[Monrovia, Liberia – March 24, 2024] – An African Development Bank (AfDB) delegation has begun a two-week Mid-Term Review Mission for the Smallholder Agriculture Development for Food and Nutrition Security (SADFONS) Project in Liberia. As part of the mission, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah before the official review, which runs from March 24 to April 4, 2024, in Monrovia.

Led by Mr. Mark Eghan, Principal Agricultural Economist, the mission aims to assess progress made since the project's approval, evaluate achievements against planned outputs and outcomes, and provide implementation support to address challenges in procurement, financial management, and overall execution.

During the visit, Dr. Nuetah welcomed the delegation and emphasized the importance of aligning the project’s objectives with the National Agriculture Development Plan without any significant shifts in the project's direction, which have the propensity to cause delay.

Throughout the mission, the AfDB team will engage with project beneficiaries, implementing partners, and key stakeholders to gather insights on the impact and identify areas requiring additional support. The mission will conclude with a debriefing meeting, followed by an Aide-Mémoire summarizing key findings and next steps, which will be submitted to the Ministry of Finance.

This mission underscores AfDB’s continued commitment to enhancing food and nutrition security in Liberia by successfully implementing projects that boost agricultural productivity, improve market access, and strengthen rural livelihoods.