Ambassador June Carter Perry recently launched the Promoting Agriculture, Governance, and Environment (PAGE), a four-year $13 million project funded by the US through the Agency for International Development (USAID).
The project aims to harness lessons learned to promote security, governance, and economic development through democracy and institutional reforms.
The United States believes programs that address development issues holistically have better chances for success. Children cannot focus on education if they do not have sustenance; government cannot function if the populace is disinterested. Farmers cannot thrive if the environment is crumbling.
The primary implementer of PAGE would work with a cross-section of the Sierra Leonean Society and with other USAID partners including World Vision International (WVI) and the Associates for Rural Development (ARD) to link democratic governance, economic growth, and natural resource management; while empowering women and youths and building institutional capacity.
PAGE would build upon the highly successful projects in rural Sierra Leone, which were funded by the US in previous years.
ARD also brings a wealth of experience in natural resource management, introducing and maintaining environmentally sound development practices.
Acting Minister of Agriculture and also Minister of Lands, Benjamin O Davies accepted the grant on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone.
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