The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) established its presence in Sierra Leone in 1978 and has remained a trusted partner to the Government for more than four decades, supporting national efforts to eradicate hunger, improve food security and nutrition, strengthen resilient livelihoods, and transform agrifood systems.

Today, FAO works closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, the Ministry of Health, and other government institutions, as well as development partners, United Nations agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, research institutions, and rural communities. Through these partnerships, FAO provides strategic, technical, and policy support to advance Sierra Leone's national development priorities, including the Government's flagship Feed Salone initiative.

Guided by its Country Programming Framework (CPF) and the FAO Strategic Framework 2022–2031, FAO has evolved from implementing stand-alone projects to delivering integrated programmes that contribute to the Four Betters—Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life—leaving no one behind.

Over the years, FAO has supported hundreds of initiatives across crop production, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry, natural resource management, nutrition, climate change adaptation, land restoration, food safety, and emergency and resilience programming. The Organization has played a key role in strengthening agricultural policies and institutions, promoting climate-smart agriculture, improving seed systems, supporting mechanization, enhancing value chains, restoring degraded landscapes, and expanding livelihood opportunities for women and young people.

FAO has also been instrumental in strengthening Sierra Leone's preparedness and response to animal and plant pests and diseases, including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), African Swine Fever (ASF), Fall Armyworm, and other transboundary threats. Through its One Health approach, the Organization supports surveillance, early warning systems, biosecurity, and coordinated responses to safeguard animal health, public health, and food security.