 60% 40% in June 2021 *Figures based on estimates

Operational Updates

• As COVID-19 infection rates are rising in Sierra Leone, WFP Operational Context provided food assistance to 600 households (3,000 Sierra Leone is a low-income country marked by food- individuals) under quarantine in the Western Area Urban deficit, with 57 percent of Sierra Leoneans estimated to and Rural districts of Freetown. be food insecure according to the recently validated • As part of the lean season support, WFP received funds for 2020 Comprehensive Food Security and Vulnerability the implementation of the Moderate Acute Malnutrition Analysis (CFSVA).The latest March 2021 Cadre (MAM) treatment programme for children aged 6-59 months Harmonisé highlighted over 1,700 ,000 will be food in four districts (Falaba, Kailahun, Koinadugu and ). insecure during the 2021 leano season (June- Also, over 100,000 individuals will receive unconditional food September). Food security drastically deteriorated from assistance for two months in four food insecure districts early 2020 as food prices have spiked across the West (Bombali, Karene, Port Loko and Moyamba). Africa sub-region, associated with the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 and economic crisis. • WFP and partners (including UNDP and the office of the Vice

Sierra Leone has also been on high alert since the President) have completed the first round of cash distribution to over 2,000 farmers engaged in the resurgence of the Ebola Virus Disease in Guinea in February 2021. That Ebola emergency was gratefully rehabilitation or development of inland valley swamp in declared as ended within July 2021 in Guinea. Despite Lower/Upper Banta chiefdoms in Moyamba district and this, the Government of Sierra Leone in collaboration Makpele and Malen chiefdoms in . This with its humanitarian and development partners, initiative aims to contribute to strengthening social cohesion including WFP, has drafted a preparedness action plan and community resilience in targeted areas. in response to an eventual outbreak. • In order to boost the production levels of smallholder WFP has been present in the country since 1968, farmers, WFP has availed two power tillers to high- helping to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition performing farmer-based organizations (FBOs) in Moyamba. challenges among vulnerable groups. The launch of the Five other power tillers are planned to be availed to high- Country Strategic Plan (CSP 2020 – 2024), in line with performing FBOs in Tonkolili, Kambia, Kenema, and Pujehun. the United Nations Sustainable Development • Procurement of locally produced rice is planned, to help Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF 2020-2023), is an boost local economy and increase income of farmers. Price opportunity for WFP in Sierra Leone to build upon the negotiations for the procurement of 95 mt were completed lessons learned to achieve Zero Hunger. with FBOs.

• Some 132 smallholder farmers and 24 community youth contractors benefited from trainings conducted by WFP and the Ministry of Agriculture on increased rice production in three districts.

• WFP and District Health Management Teams started trainings for Mother Support Groups on maternal infant and young child feeding practices in 30 communities in Moyamba and Pujehun districts. 2020 Human Development Index Population: 8.1 million ranking: 182 out of 189 • Although the Ebola Emergency was declared over in

Chronic malnutrition: 31% of neighbouring Guinea, WFP took advantage to conduct Income Level: Lower middle children between 6-59 months field level assessments covering 10 of the country’s 16 districts. The assessment covered district-level

Contact info: Francis Boima ([email protected]) coordination, status of infrastructure, ground mobility, Country Director: Steve Nsubuga Further information: www.wfp.org/countries/sierra-leone fuel availability, the availability and quality of Global Main Photo: Credit: WFP/Francis Boima System for Mobile Communications telephone services. Caption: Farmers being trained in post harvest management in Outcomes of these assessments will feed into , northern Sierra Leone. preparedness planning.

