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SUN &Food Systems Coordination Unit, Office of the Vice President, Vice President Office Tower Hill, Freetown (2026)

07/09/2026

REVITALISING PROJECT PEANUT BUTTER: STRENGTHENING SIERRA LEONE’S RUTF PRODUCTION FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE

Freetown, Sierra Leone | 2 September 2026

The SUN & Food Systems Coordination Unit (SUNFSCU), in collaboration with UNICEF and the Directorate of Food and Nutrition (DFN), conducted a high-level visit to Project Peanut Butter (PPB) on Wilkinson Road to assess progress, production capacity, sustainability and opportunities to strengthen the local manufacturing of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).

The visit provided an opportunity for stakeholders to take stock of PPB’s journey, both globally and in Sierra Leone, with Amina Bawoh providing an overview of the project’s history, current production status and operations at national and district levels.

Alie Bangura also presented key findings from the latest UNICEF audit, highlighting the progress made by Project Peanut Butter while outlining areas requiring further attention and investment.

From Challenges to Solutions

Discussions focused on critical challenges affecting production, supply, market access and public utilisation of locally manufactured RUTF. Stakeholders examined why local production has not reached its full potential and what needs to be addressed at national level to create a stronger, more sustainable supply chain.

The UNICEF Country Representative Mariko Kagoshima called for stronger commitment from both Government and development partners, emphasising the need for collective action, strategic investment and a clear pathway to revitalise RUTF production in Sierra Leone.

It was agreed that SUNFSCU and DFN will take the lead from the Government side, while UNICEF will coordinate the donor perspective, working closely with Project Peanut Butter to identify practical solutions and mobilise the support required.

*Strengthening Quality and Food Safety*
The Director-General of SUNFSCU, Dr. Martha S.E. Williams-Ngegba, highlighted the importance of food safety, quality standards and certification. PPB has facilities including access international laboratories, challenges remain around specialised equipment, national certification and standards.

One key recommendation was the need to explore the establishment or designation of a certified auditing and standards mechanism in Sierra Leone to support regular assessment and compliance with required quality and safety standards.

The Next Chapter: Revitalising RUTF

The next phase of Project Peanut Butter will focus on “Revitalising RUTF”—with renewed attention to production capacity, quality assurance, market accessibility, sustainable supply and stronger stakeholder coordination.

The immediate priority is to develop a clear roadmap, map key stakeholders and define actionable pathways for strengthening RUTF production and ensuring that locally manufactured therapeutic food can better serve children affected by acute malnutrition.

Together, we can build stronger food systems, strengthen local production and ensure that no child is left behind.

24/08/2026

Strengthening Sierra Leone’s Food Systems for Better Nutrition

On 18 August 2026, the SUN & Food Systems Coordination Unit (SUNFSCU), Office of the Vice President, convened the inaugural meeting of the Nourish Salone Technical Working Group (TWG) at Tower Hill, Freetown.

The meeting brought together key government institutions, UN agencies, development partners, academia, research institutions, the private sector, local councils and civil society to strengthen technical coordination and support the implementation of the Nourish Salone Initiative.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Martha S.E. Williams-Ngegba, Director-General of SUNFSCU, while Madam Nenehbah Jalloh the National Coordinator, SUNFSCU, delivered the opening remarks.

The Nourish Salone Initiative aims to improve the nutrition and healthy growth of children aged 6–23 months by increasing access to and consumption of safe, nutritious and locally produced complementary foods. The initiative also promotes stronger local food systems, community engagement, and social and behaviour change communication through healthy eating campaigns.

The Technical Working Group will serve as the Nourish Salone principal technical advisory and coordination body, providing strategic technical guidance, quality assurance, coordination, communication, resource mobilisation, and monitoring support.

Nourish Salone: Grow Salone • Eat Salone • Nourish Salone 🇸🇱🌾

20/08/2026

Sierra Leone Strengthens Evidence-Based Health & Nutrition Planning Through LiST Training

Bo, Sierra Leone | 10–14 August 2026

Sierra Leone is strengthening national capacity to use data, evidence and advanced modelling to improve health and nutrition planning following a five-day Lives Saved Tool (LiST) Capacity Building Training held at Doha’s Hotel in Bo.

Implemented by the SUN & Food Systems Coordination Unit (SUNFSCU), Office of the Vice President, with support from GIZ, the training brought together technical representatives from key Government institutions, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Statistics Sierra Leone and SUNFSCU.

Participants gained practical knowledge on nutrition modelling, intervention coverage, maternal and child health, maternal mortality, subnational projections and identifying missed opportunities for better health outcomes.

A key focus was the complementary role of LiST and the Nutrition Information Management System (NIMS). While NIMS supports the collection, management and monitoring of nutrition information, LiST can help translate data into projections, model intervention scenarios and support evidence-based prioritisation and investment decisions.

Opening the training, Dr. Martha S. E. Williams-Ngegba, Director General of SUNFSCU, emphasised the importance of strengthening national capacity to generate, analyse and use reliable evidence for better planning and decision-making.

