Promoting Climate Resilience in the Cocoa and Rice Sectors as an Adaptation Strategy in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change in West Africa and among the Least Developed Countries (LDC), least able to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. Agriculture is Sierra Leone’s second largest economic sector after mining contributing 59% to the GDP and is therefore facing long-term, high-risk exposure to climate change. Farmers’ high dependence on rain-fed agriculture and natural resource-based livelihoods are key influencing factors of their vulnerability. Farmers have reported experiencing changes in rainfall patterns characterized by rainfall in the dry season and dry periods in the rainy season. Climatic changes have manifested in more intense rainfall patterns with more frequent severe floods and seasonal droughts, late onset of rains, rising temperatures, particularly in the dry season, stronger winds including reports of local tornadoes, more intense thunderstorms and more frequent landslides.

The overall objective of this additional climate finance for adaptation is to reduce vulnerability and increase adaptive capacity to respond to the impacts of climate change, including variability at local and national levels as well as on natural resources critical for sustaining agricultural production and increasing food security and nutrition of vulnerable poor communities.

The project will deliver the stated objective through three components:

• Climate-proofed agricultural production and post-harvest combined with livelihood diversification
• Climate-resilient rural transportation and water infrastructure
• Institutional capacity building and policy engagement

Project Documents