In a bid to evaluate the progress made during the first and second quarters and to outline strategies for the remaining third and fourth quarters, the Agriculture Value Chain Development Project in Sierra Leone recently organized a comprehensive two-day Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) Retreat. The retreat brought together all project technical field staff, the project management unit, Ministry of Agriculture representatives, and independent observers.

While stating the purpose of the retreat, the project manager, Madam Monica Kwame –Green, outlined that, the objectives of the retreat were to reflect on the achievements, challenges, and lessons learned during the first six months (January –June) 2023 of project implementation, and to provide a platform for staff to collaboratively devise strategies to enhance its success, Hence: Review the third and fourth quarters of the AWPB.

During the first day of the retreat, the focus was primarily on analyzing the accomplishments and setbacks encountered during the first and second quarters. The Technical Director presented a detailed update, highlighting the progress made in various components of the project. And also, presentations were done on the M&E field report, finance, and procurement procedures to enhance due diligence by all staff. Afterward, staff engaged in constructive discussions, sharing insights and experiences, and identifying areas that required improvement.

On the second day, the retreat shifted its attention towards reviewing the proposed activities for the third and fourth quarters. Detailed presentations were made, outlining the strategic goals, targets, and activities to be implemented during the third and fourth quarters. Staff actively, in a group discussion contributed their ideas and suggestions, aiming to fine-tune the plans and made commitments to correct the areas that need improvement from the past six months.

Additionally, the retreat provided an opportunity for staff to interact with each other and also to iron out misinformation and misunderstanding. The action plan included strategies for overcoming challenges, leveraging opportunities, and strengthening collaboration and teamwork among project staff and MAFS. The AWPB for the third and fourth quarters were reviewed in line with the OFID and IFAD cycle 3 fund availability to implement vegetables and commence civil work. The retreat concluded with a comprehensive roadmap for the upcoming quarters. And the take-home; emphasis was made on the need to enforce team spirit and teamwork as it is fundamental to achieving project goals.

The Agriculture Value Chain Development Project in Sierra Leone remains committed to enhancing food security and the overall improvement of the livelihood of rural farmers in Sierra Leone. The retreat served as a critical milestone in ensuring the successful implementation of the project and emphasized the importance of continuous reflection and compliance in the project implementation.