The training marks an important step from data collection to analysis, modelling, prioritisation and action, with potential to strengthen national and district-level planning, policy dialogue, resource mobilisation and investment in high-impact nutrition and health interventions.

The next phase will focus on applying LiST to real Sierra Leonean health and nutrition priorities, strengthening national data inputs, and providing continued technical mentorship.

Investing in evidence today means making smarter decisions for healthier communities tomorrow.

16/06/2026

📢 SUNFSCU SECOND QUARTER NATIONAL COORDINATION MEETING HELD SUCCESSFULLY

The SUN & Food Systems Coordination Unit (SUNFSCU), under the Office of the Vice President, successfully convened its Second Quarter National Coordination Meeting on 11 June 2026 at Helen Keller International, Freetown.
The meeting brought together Government Ministries, Development Partners, UN Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, Academia, and Implementing Partners to review progress, share updates, and strengthen multisectoral collaboration towards achieving Sierra Leone's nutrition and food systems priorities.

Key discussions focused on:
✅ National Nutrition Information Management System (NIMS)
✅ Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Commitments
✅ Food Systems Transformation through SASI-SPI
✅ CHAMPS Sierra Leone findings on child mortality and malnutrition
✅ Nutrition surveillance, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening coordination, accountability, and collective action to accelerate progress toward improved nutrition outcomes and sustainable food systems in Sierra Leone.

Together, we can build a healthier and more food-secure Sierra Leone.

25/05/2026

Strengthening Nutrition Accountability Through Data and Innovation in Sierra Leone 🇸🇱

On 21st May 2026, Day 2 of the high-level Orientation Workshop on the Nutrition Information Management System (NIMS) and the National Nutrition Commitments (2025–2030), convened by the Scaling Up Nutrition and Food Systems Coordination Unit (SUN-FSCU) under the Office of the Vice President, brought together MDAs, development partners, and technical stakeholders at the FAO Conference Room, Wilberforce, Freetown.

Moderated by Bernadette Allieu, the session focused on strengthening nutrition data systems, enhancing Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), improving data quality and validation, and promoting evidence-based decision-making through NIMS operationalization.

Facilitated by Julien, Consultant to SUN-FSCU, participants engaged in technical discussions and practical exercises on partner quarterly reporting, reporting workflows, validation procedures, dashboards, analytics, and real-time nutrition data tracking.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Martha S.E. Williams-Ngegba emphasized the importance of strong nutrition data systems in driving accountability, informed policy decisions, and improved nutrition outcomes across Sierra Leone.

✨ Together, we are advancing a stronger, healthier, and nutrition-secure Sierra Leone through collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

21/05/2026

🌍Strengthening Nutrition Accountability Through Data and Innovation in Sierra Leone 🇸🇱

On 19th May 2026, the Scaling Up Nutrition and Food Systems Coordination Unit (SUN-FSCU), under the Office of the Vice President, successfully convened a high-level Orientation Workshop on the Nutrition Information Management System (NIMS) and the National Nutrition Commitments (2025–2030) at the FAO Conference Room, Wilberforce, Freetown.

The workshop brought together Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, technical experts, and key stakeholders to strengthen multisectoral coordination, improve nutrition data reporting, and reinforce accountability mechanisms toward achieving Sierra Leone’s national nutrition priorities.

The workshop was moderated by Aminata B. Bangura, Communication and Outreach Officer for SUN & FSCU, who officially introduced Dr. Martha S.E. Williams-Ngegba as the newly appointed Director General of SUN-FSCU, describing her appointment as a significant step toward strengthening leadership and institutional coordination within the nutrition and food systems sector.

The opening session was delivered by Madam Nenehbah Jalloh, National Coordinator of SUN-FSCU, who warmly welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of stronger collaboration, commitment, and coordinated action in advancing Sierra Leone’s nutrition agenda.

During the technical session, Dr. Martha S.E. Williams-Ngegba presented the key objectives of the orientation workshop, highlighting the need to:

✅ Strengthen understanding of the National Nutrition Commitments (2025–2030) and Multisectoral Strategic Plan indicators
✅ Improve Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) systems for nutrition and food systems reporting
✅ Enhance data quality, validation, accountability, and evidence-based decision-making through NIMS
✅ Build practical skills on NIMS data submission tools, dashboards, and analytics
✅ Establish a functional multisectoral Data Technical Working Group
✅ Promote climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive, and resilient food systems across Sierra Leone

Key technical presentations and discussions focused on the operationalization of the newly introduced Nutrition Information Management System (NIMS) — an innovative platform powered by interactive data analytics and visualization tools designed to support real-time tracking of progress on the 11 National Nutrition Commitments.

Representatives from key development partners reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s nutrition transformation agenda:

🔹 UNICEF emphasized the importance of reliable nutrition data systems in strengthening child and maternal nutrition outcomes and encouraged stronger intersectoral collaboration to ensure no vulnerable population is left behind.

🔹 FAO highlighted the critical role of integrated food systems, climate resilience, and evidence-based planning in achieving sustainable nutrition outcomes, while reaffirming continued technical support toward strengthening national nutrition coordination.

