Sierra Leone country strategic plan (2026 - 2030)

CSP approved at the EB November 2025 session.

Food insecurity remains a chronic and structural challenge in Sierra Leone, affecting a majority of the population. Despite the country’s agricultural potential and natural wealth, economic instability, land degradation, extreme weather events and systemic barriers continue to hinder access to safe and nutritious food. Addressing these challenges requires integrated and transformative solutions that strengthen food systems, build resilience among vulnerable communities and ensure that children receive adequate nutrition for healthy development.

Building on achievements of the country strategic plan for 2020–2025 and in alignment with the Government’s commitment to address the underlying drivers of food insecurity through the Feed Salone Strategy, WFP will continue to prioritize the food security needs of the most vulnerable populations. The country strategic plan for Sierra Leone for 2026–2030 will focus on reinforcing the home-grown school feeding programme, supporting smallholder farmers and scaling up initiatives to ensure greater access to diverse and nutritious diets, particularly for children and vulnerable communities.

To achieve scale and impact WFP will adopt a food systems approach and strengthen the entire value chain ensuring that vulnerable communities benefit from better access to nutritious food and essential services. Special attention will be given to promoting rural women’s economic empowerment and creating employment opportunities for rural young people within priority food value chains.

Aligned with national frameworks and the priorities set out in the United Nations sustainable development cooperation framework for Sierra Leone for 2025–2030, the country strategic plan for 2026–2030 will focus on sustainable, context-specific solutions through the following three integrated outcomes:

➢ Outcome 1. Crisis-affected populations are better able to meet their food and nutrition needs before, during and after shocks.

➢ Outcome 2. Pre- and primary schoolchildren and vulnerable groups at risk of malnutrition in targeted districts have improved year-round access to locally produced, safe and diverse nutrient-dense food, contributing to healthy diets and strengthened human capital by 2030.

➢ Outcome 3. Populations in targeted areas, especially women and youth, have more resilient and improved livelihoods through better natural resource management, enhanced skills, improved access to finance and markets, contributing to the development of local value chains by 2030.

The country strategic plan addresses key cross-cutting issues, including nutrition, protection, accountability and environmental sustainability, aims to reduce disparities and strengthens people’s ability to meet their own needs and priorities. Anchored in humanitarian principles and human rights, it emphasizes the "do no harm" approach and focuses on marginalized and vulnerable populations.