We must unlock rural women’s potential – here are 3 places to start
Empowering women and girls isn’t just a moral imperative. It’s essential for households, communities and economies to thrive in the face of global challenges.
In 2014, the people of Sierra Leone faced a seemingly unstoppable virus and a catastrophic outbreak, leading to strict precautionary measures, quarantine and fear.
Like the current COVID-19 pandemic, the economic impact of the Ebola crisis hit the poor and vulnerable the hardest.
With the support of IFAD, the establishment of rural financial institutions one year before the outbreak enabled smallholder producers to maintain access to finance. By staying open and accessible, these banks helped during the crisis, but also with the renewal of the rural economy after the crisis passed.
Find out more about IFAD and Sierra Leone