The Parliament of Sierra Leone has approved four bilateral trade agreements to facilitate job creation in the country. The agreements would also provide financing for investments in agriculture value chain and climate finance. The agreements are with the International Fund for Agricultural Development,(IFAD), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the German based KFW Frankfurt AM Maub (KFW).

IFAD’s agreement is for financing for Livestock and Livelihoods Development while the Protocol of Agreement with the African Development Bank would provide funding for Job Creation for Youth and the Women in Climate Smart Agriculture Value Chains and Waste Management (WOKDONCAM) project. OPEC is facilitating the establishment of the Sierra Leone Climate Finance and Energy Innovation Hub while the financing Agreements for the Sierra Leone Connectivity and Agricultural Market Infrastructure Project is between the country and the International Development Association (IDA).

The agreement with the KFW, Frankfurt AM Maub ('KFW') called the Consultation and Youth Empowerment (GPCYE)- BMZ-NO.2023 67 449 is geared towards the promotion of Pro-Poor Growth for Peace. Deputy Minister of Finance, Ms. Kadiatu Alie, said the components of the agreements stated that said that the agreement on livelihood and livestock include a grant of 30 million United States dollars. The agreement is part of the Feed Salone initiative by the government. According to her the other components of the other agreements would focus on job creation and capacity building.

The Parliamentary Chairperson on Finance, Hon. Francis Amara Kai-Samba, called for the implementing agencies to utilize the funds for the intended purposes and called on Parliamentary oversight Committees to do what is necessary to monitor these agreements.

Hon. Abdul Kargbo hailed the agreement as a step in the right direction. The agreement with OPEC Fund, he noted would support Sierra Leone to reverse the negative climate change prevalent in the country pleading for a proper oversight monitoring of these agreements.

He called for prioritizing government interest and noted that the implementing agencies should be able to give proper accounts on these funds. He called for the agreements to be centralized and requested proper Parliamentary oversight over them.

Leader of Government Business in the house informed that the project would cover eight districts in Sierra Leone, including Bo, Kenema, Port Loko, and Makeni. He suggested that a timeline for the implementation of the project should be fixed.