A Roadmap Towards a Sustainable Soil Information System for Sierra Leone

This SIS development report outlines the strategic steps for building and strengthening Sierra Leone’s Soil Information System (NaSIS) to enhance agricultural productivity, soil health, and informed decision-making for sustainable soil management. It builds on insights from the “Sierra Leone Soil Information System Development Workshop” held in October 2025 in Freetown, Sierra Leone, hosted by the Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health for West Africa and the Sahel, IITA Sierra Leone, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), and ISRIC-World Soil Information. Participants from various sectors addressed common data and capacity challenges and discussed long-term financial sustainability options for NaSIS. The workshop reviewed seven components of the SIS framework, crucial for NaSIS's success: 1) envisioning the SIS, 2) enabling environment, 3) needs assessment, 4) SIS ideal system design, 5) partnership development and sustainability plan, 6) data strategy, and 7) organizational and financial sustainability plan. The roadmap includes an overview of each component, addressing available information, gaps, and recommendations, which are optional considerations for the NaSIS project team.