By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, Sierra Leone – The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) and the European Union (EU) convened on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, to review progress on the “Nature Nourishes” Programme, a flagship initiative under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy. The high-level meeting, held at the Ministry of Finance, marks a significant step in unlocking up to €20 million in budget support for 2025.
Signed in August 2024, the €1 million financing agreement represents part of a broader €65 million EU commitment over four years. The programme seeks to bolster Sierra Leone’s resilience against internal and external shocks, promote environmental protection, and enhance education, in line with the country’s National Development Plan.
Strengthening Ties Through Reform
Co-chaired by the Ministry of Finance and the EU, the Nature Nourishes Steering Committee received progress updates from multiple government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. Deputy Minister of Finance I, Kadiatu Allie, welcomed the EU delegation, emphasizing that budget support differs from project-specific aid, as it feeds directly into the national consolidated fund to sustain essential social programmes.
“We are far gone in terms of strategy to implement and modify the programme without changing the overall objective,” affirmed Financial Secretary Matthew Dingie. He highlighted the government’s commitment to meeting programme triggers and outlined strides in economic governance, including:
• Advancements under the ECF programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• Ongoing Public Financial Management (PFM) reforms
• Drafting of the 2025 supplementary budget to curb 2024 borrowing without compromising social spending
Programme Highlights and Progress
Under the programme’s variable tranches mechanism, notable achievements include:
School Feeding: Over 123,000 pupils to benefit from the home-grown school feeding initiative; Teacher Training: About 14,000 educators undergoing foundational learning training; Environment: Strengthened environmental protection strategies; Agriculture: Sustainable agriculture practices expanding in reach; and Governance: Enhanced fiscal decentralisation and iron ore taxation reforms.
Next Steps
The committee will now assess submitted reports before proceeding with an official disbursement request to the EU.
The “Nature Nourishes” Programme continues to serve as a key catalyst for development, transparency, and inclusive growth in Sierra Leone.