AFD-Proparco supports with more than EUR 43 million two leading local projects of agro-industrial development, the industrial farm JOLAKS (oilseeds) and the project SONOCO (cereals).
Jolaks Manufacturing secures a USD 20 million loan to boost food security in Sierra Leone
Sonoco to launch wheat flour production in Sierra Leone, with support from Proparco
These two projects are fully compliant with the “Feed Salone” priority of the Medium-Term National Development Plan and contribute to the agro-industrial sovereignty of Sierra Leone.
They are part of the FARM program (Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission), led by France, which will be highlighted at the Nairobi summit.
AFD also supports smaller projects, for approximately EUR 11.5 million, implemented by civil society organisations (CSOs) and Small and Medium-sized enterprises, in the rural development, microfinance, health and gender issues.
In the energy sector the new GERES project Energy4Business (E4B), which will be launched in May 2026, will improve access to energy in rural areas to support economic activities by local entrepreneurs.
Thanks to a support by the Sierra Leonean authorities and with support from the Embassy in Conakry, a small French school reopened into a new building in Freetown last December, precursor to a reborn Alliance Française, and the teaching of French in Sierra Leone is increasing. This will help Sierra Leone to be better integrated with its Francophone neighbours, and this will trigger more exchanges at a regional level.
Inauguration of the new French school in Freetown (December 2025)
From the left to the right: Janice Bras, president of the school, Jean Lamy, chargé d’affaires in Freetown, Conrad Sackey, minister of Education, Luc Briard ambassador of France, Dennis Bright, former minister of Youth and Sports
In the same vein, the Africa Forward Summit, for the first time hosted and co-chaired by an English-speaking country, will reflect the profound transformation in its ties with African countries which Fance undertook almost 10 years ago, based on acknowledgement of the past and a will to build balanced, forward-looking partnerships.
It will be an opportunity to highlight the commitment of France, Kenya and other African countries to stepping up mutual investment and to building and financing tangible solutions to common challenges, including health system strengthening, food sovereignty, digital competitiveness, energy access and connectivity. It will illustrate the rich diversity of relations between Africa and France, built around a wide variety of actors – States, business leaders, young people, artists, diasporas, with special emphasis on young people and the private sector.
The results of the Summit, which are focused on action and built with all of the continent’s Heads of State and Government, will help consolidate the ties binding Africa and France, and build forward-looking partnerships.
Such a movement, which tends to abolish artificial language barriers, is also supported by many companies and civil society organizations in Sierra Leone, because it will increase the opportunities for all and it is in the interest of people in an increasingly globalized world.
