The Government of India has donated 1,000 metric tonnes of rice to Sierra Leone to strengthen the National School Feeding Programme. The consignment was formally handed over on November 3, 2026, at the World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in Kissy, Freetown. Indian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Norbu Negi, presented the donation to Basic and Senior Secondary Education Minister Conrad Sackey. This initiative aims to address hunger among schoolchildren, particularly those from economically disadvantaged households.
The donation is expected to support efforts to encourage school enrollment, improve attendance, and reduce dropout rates. Norbu Negi emphasized that school meals play a crucial role in ensuring children attend classes regularly, remain in school, and develop the physical and mental capacity needed for learning. He cited India’s PM POSHAN initiative, one of the world’s largest school feeding programmes, which provides hot cooked meals to over 100 million children every school day.
According to Negi, India’s experience demonstrates how school nutrition initiatives can contribute to better attendance, improved health, and stronger educational outcomes. He linked the rice donation to President Julius Maada Bio’s Feed Salone and Human Capital Development priorities, describing the assistance as complementary to the government’s Free Quality School Education programme. This donation reflects India’s longstanding diplomatic relationship with Sierra Leone and its commitment to supporting the country’s human development priorities.
Beyond food assistance, Negi outlined several areas of India’s development cooperation with Sierra Leone, including healthcare, vocational training, education, agriculture, and infrastructure. He recalled India’s US$50,000 humanitarian contribution following the 2017 floods and mudslide disaster and its provision of 1,000 metric tonnes of rice and over 7,000 kilograms of medicines valued at nearly US$150,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
India has also supplied 15 haemodialysis machines to Sierra Leone in 2026 to support kidney care services. Additionally, India is financing a US$990,000 project through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to strengthen vocational training opportunities in six districts. This initiative aims to improve skills development and expand employment and self-employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Minister Conrad Sackey thanked India for its contribution, describing it as timely support for efforts to improve children’s nutrition and educational opportunities. He stressed that hunger remains a major obstacle to effective learning, arguing that children cannot fully benefit from classroom instruction when their nutritional needs are not met. Sackey assured that the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education would ensure the rice reaches its intended beneficiaries.
The handover ceremony marked another contribution to the country’s school feeding efforts and the broader development partnership between Sierra Leone and India. Sackey described investment in children’s nutrition as essential to the country’s long-term development, stating that with this support, children will carry the load of learning and carry Sierra Leone forward.
Key points
- India donates 1,000 tonnes of rice to support Sierra Leone's National School Feeding Programme.
- The donation aims to improve nutrition and education for schoolchildren, particularly those from economically disadvantaged households.
- This initiative reflects India’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s human development priorities.