🔹 The Embassy of Ireland commended the Government of Sierra Leone for prioritizing nutrition accountability and innovation, stressing that partnerships, transparency, and data-driven action remain essential for sustainable development and improved livelihoods.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Martha S.E. Williams-Ngegba thanked participants and partners for their active engagement and underscored the critical importance of effective nutrition data systems in promoting accountability, coordination, informed policy decisions, and improved nutrition outcomes across Sierra Leone.

✨ Together, we are building a stronger, healthier, and nutrition-secure Sierra Leone through partnership, innovation, and accountability.

29/04/2026

Bi-Annual Supportive Supervision & Stakeholder Engagement – Kono District, Eastern Province (29 April 2026)

The SUN–Food Systems Coordinating Unit (SUN-FSCU), under the Office of the Vice President and with support from Helen Keller Intl., successfully conducted its Bi-Annual Supportive Supervision across Kono, Tonkolili, Pujehun, and Moyamba Districts, strengthening district-level nutrition governance and multi-sectoral coordination.

Engaging over 20 devolved sector institutions per district, the exercise enhanced accountability, improved reporting systems, and addressed critical gaps in key nutrition interventions, including Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS), Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS), and deworming.

In Kono District, a high-level stakeholder engagement held on 29 April at the Augustine Sahr Sheku Dukonor Hall convened key actors to reinforce coordination mechanisms and accelerate the implementation of Sierra Leone’s 11 National Nutrition Commitments (2025–2030).

Discussions emphasized integrated, cross-sectoral approaches to tackling malnutrition, improving immunization coverage, and ensuring that no child is left behind.

The engagement further strengthened structured supportive supervision, joint planning, and data-driven decision-making through platforms such as the National Nutrition Information Management System (NIMS). Key priorities highlighted include expanding access to affordable, nutritious foods, promoting locally produced diets, scaling up MMS and VAS coverage, strengthening supply chains for nutrition commodities, increasing domestic financing, and advancing climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive interventions.

Stakeholders underscored the need for stronger media partnerships to amplify nutrition messaging, while district authorities reaffirmed their commitment to coordinated, inclusive, and results-driven service delivery.

This initiative aligns with the SUN Movement Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) and the Feed Salone Strategy, reaffirming Government’s commitment to delivering sustainable nutrition outcomes at scale.

Together, we are accelerating progress toward a healthier Sierra Leone.

24/04/2026

From Dialogue to Investment: Building Sierra Leone’s Food Parks 🇸🇱

On 22 April 2026, over 80 leaders from government, private sector, finance, and development partners gathered at Brookfields Hotel, Freetown, for the Industrial Food Systems Leadership & Partnership Forum.
The focus: moving from talk to action through clustered food parks under Feed Salone and Nourish Salone—to drive investment, create jobs, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve nutrition.

Key Highlights:
Sierra Leone is open for business—with the private sector leading transformation
Urgent need to unlock affordable finance, energy, and infrastructure
Priority value chains: cocoa, cassava, rice, coffee, animal feed, and flour milling

What’s Next?
Develop 3–5 investor-ready food park projects
Launch blended finance to support SMEs
Empower women and youth-led agri-businesses
Strengthen food safety and market access
Establish a Food Parks Technical Taskforce

💡 The message is clear: Sierra Leone is shifting from dialogue to delivery, with strong partnerships driving real investment and impact.

Movement

20/04/2026

Sierra Leone Advances N4G Action Plans

Following the MEAL Accountability Framework Training (Jan–March 2026), the SUN Civil Society Alliance presented Sierra Leone’s draft action plans to strengthen accountability on Nutrition for Growth (N4G) commitments.

The Children Advocacy Forum (CAAF) joined the training and, together with other stakeholders, shared key outcomes with the SUN platform.

🔍 Key gaps: funding, advocacy, and low awareness of N4G commitments
💡 Focus areas: increased nutrition financing, community awareness on MMS & VAS, and stronger accountability systems

🤝 Driving progress toward a healthier nation.

16/04/2026

District-Level Stakeholder Engagement on National Nutrition Commitments (NNCs)
Falaba District, Mongor – Sierra Leone
24th March 2026

The Scaling Up Nutrition & Food Systems Coordinating Unit (SUN-FSCU), with support from Action Against Hunger (ACF), successfully convened a District-Level Stakeholder Engagement Workshop in Falaba District.

The engagement brought together key stakeholders from the health, agriculture, WASH, education, and community sectors to advance Sierra Leone’s National Nutrition Commitments (NNCs) under the global Nutrition for Growth (N4G) framework.

Key Focus
The session aimed to strengthen awareness, foster community ownership, and enhance stakeholder accountability in implementing national nutrition priorities at the district level.
• Promote coordinated, multi-sectoral action on nutrition
• Amplify nutrition advocacy through community and media platforms

🤝 Together, we are strengthening systems, empowering communities, and accelerating action to end malnutrition in Sierra Leone.
🇸🇱

SUN &Food Systems Coordination Unit, Office of the Vice President

07/09/2026

24/08/2026

20/08/2026

16/06/2026

25/05/2026

21/05/2026

29/04/2026

24/04/2026

20/04/2026

16/04/2026

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