Cultivating Change: Mariama Kalokoh’s Journey

On the outskirts of Kenema, Mariama Kalokoh-an entrepreneur who never had the opportunity for formal education has become a beacon of inspiration for women and youth alike. Rising with the sun, her hands nurture the soil that has sustained generations. For years, farming meant uncertainty: erratic rains, poor-quality seeds, and limited access to markets. Yet Mariama refused to give up. 

With support from the UN Women Innovation Grant, the Unity Women Cooperatives under the leadership of Mariama Kalokoh received improved seeds, solar-powered irrigation, and eco-friendly storage solutions that transformed her fields. She also benefitted from capacity-building programs that equipped her to bid for major procurement opportunities, becoming a successful agro-dealer supplying FAO and other development partners. Today, her once vulnerable fields flourish with resilient crops.

Despite lacking formal education, Mariama sees opportunities where others see obstacles. She has turned small farms into thriving agribusinesses and inspires women to believe in their potential. Carefully managing farm income, reinvesting profits, and teaching others about saving, budgeting, and small-scale investment, she demonstrates the transformative power of entrepreneurship. Beyond farming, she is a strong advocate for women’s rights and inclusion, inspiring public-sector women to explore agriculture as a viable career.

Mariama’s story is not only about harvests, but also about empowerment. Through entrepreneurship and financial training, she learned to convert surplus yields into income, strengthening a cooperative of over 30 women groups with memberships of between 25-30. With newfound confidence, she mentors others, showing that climate-smart farming is not merely survival, it is a path to leadership and independence.

Her journey was nationally broadcast on International Women’s Day 2025, inspiring thousands. The story was also showcased at an inter-district validation workshop on accessing agricultural value chains, attended by 74 participants from seven districts: Bombali, Karene, Kenema, Pujehun, Moyamba, Bo, and Kailahun.

Mariama’s message is simple yet powerful: when women’s realities guide solutions, innovation thrives. Today, her farm is more than a piece of land-it is a symbol of resilience, proving that with the right support, women can cultivate change for their families, communities, and the nation.