Sierra Leone begins construction of infant food processing facility in Bombali

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the Government of Sierra Leone, and local authorities have broken ground on a new complementary food processing facility in Makarie Village, Bombali District. The project is part of the four-year Strengthened Agricultural Value-chain through Infant Nutrition for Growth (SAVING) initiative, which is primarily funded by an €11.5 million contribution from the European Union.

Once operational, the facility will produce approximately 200 metric tonnes of fortified food annually for children aged 6 to 23 months. The plant will feature automated packaging, food safety infrastructure, and will operate using off-grid solar power and solar-powered water systems.

The initiative aims to combat high stunting rates in Sierra Leone, where more than one in four children under five is affected by chronic undernutrition. The project is expected to benefit over 25,000 people, including more than 8,000 farmers, by creating sustainable market opportunities for smallholders and women-led enterprises through the production of crops such as groundnut, rice, sesame, soybean, and orange-fleshed sweet potato.