Sierra Leone is a pioneer of the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), Africa’s plan to boost agricultural production and thereby tackle poverty and hunger. Of the 20+ countries that are active with CAADP, Sierra Leone is further advanced with implementation than all but 1 or 2 others.
I have spent the last 3 days in Freetown running a workshop to strengthen the coalition of support for national CAADP plans. I am struck by the remarkable progress being made. Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world, and only a decade ago emerged from civil war. In such a context, how is Sierra Leone advancing so much faster than other African countries? The quality of leadership from the Minister, President and senior civil servants is the striking difference.
Remarkable progress
In mid-2010, through the CAADP process, the Government of Sierra Leone finalised a 5 year Investment Plan focussed on helping smallholders shift from subsistence farming to commercially viable agriculture. Since then, they have attracted financial commitments for over two thirds of the $403 million plan from a wide variety of sources. 120 of 150 planned Agri-Business Centres have been established as commercial hubs for local networks of farmers. The farmers have organised themselves under a national umbrella organisation. A Chamber of Agriculture is engaging the private sector and negotiating lower interest rates for loans to farmers. INGOs are lining up to train farmers in the management skills they need to run their local Agri Business Centres. Strong and inclusive structures are in place for decision-making centrally and at a district-level. Radio and TV broadcasts are daily channelling informative and educational messages to remote rural communities.
Song used to sensitise rural farmers in Sierra Leone on CAADP
Obviously there are also many problems and set backs. Nonetheless, the progress being made in such a poor and challenging country is truly remarkable, and begs the question – what is special about the CAADP process in Sierra Leone?
Genuine personal leadership from Government
The quality of leadership from senior government officials is striking. It starts at the very top. The President has championed CAADP, prioritised agriculture above all other sectors for its potential to drive pro-poor growth, and chairs a quarterly meeting to ensure progress is made. He holds his Minister’s accountable through performance contracts.
The Minister of Agriculture, Joseph Sam Sesay, is focussed, disciplined and directly engaged in day-to-day implementation. Today he arrived at our workshop on time, ahead of several other participants, and gave a clear, honest speech that compelled others to engage positively. He personally responded to my emails to express support for the workshop during preparations.
Prince Kamara, the senior civil servant in charge of the CAADP process, is equally impressive. He is open, friendly, shares his struggles, seeks help from others, listens, engages in spirited debate, establishes clear goals, and provides structures through which other stakeholders can engage.
All these three emphasise with confidence that Sierra Leoneans are leading the country, and, despite their dependency on donors for 80% of government finance, they demand that the international community aligns behind the country’s priorities rather than imposing their own agendas.
They are also driven by a commitment to serve the interests of Sierra Leonean citizens, especially the poor. As testimony to this, with 70% of Sierra Leoneans working in agriculture as smallholders, the government has prioritised helping these farmers establish themselves as viable businesses.
Leadership as a principle for aid effectiveness
Rwanda is the only country that is clearly further ahead with CAADP than Sierra Leone. Again it is a very poor, post-conflict country that is notable for strong disciplined leadership at senior levels within government.
Perhaps the quality of leadership should be added as another key principle for aid effectiveness. Quality leadership is not entirely a historical accident. Sierra Leone and Rwanda have common factors that could be understood better:
- A historical commitment to education
- A returning diaspora bringing regional and international experience
- A unity forged from overcoming conflict
I am also aware that Presidents in both countries are receiving mentoring from Tony Blair and embedded technical support through his African Governance Initiative.
Donors could gather evidence on what strengthens senior leadership in African governments, and launch initiatives in response. This appears a critical underpinning factor for effective and sustainable development. It would be money well spent. Private sector investors look for companies with strong CEOs, and development finance should similarly realise the importance of effective leadership at the heart of a country.
Despite a sweaty and exhausting few days in the chaos of Freetown, as I sit here waiting for my plane, I do not want to leave. The momentum and sense of excitement about the CAADP process here is infectious. I want to join the coalition coalesced by the government’s genuine leadership. I leave believing that the CAADP process will transform the lives of poor smallholders in Sierra Leone, and it has been a privilege to be part of it.
