Sierra Leone Inaugurates Agriculture Sector Skills Council to Boost Skills and Food Security.

The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), in partnership with UNESCO, has inaugurated the Agriculture Sector Skills Council (SSC4A) under the Better Education for Africa’s Rise III (BEAR III) Project at Sierra Palms, Freetown.

The SSC4A is tasked with strengthening the relevance and responsiveness of agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Supported by UNESCO’s BEAR III project, the Council will develop standardized occupational standards, conduct skills forecasting, and enhance private sector participation in training and curriculum development.

By aligning training programs with labor market needs, the initiative is expected to improve productivity and drive economic growth in Sierra Leone’s agricultural sector.

In his welcome address, Dr. Josephus Brimah, Chief Technical and Higher Education Officer at MTHE, described the launch as a historic milestone for Sierra Leone’s education sector.

He recalled the creation of MTHE in 2018 to strengthen technical education, noting that while education is “the key,” TVET is “the master key” to economic growth.

With 5.4 million hectares of arable land, he said agriculture must be the driver of development, and the new Council would shape curricula, improve quality, and build a knowledge-based system.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Theresa Tenneh Dick, described the launch as timely. While agriculture contributes more than half of Sierra Leone’s GDP, she said low productivity and import dependence remain major challenges.

The Council, she added, would align training with modern farming techniques, mechanisation, and digital tools—helping reduce rice imports and transition farmers toward commercial production.

She emphasized that government alone cannot transform agriculture and called for collective effort.

Minister of Employment, Labor, and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, welcomed the initiative as a vital step in harnessing agriculture through skills development.

 He linked the Council’s work to Sierra Leone’s national development plan and the Feed Salone strategy for food self-sufficiency by 2030.

He pointed to trade testing, mechanisation, post-harvest handling, and occupational safety training for agricultural SMEs as crucial to boosting productivity and protecting workers.

Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrad Sackey, hailed the Council as a milestone under President Bio’s Big Five Game Changers.

He said it would align education with industry needs, empower farmers, and develop a skilled workforce capable of driving productivity, increasing revenue, and promoting national prosperity.

Oladapo Coulson-Olowu, PRO and Communications Expert at the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education (NCTVE), noted that the SSC4A is the first of its kind in Sierra Leone, modeled on the UK’s skills councils.

He highlighted its role in curriculum design, occupational standards, and support for Feed Salone by boosting productivity, creating jobs, and advancing food sovereignty.

Despite funding challenges, he stressed that strong partnerships can bridge the skills gap and make Sierra Leone’s workforce more competitive.

SSC4A Chairman, Mahesh Nandwani, described the Council as the foundation for Sierra Leone’s agricultural future, pointing out that only 15% of the country’s arable land is currently cultivated.

With vast opportunities for youth and women, he said skills development is crucial for reducing imports, creating jobs, and ensuring food security.

He urged greater private sector collaboration to align TVET programs with industry needs.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, said the launch demonstrated the power of collaboration among ministries, partners, and industry stakeholders.

  She acknowledged challenges facing the agriculture sector but emphasized that the Council would help build a coordinated, market-driven, and future-ready skills system aligned with the Feed Salone initiative.

She praised the leadership of Chairman Nandwani, stressed the importance of private sector involvement, and underscored that every graduate must be job-ready and innovative.

 She also credited the UNESCO-Korea BEAR III Project for supporting Sierra Leone’s TVET reforms and bridging the gap between education and labor market needs.