By Hassan Osman Kargbo
The Government of Sierra Leone has received significant support from the European Union (EU) for its development programs. The Nature Nourishes programme, which is part of the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, aims to strengthen Sierra Leone’s resilience against internal and external shocks, protect the environment, and enhance educational outcomes.
The programme, which includes 65 million euros in direct budget support over a four-year period, has already benefited the government with eleven million euros in 2024. The funds have been used to implement key reforms in education, agriculture, environment protection, and public financial management.
The Nature Nourishes Steering Committee, co-chaired by the Ministry of Finance and the EU, met on July 1, 2025, to provide updates on the programme’s progress. Deputy Minister of Finance I, Kadiatu Allie, thanked the EU team for their support and emphasized the importance of budget support in funding critical pro-poor programs.
Financial Secretary, Matthew Dingie, stated that the government is working hard to meet the triggers in the programme to unlock a disbursement of up to 20 million euros in direct budget support in 2025. He updated the EU team on the progress of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme with the IMF, ongoing public financial management reforms, and the preparation of the 2025 supplementary budget.
The government has made significant progress in implementing the programme, including:
– Home-grown school-feeding programme: expected to cover over 123,000 pupils
– Teachers Training on Foundational Learning: targeting about 14,000 teachers
– Environment Protection: progress reports indicate significant strides in protecting the environment
– Sustainable Agriculture: efforts are being made to promote sustainable agriculture practices
– Fiscal Decentralisation: progress is being made in decentralizing fiscal responsibilities
– Iron Ore Taxation: reforms are being implemented to improve iron ore taxation
The next stage of the programme involves conducting an assessment of the reports and a letter to request disbursement. The EU’s support for Sierra Leone’s development programs is a testament to the strong partnership between the two entities.
The Nature Nourishes programme is expected to have a positive impact on Sierra Leone’s development, particularly in the areas of education, agriculture, and environment protection. With the EU’s continued support, the government is confident that it can achieve its development goals and improve the lives of its citizens.
