NaCSA Engages Women in Agriculture Network (WAN – SL) on Strategies for Sustainable Implementation of the Islamic Microfinance Scheme

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, Ambassador Ernest Ndomahina, the Commissioner of the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), held a significant meeting with Madam Juliet Lavarley, the President of the Women in Agriculture Network (WAN-SL). The purpose of this gathering was to explore effective strategies for the sustainable implementation of an Islamic Microfinance project that NaCSA is currently rolling out across various districts in Sierra Leone.

WAN-SL consists of a diverse group of both elderly and young women from different regions of the country, united by a common goal of empowering women engaged in agriculture. This organization collaborates with both governmental and development partners at local, national, and international levels to tackle the myriad challenges that women face within the agricultural sector in Sierra Leone.

During the meeting, Commissioner Ndomahina underscored the importance of gender mainstreaming within NaCSA, highlighting that the organization is dedicated to empowering women as a cornerstone of its mission. *"One of our key initiatives, the Sierra Leone Community Driven Development Project, is funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL). It focuses primarily on assisting rural women who are involved in agricultural activities as well as small and medium-sized enterprises across five districts,"* he detailed.

Commissioner Ndomahina elaborated on the Islamic Microfinance scheme, describing it as a pivotal subproject of the SLCDD initiative. This scheme aims to provide crucial financial resources to women, enabling them to expand their agricultural operations and enhance value chains. *"The APEX Bank serves as the manager of the revolving fund, which is disseminated through Community Banks. However, we are actively seeking strategic partnerships to ensure the sustainable and productive implementation of this microfinance scheme,"* he stated.

In response, Madam Juliet Lavarley articulated WAN-SL's robust presence nationwide and underscored the organization's comprehensive strategy to confront the challenges faced by women in agriculture, particularly in terms of accessing financial resources. "In the Moyamba District, for instance, our network known as the Munyande Women has taken proactive steps by formally registering a microfinance institution. This institution is set to commence full operations very soon, which we believe will significantly empower local women and enhance their economic activities," Madam Lavarley noted.

The SLCDD Programme Manager, Momoh Juanah, who was present at the meeting, was assigned the critical responsibility of facilitating ongoing discussions with WAN-SL. His goal is to develop a clear and actionable roadmap that will foster a productive partnership and deep collaboration between NaCSA and WAN-SL.

This collaborative effort aims to ensure that both organizations can effectively respond to the needs of women in agriculture and promote sustainable development in the sector.

*For further information on this and other matters, please contact:*

*The Information, Education and Communication Unit*

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