Solidaridad’s Andrew Kojo Morrison receives his He4She Champion award in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Andrew Kojo Morrison, Country Representative for Solidaridad in Sierra Leone, has been recognized as a He4She Champion at the 2024 SheArose summit for his remarkable leadership in advancing gender equality and sustainable agricultural development.
The award celebrates Solidaridad West Africa’s support for thousands of thriving rural women farmers who contribute to Sierra Leone’s food security.
Recognizing leadership in gender equality
The awards committee commended Morrison’s instrumental role in Solidaridad’s work with the Feed Salone programme, a government-led initiative focused on food security and sustainable agriculture. Under his leadership, Solidaridad has strengthened key agricultural sectors like cocoa, coffee and cashew, while enhancing food production and creating inclusive opportunities for women farmers.
“His [Andrew’s] recognition as a He4She Champion at the SheArose summit highlights his exemplary role as a male ally committed to fostering inclusivity, opportunity, and success for women in agriculture,” said the awards committee.
Through the RECLAIM Sustainability! programme, Solidaridad has made significant strides in gender inclusion by promoting multi-stakeholder dialogues and training women as community gender champions. These efforts have enabled rural women to challenge societal norms, influence policies, and actively participate in decision-making.
Driving impact through key initiatives
Since 2021, Solidaridad has supported Sierra Leone’s rural farmers by addressing structural barriers in agriculture through initiatives like:
Capacity Building: Training for women in lobbying, advocacy, and sustainable farming practices.
Community Dialogues: Facilitating discussions to amplify women’s voices in the cocoa and coffee value chains.
Gender Inclusion Campaigns: Raising awareness about women’s rights and fostering youth participation in agriculture.
Solidaridad’s work has directly contributed to increasing women’s access to resources, training, and leadership opportunities in agriculture, and aligns with the goals of the Feed Salone programme to strengthen food security across Sierra Leone.
A dedication to women farmers
At the ceremony, Morrison expressed his gratitude and dedicated the award to the resilient women farmers and entrepreneurs Solidaridad supports.
This award is a testament to Solidaridad’s collective commitment to women’s empowerment and sustainable agricultural development. It shines a light on the incredible work of the women farmers and entrepreneurs who are the true champions of change in Sierra Leone.
Andrew Kojo Morrison, Country Representative for Solidaridad in Sierra Leone
Morrison indicated that Solidaridad will continue to create safe spaces for women in agriculture and promote sustainable practices that ensure an equitable and food-secure future for all.
Celebrating gender equality
Held in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, the 2024 SheArose summit brought together government officials, development partners, and advocates to celebrate efforts toward gender equality and sustainable development.
The He4She initiative is an advocacy group dedicated to ensuring that women receive the resources, training, and opportunities necessary to contribute actively to Sierra Leone’s socio-economic and political progress.
About RECLAIM Sustainability!
RECLAIM Sustainability! is a five-year programme (2021-2025) that is implemented by Solidaridad, Fairfood, TrustAfrica and Business Watch Indonesia (BWI) together in a strategic partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The initiative strengthens sustainability in global value chains, and includes the voices of farmers, miners, workers and citizens in the decision making process.