Sierra Leone
Strengthening Nutrition, Income, and Child Protection Through Cassava Processing
Rural households in northern Sierra Leone are severely affected by hunger and poverty. Due to a lack of knowledge and technology for processing their cassava harvest, much of their potential remains untapped. Children are forced to help provide for their families and are unable to attend school. That is why we are promoting the cassava value chain and supporting local farmers. This improves the economic situation of many families and offers children better prospects for the future.
Background
In northern Sierra Leone, a large portion of the population works in agriculture. Households earn a modest income primarily through vegetable farming. At the same time, many families suffer from food insecurity due to poverty. Many villages are remote and have poor infrastructure. Although smallholder farmers grow cassava, the processing of the harvested tubers into gari—a local staple food consisting of a powder with a long shelf life used to prepare porridge—hardly takes place in the project districts. There is a lack of knowledge, processing facilities, and packaging solutions.
At best, cassava is processed by hand for private household use. However, this is so time-consuming and labor-intensive that many of the planted tubers are never harvested in the first place or spoil after harvest. Families therefore have neither enough cassava to feed themselves nor to generate income through sales. At the same time, inflation is rising in the country, and especially in July and August, when food is scarce, many households experience a period of hunger.
Although farmers’ organizations exist, they are often financially unable to improve their collective agricultural activities. They have little access to inputs, technical support, and profitable markets. Women are rarely given leadership roles, and domestic violence is not uncommon.
Due to the poor nutritional situation, about one-third of children under the age of five nationwide are stunted. In farming households, children also often have to work to help their families secure food. As a result, they miss school and their future prospects deteriorate.
Häufig gefragt
What does ChildFund Germany stand for, and what is the goal of its work?
Our goal is to bring about lasting improvements in the future prospects of children in need, their families, and their entire communities. Through our commitment to these children and families, we aim to make a positive difference and create lasting improvements, always guided by the principle of helping people help themselves. This enables them to exercise their rights, overcome poverty and dependency, and lead independent and self-determined lives.
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The efficient use of the donations entrusted to us is our top priority. To ensure that our aid is used in a highly targeted manner, we rely on close collaboration with local partner organizations in all the countries where we operate, so that our assistance meets the specific needs on the ground. Furthermore, all our support is guided by the principle of helping people help themselves. This ensures that the people in our projects benefit from long-term and lasting changes and, in the long run, no longer depend on aid but can live independently and self-determinedly. Our transparent and responsible handling of donations is also confirmed by the DZI Donation Seal, which we have been awarded continuously since 1995 by the German Central Institute for Social Issues.
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Our work is made possible by three sources of funding: sponsorships, other donations, and public funds. Our projects funded by sponsorships are designed for the long term. They are characterized by particularly close collaboration between our partner organizations in the respective project country and the local communities.
The donation-based and publicly funded projects have a shorter duration. Due to the limited timeframe, these projects require more intensive planning and support on our part.
In all projects, ChildFund plays two specific roles: First, raising funds so that the project work can be implemented at all. And second, bringing together and building bridges between those who provide money and expertise and those who lack these resources. The goal is to maximize mutual benefit from the collaboration and to advance our projects in the most effective way possible.
What kinds of projects does ChildFund Germany carry out?
Our projects, which are funded through sponsorships, are designed for the long term. They are characterized by particularly close collaboration between our partner organizations in the respective project country and the local communities.
The donation-based and publicly funded projects have a shorter duration. Due to the limited timeframe, these projects require more intensive planning and support on our part.
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