Farmer-oriented disruptions in the agricultural inputs and services sector in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone Opportunities for Business Action (SOBA) is a private sector development programme that uses a market systems approach to facilitate pro-poor economic growth in Sierra Leone. 

Between 2014 and 2017 SOBA sought to catalyse a better connected and more capacitated agri-input sector. 

The objective of this was to create viable business opportunities among Freetown-based input distributors, provincial agro-dealers, and international input suppliers to pursue the smallholder farmer market across the country. 

SOBA’s strategy for intervention was to focus on Freetown distributors who, as they became effective distributors, effect change upstream and downstream in the agri-inputs supply chain.

Intervention description

This paper presents findings of an impact study showing the key disruptions to system dynamics brought to the market by market actors. It looks at how these resulted in shifts in collective behaviour - both in terms of the networks and norms that define how the market operates. 

Evidence methodology

The study draws on SOBA’s in-house programme insights and monitoring and results measurement data. It is complemented with a series of interviews the author held with SOBA’s key private sector partners and SOBA’s core team to identify and triangulate key findings and outcomes.