World Bank project to improve the agribusiness and linked sectors in Sierra Leone The government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), is implementing the Sierra 
Leone Agro-processing Competitiveness Project with financing from the International Development 
Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group. This project was developed to support the government’s strategic 
objectives to promote private sector development, achieve economic diversification, and boost agricultural 
productivity. The project development objective is to improve the business environment in agribusiness sector 
and increase productivity of targeted agro-processing firms in Sierra Leone. Achieving the project objective 
contributes directly to strengthening agro processing competitiveness, which is defined as the ability of agro-processing firms to generate new investments and increase market share in goods and services through 
improved productivity. Productivity depends on improving the quality of the business environment and 
capability of the economy, including skills and capacity of institutions that provide services to local and foreign 
investors. As its main implementing partners, the project will work closely with government ministries and 
agencies to include the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Sierra 
Leone Import & Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA), Sierra Leone Standards Bureau (SLSB), Small and Medium 
Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDA), Employment Promotion Agency (EPA), Sierra Leone Local Content 
Agency (SLLCA), complementary projects to include Smallholder Commercialization and Agricultural 
Development Program (SCADeP) and Sierra Leone Agricultural Development Fund (SLADF), and other ecosystem players and implementing partners. The project will run for five years starting 2018, with a 
possibility for extension. The Cordaid specific role in the project will end in March 2022. As part of World Bank, Cordaid and Govt. of Sierra Leone partnership’s core work to facilitate market 
systems change, access to financing, sustainable growth, and sufficiency within the agroprocessing sector. All 
deliverables for pool consultants are listed below:
The overarching goals is to provide in depth technical assistance with an aim to help SMEs grow in terms of 
revenue and investment. 
The specific objectives are as follows:
• Provision of BDS services (marketing, legal, business advice, HR advice, business registration, operations, 
supply chain management) to SL Agcelerator designated SME cohort(s) at the coworking space on Liverpool 
Street in collaboration with SL Agcelerator.
• Provide tailored, on-site and practice oriented resilient business development services to cohort member 
SMEs.
• Provide on the job training (OJT) to SME staff members.
• Get SMEs “investment-ready” and develop a business growth and investment plan.
• Prepare SME pitch and grant memos (using templates provided by SL Agcelerator) for application to SL 
Agcelerator matching grants, as well as other sources of funding and investment. The support should include 
identifying potential vendors and making cost estimates of the investment. PCU has a list of eligible 
investments and other conditions of the matching grant. The grant disbursement process and monitoring of 
the grantees will be managed by PCU.
• Facilitate access to any relevant technical knowledge and training – online, workshops, etc.
• Facilitate access to skilled, certified/appropriated, and affordable human capital to fill key staff roles and 
capacity gaps within the cohort SMEs on need basis.
• Collaborate with SL Agcelerator and other Business Hubs in facilitating access to business networks, mentors,
and markets.
• Provide technical guidance, coaching and access to mentoring for grant receiving SMEs in the 
implementation of their growth and investment plan.
• Facilitate market for local consultancy services and help build local BDS firm’s capacity and experience in the 
provision of RBDS in the agribusiness sector, including tech-based delivery. 40 Agro processing and production SMEs