By Davida Spaine-Solomon
Freetown, 3rd September, 2026 — Sierra Leone’s Cabinet has cleared development financing totalling approximately US$73.8 million for affordable housing, climate-resilient agriculture, food security and job creation, while approving a series of reforms covering land administration, pensions and the mining sector.
The decisions were announced by the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor Bah, at the Government’s Weekly Press Conference held at the Miatta Civic Centre on Tuesday.
The largest of the approved financing packages is a US$40 million grant from the International Development Association for the Sustainable Agriculture Value Chain Intensification for Growth Project.
The Minister stated that the project would promote climate-smart agriculture, improve value addition and market access, expand digital agricultural services, increase access to finance and attract private-sector investment. He said it is expected to directly benefit nearly 100,000 farmers, including about 40,000 women and 30,000 young people.
According to the Minister, Cabinet also had approved approximately US$23.8 million from the African Development Fund for Phase One of the Sierra Leone Rice Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone Project.
Bah said the project would support climate-resilient rice production, strengthen local processing and competitiveness, improve food security and nutrition, and increase farmers’ incomes.
He revealed that it would also establish an agro-industrial hub and Agricultural Transformation Centres, with particular attention to women and young people.
Minister Bah said the investment aligns with the government’s Feed Salone agenda and is expected to improve rice production and processing while creating employment opportunities.
Cabinet further approved a US$10 million concessional loan agreement with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa to enable Sierra Leone to acquire additional shares in the Shelter Afrique Development Bank, according to the Minister.
The investment, the Minister said, is intended to strengthen Sierra Leone’s position within the institution and improve access to financing for affordable housing, urban development and related infrastructure.
He said the Minister of Finance had been directed to present the agreement to Parliament for ratification.
According to the Minister, alongside the financing approvals, Cabinet had endorsed Sierra Leone’s intention to seek a seat on the United Nations Tourism Executive Council for the 2027–2031 term.
If successful, the government says the membership would give Sierra Leone a stronger voice in international tourism policy while supporting efforts to create jobs, generate foreign exchange and increase the country’s visibility as a tourism destination.
The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has been directed to establish an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate the campaign.
Cabinet also approved the comprehensive review and replacement of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust Act of 2001 with a proposed National Social Security and Pensions Authority Act, 2026.
The proposed legislation seeks to bring the pension system in line with changes in the labour market, including the growing number of self-employed workers, microenterprises and people engaged in digital employment.
It is also expected to strengthen governance, transparency and service delivery, while protecting contributors’ benefits and improving the long-term sustainability of the national pension scheme.
Minister Bah said the existing law is 25 years old and needs to be updated to reflect current labour-market realities. “The proposed legislation will be tabled in Parliament,” he said.
In the mining sector, Cabinet approved the designation of certain mineral assets to the Sierra Leone Mines and Minerals Development and Management Corporation for identification, development and management.
The move is intended to strengthen structured state participation and investment in mineral exploration and development. The designated assets will be submitted to Parliament for approval before being allocated to the Corporation.
Cabinet also approved the Land Adjudication Bill and Land Title Registration Regulations, marking a major step towards reforming Sierra Leone’s land-administration system.
The proposed reforms will facilitate the systematic registration of land titles under both formal and customary tenure, strengthen protection of land rights and establish a unified National Land Register.
Minister Bah said the reforms would allow people to verify land ownership and titles before purchasing property, helping to reduce fraudulent transactions.
The proposed online land-registration system is also expected to make land administration more accessible and efficient, including for Sierra Leoneans living abroad.
The Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning has been directed to present the legislation to Parliament, with the government hoping the reforms will become law before the end of the year.
