ILO hosts knowledge-sharing event on Opportunity Salone Programme in Sierra Leone

Freetown, Sierra Leone: The provision of decent jobs for all is key to every country’s sustainable development goal as well as investing in young people to boost economic growth and investments. Facilitating creation of decent jobs is one of the core mandates of the ILO and that involves continuously making tremendous contributions towards ensuring the implementation of labour standards.

The First Lady, of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr Fatima Maada Bio while delivering the keynote address, urged the European Union (EU) to create a healthy competitive space that would enable Sierra Leonean products to thrive in the European markets. She commended the EU, and ILO for empowering SMEs, stressing that it was part of the President's agenda in making agriculture the gateway for creativity and employment in the country. The First Lady, alongside other important dignitaries and officials opened the Agricultural exhibition staged to support SME Businesses.

The ILO defines decent jobs as the ‘productive work for women and men in the condition of freedom, equity, security, and human dignity’. With funding support from the EU in Sierra Leone, the ILO Opportunity Salone programme seeks to empower SMEs by providing a series of training on Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB), GET-Ahead Training, My Coop and with financial support to acquire various types of machinery to help upscale production processes to meet market demand in the districts of Bo, Kenema, Bombali and Port Loko. The Project’s Employment-Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP), links infrastructural development with the creation of employment, and working with young SME contractors in providing training, and contracting these businesses to carry out routine maintenance of feeder roads to enhance access to markets, linking communities and connecting people in the project’s operational districts. In 2023, these SME contractors maintained 33km of feeder roads and employed 720 women and men. They are expected to maintain 102.3km of feeder roads and employ 1600 women and men in 2024.

The maiden edition of the knowledge-sharing event brought together key actors involved in the implementation of the Opportunity Salone programme, namely, SME businesses, SME contractors, partners, donors, and the beneficiaries themselves. The event was initiated as a platform for the players to highlight their challenges and successes achieved over the year. Besides the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone Dr Mrs Fatima Maada Bio, other dignitaries who participated in the event included the EU Ambassador, Manuel Muller; ILO Global Coordinator Value Chains and Entrepreneurship, Mr. Merten Sievers; the UN Women Head of Office, Madam Setcheme Mongbo; Sierra Leone’s Minister for Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mr Mohamed SWARAY; and the Minister of Gender, Madam Isata Mahoi. The three-day event, which held from 5th – 7th December 2023 climaxed with an appreciation evening to thank supportive partners, high performing SME businesses, business trainers and stakeholders of the project, to motivate partners to continue to invest, support and encourage SME businesses for the right reasons, and contribute to the livelihoods of Sierra Leonean youths, women and persons living with disabilities.

Business owners also expressed their satisfaction with the opportunity to discuss and put ideas together, while emphasising that it makes them feel like co-owners of the Opportunity Salone programme. They promised to ensure their continued participation in the programme. According to one of the entrepreneurs,

The EU and ILO’s Opportunity Salone programme has been a blessing to my business and community. With the support given to my business, I have been able to provide solar lights for my community with proceeds gained from the business. I have grown from producing hygienic palm oil to processing the nut oil, into cooking oil which also can be used for cosmetic production."

Sidikie Bangura