From February 25th to 28th, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the European Union and Aurora Foundation, carried out a significant hand-over of tools and equipment as part of the ILO Opportunity Salone Program. This hand-over, which took place in Lungi, Bo, and Kenema Districts, benefited three small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) participating in the program. These businesses are among eight SMEs involved in the Opportunity Salone initiative, which is designed to empower local entrepreneurs and foster economic growth in Sierra Leone.
Bah Conteh, Founder and CEO of Conteh Industries, based in Lungi, was the first recipient. Conteh’s business, which focuses on producing soap and detergent, has shown significant progress since he participated in last year’s Investment Readiness Bootcamp. As part of the ILO Opportunity Salone Program, he received essential equipment to scale up his operations. The items handed over included a washing powder machine, two sealing machines, a scale, a tricycle, a production center, office furniture, a cutting soap table, packaging materials, a mixing machine, mold boxes, and safety gear. These tools will help Conteh Industries improve its production capacity, product quality, and create more job opportunities in the local community.
The second beneficiary, Bo Vegetable Enterprise, is a women-led initiative founded by Madam Jenneh Foday. Comprising 25 women working together to provide fresh vegetables, the enterprise participated in the UNDP Growth Accelerator Programme. As part of the ILO Opportunity Salone Program, Bo Vegetable Enterprise received tools to address some of the distribution challenges they face, particularly around energy and cooling. The equipment handed over included a vegetable dryer, vegetable cutter, vegetable grinder, a ten-panel solar system, a modern cooling facility, and a water tank. These tools will enable the enterprise to improve the preservation and freshness of their vegetables, making it easier to distribute high-quality produce to the local market.
Imman Moiwa Oil Palm Plantation, led by CEO Augustine Moiwa Sheriff, is based in Bomboma, Kenema, and is the third beneficiary of the hand-over ceremony. The business, which has expanded to serve markets across Sierra Leone, focuses on the production and distribution of palm oil. As part of the ILO Opportunity Salone Program, Augustine received equipment to enhance the efficiency of his operations and improve his route to market. The items handed over included two nutcracker machines, a filter presser, an expeller, an oil pumping machine, a motorbike, two wheelbarrows, two tarpaulins, an inbuilt metal tank, five fairly used metal drums, a scale, a processing machine, a bailing machine, a welding machine, five metal drums, and five plastic drums. This new equipment will help streamline the production process and improve the business’s distribution capacity.
In addition to the hand-over of equipment, the Opportunity Salone Program led by Aurora Foundation has provided personalized one-on-one sessions for each of the participating SMEs. These sessions have covered essential topics like finance, marketing, and business management to ensure that each business is well-equipped to make the most of the new tools and scale their operations successfully. Aurora Foundation is proud to be part of this transformative initiative and looks forward to tracking the progress of these businesses as they continue to grow and contribute to the local economy. We will continue to share updates on the journeys of each SME, showcasing how the Opportunity Salone Program is supporting their success and empowering them to thrive.
Through the collaboration of the ILO, the European Union, and Aurora Foundation, these SMEs are receiving the resources, guidance, and training they need to drive change in their communities and achieve long-term sustainability. The hand-over represents just one of many steps toward empowering local entrepreneurs and fostering economic development across Sierra Leone.