WFP Country Strategy • WFP is strengthening district-level emergency preparedness and response capacities of the National Country Strategic Plan (2020-2024) Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) and other 2021 Requirement 2021 Allocated Six Month Net Funding partners, providing training on the use of digitalized (in USD) Contributions (in USD) Requirements (in USD) crisis response tools. 43.2 m 7.5 m 17 m Resourcing Strategic Result 1: Everyone has access to food • Limited funding for the stunting prevention programme Strategic Outcome 1: Crisis-affected populations are able to meet their has resulted in a change of strategy to a more sustainable basic food and nutrition needs during and in the aftermath of crises. community-based approach and social behavorial change Focus area: Crisis Response communication in preventing chronic malnutrition. Activities: Meanwhile, over 34,000 people consisting of pregnant 1. Provide food and nutrition assistance to crisis-affected and lactating women and children 6-23 months are left households and support their recovery needs. unattended which might affect prevalence reduction. Strategic outcome 2: Primary school children in targeted areas have access to adequate and nutritious food throughout the year. Focus area: Resilience Building Monitoring

Activities: • WFP and the Moyamba district health management team 2. Provide nutritious school feeding to primary schoolchildren conducted a joint monitoring of the MAM treatment and support the implementation of an integrated school programme and needs assessment on reporting tools in six feeding programme. 3. Provide assistance to the Government-led national school chiefdoms, covering 13 targeted peripheral health units. feeding programme. Findings showed the need to update reporting tools and

Strategic Result 2: No one suffers from malnutrition improv the feedback mechanism at community level.

Strategic outcome 3: Nutritionally vulnerable populations in targeted • Out of the 1,010 schools assisted by WFP and partners, 25 districts – including children, pregnant and lactating women and girls percent were monitored to review the implementation of and adolescents – have improved nutritional status in line with national the school feeding programme in order to improve the targets by 2025. procedures and services. Focus area: Root causes Activities: Challenges 4. Provide comprehensive malnutrition prevention support, including complementary food and nutrition messaging, • A food commodity shortfall has affected completion of the while strengthening the capacity of peripheral health units second quarter food distribution to pregnant and lactating and staff on health and nutrition. women under the MAM treatment programme. Strategic Result 3: Smallholders have improved food security and nutrition • Delayed reception of contribution for the school feeding programme for seven districts is expected to affect Strategic outcome 4: Smallholder farmers and communities in targeted areas have resilient livelihoods that better meet their food procurement of food commodities for approximately security and nutrition needs by 2030. 287,000 primary school children leaving over quarter Focus area: Resilience Building million children without school meals for the 2021/22 Activities: academic year 5. Provide integrated resilience‑building support to smallholder farmers, including farmers’ organizations and women’s groups. Partnerships Strategic Result 5: Countries have strengthened capacity to • WFP has formed partnerships with several non- implement the SDGs governmental organizations (NGOs), including Sierra Leone Strategic outcome 5: National and subnational institutions have Red Cross Society (SLRCS), Pure Heart Foundation, MADAM strengthened capacities to manage food security and nutrition SL and the Ministry of Social Welfare for the programmes by 2024. implementation of unconditional food assistance activities. Focus area: Resilience Building • Partnerships with district offices of the Ministry of Social Activities : 6. Provide support to strengthen Government capacity in food Welfare (Bombali, Karene, Port Loko and Moyamba) to security and nutrition - including in disaster management monitor unconditional food assistance activities were and response, school feeding and nutrition. established.

Strategic Result 8: Sharing of knowledge, expertise and technology • WFP held consultations with a mining company that strengthen global partnership support to country efforts operates in localities where WFP supports farmers on Strategic outcome 6: Humanitarian and development partners have livelihood activities. The objectives were to determine how access to common services throughout the year Focus area: Crisis Response the two institutions could complement each other’s activities in support of the communities. Activities : 7. Provide supply chain and ICT services to humanitarian and development partners . Donors Top donors to WFP Sierra Leone CSP 2020-2024 include Republic of WFP Sierra Leone Country Brief Sierra Leone, China, Ireland, Japan, Russia and the USA. Additional June 2021 support has been provided by the UN Peacebuilding Fund.