USAID/Sierra Leone: LINKS Projects Cultivate the Future for Youth

MAY 9, 2006

LINKS Projects Cultivate
the Future for Youth

A USAID-funded program provides war-affected youth with productive outlets in agricultural production and processing.

KOINADUGU DISTRICT -- Mahamed S. Jalloh was a teenager when he took up arms to fight alongside the Sierra Leone army in defense of Kabala, his hometown in northern Sierra Leone. Now a USAID-funded agricultural project is providing Jalloh and his fellow ex-combatants with peaceful tools to fight for the future of their country.

"Before I was a commander. Now I am under command," Jalloh told visitors to a youth center where two groups, representing the Wara Wara Yagala and Sengbeh chiefdoms in Koinadugu District, demonstrated the processing of raw cassava. Bags of the processed cassava, known as garri, are sold in local markets for 1,000 Leones (about 34 cents).

War-affected youths in Kabala sift cassava root during production of garri, which they sell in the local market.

The crop production activity is part of a larger LINKS (Promoting Linkages for Livelihood Security and Economic Development) project, a 3-year, $8 million USAID initiative implemented by CARE International, Catholic Relief Services, World Vision, Africare/Sierra Leone and Search for Common Ground. LINKS builds on a Development Relief Program (DRP) launched in March 2004 by the Consortium of Rehabilitation and Development. (CORAD).

The LINKS projects are intended to jump-start economic activity in rural areas devastated by Sierra Leone's decade-long civil war. Other LINKS activities include training in agricultural production practices via farmer field schools, micro-enterprise development through basic business management training, loans and grants supporting existing and start-up businesses, and use of local radio stations to disseminate information supporting LINKS activities.

Crop Production
Started in August 2005, the agro-processing activity in Koinadugu involves 25 men and 5 women, mostly in their mid- to late-20s. Each group was provided with basic training in crop production and a start-up grant of about $1,000.

Planting started in September with three varieties of sweet potatoes, but quickly shifted after the groups determined cassava had a better market potential, according to Saio Marah, chairman of the Sengbeh Youth Committee.

To make garri, the cassava root is ground up, soaked in water and pressed. It is then sifted and roasted before being measured and bagged in clear plastic for sale. The groups realize a profit margin of 50 percent to 70 percent on sales, said Marah, noting that major expenses are for fuel and packaging materials.

Garri, the finished product.

In presentations to U.S. Ambassador Thomas Hull and USAID Mission Director Clifford H. Brown, the youths noted that their enterprise faces several challenges: limited availability of raw cassava, the long distances to market, poor roads for transportation, lack of storage facilities and the high cost of plastic packaging.

Nevertheless, the groups are exploring the launch of a new business - processing a variety of crops into syrups that can be used to make beverages. Other goals the groups are considering for the future are development of sustainable youth farms by 2007; herding of sheep, goats and cows; improvements of feeder roads surrounding Kabala, HIV/AIDS sensitivity training (the prevalence rate in Koinadugu is 4 percent); construction of a new youth center; creation of a telecenter with Internet access, and increased participation of women in the youth groups.

Elsewhere in Koinadugu District, the LINKS program supports Village Savings & Loan (VS&L) activities in 32 villages. In the Timbo Sokralla community near Kabala, CARE International provided micro-finance training to the club's 46 members - 17 men and 29 women - who meet once a month to make deposits and disburse loans.

Harvest from a farmer field school in Lenkenkoro village provides a seed bank for the local community.

Formed in May 2005, the Timbo Sokralla VS&L so far has made 171 loans with a cumulative value of nearly 8 million Leones (about $2,700). The loans carry a monthly interest rate of 15 percent.

Before he took out a loan from the VS&L, Alpha Jalloh's baking business was limited to buying flour 10 cups at a time. Since receiving financing, Jalloh said he has been able to expand his bakery; he now buys flour a few 50-kilogram bags at a time.

Other village residents said the VS&L loans enabled them to improve their businesses, making profits available for personal uses. Ramatu Sannoh praised the VS&L for allowing her to replace the thatched roof on her home with a metal one, and Helen Mansaray said a loan enabled her to pay for treatment when her mother fell ill.

At Lenkenkoro village outside Kabala, another LINKS activity provides grants and business development training and agriculture training in a farmer field school. Both USAID-funded activities are implemented by Catholic Relief Services.

The micro-enterprise activity extended grants to 90 participants, who have used the funds to expand their small businesses. The farmer field schools brought together 30 participants, including 10 women, for crop production and agro-enterprise training. The farmer field school has focused on vegetable gardening and creating a seed bank of rice, garden vegetables and cassava that supplies the entire community.

Story and photo by Richard Stirba