Agency for Development and Poverty Alleviation Sierra Leone (ADPA-SL) is looking for new international partners

Agency for Development and Poverty Alleviation Sierra Leone (ADPA-SL) is a nationally registered, community-rooted non-governmental organization committed to improving the wellbeing, resilience, and dignity of vulnerable populations across Sierra Leone. Since its establishment, ADPA-SL has worked in close partnership with communities, local authorities, civil society actors, and development partners to design and implement inclusive, results-driven, and sustainable development interventions.

In line with global development principles and best practices commonly applied by international development aid agencies, ADPA-SL hereby issues a Call for Partners to Grant Foundations, International NGOs, Bilateral and Multilateral Donors, Government Institutions, Private Philanthropies, and Consortium Leads seeking credible local partners for funding, co-creation, implementation, or subcontracting arrangements in Sierra Leone.

Purpose of the Call

This Call aims to:

• Establish strategic partnerships for joint project development and implementation;

• Enable subcontracting and local implementation arrangements on behalf of international organizations;

• Attract grant funding and technical support for scalable, community-led projects;

• Promote localization of aid, accountability, and value for money;

• Strengthen consortia and collaborative platforms responding to donor calls.

ADPA-SL welcomes partnerships that are built on mutual respect, shared values, transparency, and measurable impact.

ADPA-SL Programmatic Focus Areas

ADPA-SL designs and implements integrated, evidence-based interventions aligned with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including but not limited to:

• Food Security, Nutrition & Climate-Smart Agriculture

  • Agroecology, farmer livelihoods, value chains, food systems resilience

• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

  • Rural and peri-urban WASH, community-led total sanitation, hygiene behavior change

• Gender Equality & Protection

  • Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), adolescent empowerment, safeguarding

• Education & Early Childhood Development (ECD)

  • Access, quality learning, ECCE, community education systems strengthening

• Youth Livelihoods & Skills Development

  • Entrepreneurship, green jobs, vocational and life skills

• Health & Community Wellbeing

  • Nutrition-sensitive health promotion, maternal and child health linkages

• Governance, Social Accountability & Community Resilience

  • Citizen engagement, disaster risk reduction, peacebuilding

4. Partnership Modalities

ADPA-SL is open to flexible and innovative collaboration models, including:

• Direct Grant Partnerships – as lead or co-applicant

• Consortium Membership – national or international consortium partner

• Subcontracting / Local Implementing Partner – delivering field implementation on behalf of INGOs, UN agencies, or government institutions

• Technical Collaboration – research, learning, M&E, and capacity strengthening

• Public–Private Partnerships – impact-driven and socially responsible investments

5. Why Partner with ADPA-SL

a) Strong Local Presence and Community Trust

ADPA-SL maintains deep-rooted relationships with communities and local authorities, ensuring culturally appropriate, conflict-sensitive, and inclusive programming.

b) Proven Implementation Capacity

• Experienced multidisciplinary technical team

• Robust field presence across multiple districts

• Strong coordination with Ministries, Councils, and traditional leadership

c) Accountability, Transparency & Compliance

ADPA-SL applies internationally recognized development aid standards:

• Sound financial management systems and internal controls

• Clear procurement and anti-fraud policies

• Segregation of duties and regular financial reporting

• Commitment to donor compliance and audit readiness

d) Results-Based Management

• Strong Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) systems

• Data-driven decision-making and adaptive programming

• Clear indicators, baseline/endline assessments, and learning documentation

e) Safeguarding & Do No Harm

• Zero tolerance for exploitation, abuse, and corruption

• Safeguarding policies for children and vulnerable adults

• Gender equality, inclusion, and protection mainstreamed across all programs

• Alignment with Development Aid Principles

  ADPA-SL aligns its work with widely accepted development cooperation principles, including:

  • Local ownership and localization of aid

  • Transparency and mutual accountability

  • Value for money and sustainability

  • Partnerships for impact and shared learning

  • Alignment with national development frameworks

  • Call to Action

    Grant Foundations, International NGOs, Donors, Government Institutions, and Consortium Leads are invited to:

    • Engage ADPA-SL as a trusted local partner;

    • Explore joint proposal development;

    • Subcontract ADPA-SL for efficient, accountable field implementation;

    • Support scalable, community-driven solutions in Sierra Leone.

    ADPA-SL stands ready to collaborate, co-create, and deliver high-impact programs that transform lives while meeting the highest standards of development aid practice.

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    9. Expression of Interest

    Interested partners are encouraged to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) outlining:

    • Type of partnership sought

    • Thematic and geographic focus

    • Expected roles and responsibilities

    • Indicative timelines

    ADPA-SL welcomes dialogue and looks forward to building long-term, trust-based partnerships for sustainable development in Sierra Leone.