PI-CREF and FAO Conclude Southern and Eastern Regional Food Systems Coordination Workshop in Bo
Thursday, 29 January 2026 | Bo City— The Office of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), in close collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has successfully concluded a one-day regional training workshop on Strengthened Food Systems Coordination and Information Dissemination in Bo City.
The Bo engagement followed an earlier regional workshop held in Makeni and brought together food systems stakeholders from Sierra Leone’s Southern and Eastern Regions, reinforcing national efforts to improve coordination, collaboration, and information flow across the food systems landscape.
Welcoming participants on behalf of the District Agriculture Officer, Ms. Kadijatu Alice Koroma, District Crop Officer, expressed appreciation to PI-CREF and FAO for selecting Bo as host city. She highlighted the importance of strong inter-institutional collaboration in advancing national food security goals, noting that platforms for dialogue and learning remain critical to collective success.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Chairman of PI-CREF, Dr. Patrick Kormawa, Director of Food Security and Climate-Smart Agricultural Transformation, underscored PI-CREF’s mandate as a national coordination hub. He thanked FAO for its continued partnership and emphasized that effective food systems governance extends beyond agriculture, requiring deliberate multi-sectoral engagement.
“PI-CREF provides a strong national platform that brings together MDAs, development partners, the private sector, civil society, and communities. We emphasize collaboration over isolation and collective action toward shared objectives,” Dr. Kormawa stated.
He further described the workshop as timely and strategic, noting its focus on strengthening coordination structures and enhancing food systems information dissemination for evidence-based decision-making.
Also addressing participants, Ms. Neneh Bah Jalloh, National Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Secretariat, commended PI-CREF and FAO for convening stakeholders at regional level. She reaffirmed SUN’s commitment to sustained collaboration in advancing integrated food and nutrition systems across the country.
In his remarks, Dr. James Edwin, Director General of the National Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (NaMED), praised PI-CREF and FAO for organizing the workshop, stating, it is a critical step toward inclusive dialogue and stronger institutional alignment, calling for more engagements that promote shared learning and coordinated action.
The workshop convened a diverse group of participants, including District Agriculture Officers, District Nutritionists from District Health Management Teams, agricultural nutritionists, and national-level actors involved in food systems governance. Discussions centered on strengthening inclusive and accountable food systems through enhanced institutional capacity, multi-sector collaboration, and effective information sharing.
Interactive sessions provided participants with opportunities to exchange experiences, assess existing coordination and data-sharing platforms, and identify practical pathways for improving food systems governance and evidence-driven interventions.
The Bo workshop concluded on a high note, with participants reaffirming their commitment to cross-sector collaboration, marking another meaningful step toward building resilient, well-coordinated, and data-informed food systems that support food security and improved nutrition for all Sierra Leoneans.