UN Agencies Weekly Highlights- April 30-May 2

WHO  

Sierra Leone strengthens Mpox Response through Joint Mission led by WHO and partners 
In response to the recent upsurge of mpox cases in the country, WHO Country Office received a joint mission of the Continental Mpox Incident Management Support Team (IMST) from 28 April to 2 May 2025. The mission brought together experts from WHO AFRO, Africa CDC, and key partners, working closely with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) to assess and enhance the country’s national Mpox response operations. 

Throughout the week, the joint team conducted comprehensive field assessments, evaluated technical capacities across key response pillars, and convened strategic stakeholder workshops. These activities provided critical insights that informed the updating of a Joint Incident Action Plan, aligned with the Continental Mpox Response Strategy. 

The mission focused on strengthening core response areas, including coordination and logistics, surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, case management, infection prevention and control (IPC), vaccination, and risk communication and community engagement (RCCE). 

This collaborative effort marked a significant step in reinforcing a coordinated, intensified, and sustainable response to Mpox in Sierra Leone. By addressing key operational gaps and fostering stronger partnerships, the mission contributed to building greater national health security and resilience against future public health threats. 

WFP  

Sierra Leone's home-grown school feeding programme expands with local rice and pulses 
WFP in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MBSSE) held a flagging off ceremony at the WFP Kissy warehouse, to mark the dispatch of locally produced rice and pulses procured with support from MBSSE and MAFS for the Term 3 2025/2026 school year. The event celebrated the collaboration between WFP and the Government of Sierra Leone, while recognizing the critical role of smallholder farmers in sustaining the Feed Salone strategy. 

In 2025, with support from donors, including Germany, Iceland, Japan and the World Bank Funded Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), WFP will procure over 40,000 (50kg) bags of locally produced rice and pulses from 8,355 smallholder farmers across seven districts, feeding of 270,000 school children. The Home-Grown School Feeding programme not only ensures that children receive nutritious and diversified meals but also supports local farmers by creating a stable market for their produce. In addition, selected schools are purchasing vegetables and Orange Fleshed Sweet Potatoes directly from women farmers groups, using funds transferred from WFP. 

In her remarks, WFP Representative and Country Director, Ms. Yvonne Forsén emphasized the paradigm shift from imported to local rice. “More than 30 percent of the food we serve in schools today is grown right here in Sierra Leone. This represents a meaningful shift to empowering local farmers and strengthening the rural economy. And it’s a shift we are committed to accelerate.,” she said. 

On behalf of the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Deputy Minister 1 Mrs. Emile Gogra called for increasing the capacity of smallholder farmers to produce more local rice for the home-grown school feeding programme, while the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka praised the Feed Salone strategy for enhancing food security and farmer livelihoods.” We had envisioned under the Feed Salone Strategy that the country can feed itself; WFP is showing us today that it can be done and that our farmers are ready. So, MAFS supported WFP this year to purchase rice and pulses, to feed the children in supported schools,” he said. 

With this expansion, Sierra Leone continues to demonstrate how local solutions can drive national development, ensuring a brighter future for its children and farmers alike. 

 See more stories in the attached