By Ibrahim J. Conteh
Moyamba District, Sierra Leone, October 18, 2025
The Ethnic Youth Development Organisation Sierra Leone (EYDO-SL) commemorated World Food Day in a high-profile event held at the Moyamba District Local Council Hall, drawing stakeholders from across the country to deliberate on food security, youth empowerment, and international partnership in agriculture. The commemoration was held under the global theme “Water is Life, Water is Food Leave No One Behind,” emphasizing the urgent need for sustainable agricultural practices and inclusive development in Sierra Leone.
The event was sponsored by EYDO-SL in partnership with FasterCapital, an international philanthropic investment organization currently supporting over 742 startups globally with more than $696 million in agribusiness and technological funding initiatives.
Opening prayers from Muslim and Christian leaders set the tone of unity and national purpose. Speakers underscored the gravity of food insecurity and the danger of youth disenfranchisement, particularly with increasing drug abuse among young people. Reverend Ibrahim Sawaneh emphasized that agriculture must be prioritized over destructive activities, urging stakeholders to transform World Food Day into a catalyst for annual youth centered agricultural action.
Delivering the welcome address, Philip Lansana reminded attendees that World Food Day, established by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in 1979, was created to spark global initiatives against hunger. He highlighted the alignment of EYDO-SL’s efforts with the government’s FEED SALONE program, calling for stronger partnerships between local communities and international investors such as FasterCapital.
EYDO-SL Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Amos B. Massaquoi, presented a comprehensive overview of the organisation’s developing partnership with FasterCapital and EquityPilot. He praised the organization’s leadership Dr. Hesham Zreik and Sella Aourabi for their commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s agricultural vision.
Massaquoi acknowledged the economic constraints facing Sierra Leone and stressed the importance of external investment: “Our country is cash-trapped, and government alone cannot shoulder this responsibility. Partnerships with organizations like FasterCapital are not only strategic they are essential for national survival.”
He added that EYDO-SL has already signed a Memorandum of Agreement with FasterCapital towards funding youth driven agricultural initiatives, a move expected to revolutionize food production and combat unemployment.
District leaders, including Paramount Chiefs, Members of Parliament, and agricultural experts, voiced overwhelming support for the initiative. Dr. Johaness Bassie, who chaired the commemoration, encouraged Sierra Leoneans to abandon illicit crop farming and refocus on food production, especially rice, vegetables, and cash crops.
A representative of the Minister of Agriculture reinforced the national significance of the occasion, emphasizing that youth participation is central to achieving food sovereignty under the FEED SALONE agenda.
The event featured exhibitions of locally grown produce from 20 registered farming clusters across Sierra Leone, including women’s groups, youth-led associations, and community-based organizations. Participants showcased rice, pepper, vegetables, cassava, and other staple crops demonstrating the country’s agricultural potential when given appropriate support.
Notable exhibitors included:
Podooh Women’s Agricultural Group from Kailahun District
Ngoworyehdoma Women’s Agricultural Association from Sienga Town
Farmers Federation from Pujehun District
MICCO Farmers Association from Kambia
These groups expressed readiness to scale up production once equipped with resources, training, and market access.
The event achieved massive attendance, enthusiastic participation, and renewed commitment from traditional authorities. However, EYDO-SL highlighted pressing challenges, including limited funding, delayed financial response from donor partners, and pending finalization of a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Key Recommendations Presented
FasterCapital is urged to expedite funding to enable the rollout of large-scale agricultural programs.
The Government of Sierra Leone is called upon to formally support EYDO-SL through the Ministry of Agriculture’s Service Level Agreement framework.
Youth and women farmers across the country are encouraged to organize into clusters to benefit from future funding, training, and mechanization opportunities.
The World Food Day commemoration in Moyamba stands as a pivotal moment in Sierra Leone’s agricultural journey. With international partnership on the horizon and strong local commitment, EYDO-SL believes Sierra Leone can transition from food dependency to food sufficiency while empowering its greatest resource: the youth.
“We must choose farming over dependency, productivity over idleness, and partnership over isolation,” CEO Amos Massaquoi concluded. “With FasterCapital’s collaboration, we are planting the seeds of economic freedom for every Sierra Leonean.”
Attached is the full report detailing all proceedings, presentations, resolutions, and recommendations from the World Food Day Commemoration.