The World Food Programme (WFP) says it requires $2.7 million to be able to continue ensuring food security for Sierra Leone for the period July to December 2025.

This urgent funding need is underscored by the immense scale of assistance provided to the country, with 255,795 people receiving support and 836 metric tons of food assistance distributed, alongside $10,116 in cash-based transfers.

The funding requirement is critical to maintaining WFP’s ongoing operations in Sierra Leone and ensuring that interventions are sustained.

With total needs for 2025 estimated at $25.4 million, the organization is reaching out to international donors and partners to secure the necessary funds. Collaborative efforts and partnerships with entities like the Republic of Korea and various international donors are vital for the success of these initiatives and for the overarching goal of reducing food insecurity in the nation.

The current scenario reflects the ongoing struggle within the country, where significant amount of the population lives below the poverty line of $2 per day. The country’s agricultural sector remains a work in progress, suffering from limited infrastructure, high unemployment rates, and a heavy dependence on food imports, all contributing to widespread food insecurity and vulnerability.

In a recent initiative to bolster human capital and combat food insecurity in vulnerable chiefdoms, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea donated 1,800 metric tons of rice to WFP for its school feeding programme.

This support will benefit over 106,700 children across 300 primary schools during the 2025/2026 academic year, providing them with much-needed nutritious meals that enhance their capacity to learn and thrive academically.

In addition to addressing hunger, recent operational updates indicate WFP’s efforts to enhance disaster preparedness in Sierra Leone. The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), in collaboration with WFP and the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, successfully organized a three-day emergency preparedness and response workshop. This training aimed to improve coordination and readiness among key disaster management actors, equipping them with strategies to respond effectively to crises such as flooding and landslides.

Moreover, WFP is making strides in agriculture by promoting sustainable rice production. Through training on the Technical Package for Rice Production (TP-R), WFP is educating key stakeholders about modern rice farming techniques. This training includes practical guidance on land preparation, seed selection, and pest control, ultimately aimed at enhancing local agricultural practices that can alleviate food insecurity.

Additionally, to aid in post-harvest processing and reduce the labor burden on farmers, WFP has distributed rice threshers across several districts. These threshers are intended for shared, rotational use among the farmers, highlighting WFP’s commitment to improving efficiency in local rice production.

Despite these efforts, challenges persist. A recent bi-annual Food Security Monitoring System (FSMS) assessment revealed that 77 percent of Sierra Leoneans remain food insecure, although this represents a slight decrease compared to 80 percent the previous year. The proportion of severely food-insecure households also fell from 28 percent in September 2023 to 17 percent in September 2024, marking a positive shift but still indicating a pressing need for sustained food relief and development initiatives.

The WFP's commitment to improving the lives of Sierra Leoneans hinges on meeting the funding requirements set for the latter half of 2025. With support from both national and international partners, there is hope for enhanced resilience and improved food security in the country.