African Development Bank Unveils New Strategy for Sierra Leone
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has officially rolled out a new Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for Sierra Leone, covering the years 2025–2030. This strategic framework earmarks about $500 million aimed at reinforcing sustainable economic growth, enhancing resilience to challenges, and fostering inclusive development across the nation.
Key Priorities of the Country Strategy
At the heart of this strategy are two crucial areas of focus: the creation of sustainable infrastructure to boost private sector competitiveness and the advancement of agricultural value chains to stimulate job creation and improve food security. These initiatives are directly aligned with Sierra Leone’s pressing development needs, particularly the identified gaps in infrastructure, the need for increased private sector activities, and the heightened risks posed by climate change.
Comprehensive Financing Plans
The CSP outlines an ambitious financing plan totaling approximately $2.1 billion, which includes collaborative contributions from various development partners. This financial commitment is designed to align with the Sierra Leone government’s National Development Plan (2021–2025) and Vision 2030, both of which are geared toward transforming the country into a middle-income economy.
Infrastructure Initiatives and Renewable Energy Focus
Flagship initiatives under the CSP will prioritize renewable energy projects, aiming to elevate electricity access from the current 41% to 60% by the year 2030. There will also be enhancements to climate-resilient road infrastructure and improvements to water and sanitation services, which together will provide an additional 1.2 million people with safe drinking water access.
Agriculture and Job Creation
The agricultural sector is set to undergo significant transformations as part of this strategy. Aiming to decrease the dependency on food imports—currently at 70% for essential staples like rice—the goal is to create over 500,000 jobs, particularly targeting women and youth. This will be achieved through targeted support for small and medium-sized enterprises within the agricultural value chain.
Economic Growth and Resilience
Sierra Leone’s economy has shown considerable resilience, with an average real GDP growth rate of 6.7% between 2020 and 2024, largely driven by the agriculture and services industries. This new strategy intends to build on this positive momentum, leveraging the Bank’s existing portfolio of ten ongoing projects, valued at $150 million, that have already contributed to enhanced road connectivity and improved energy access.
Empowering Women in Agriculture
To support gender inclusivity in agribusiness, the AfDB is promoting initiatives like Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA). This will provide targeted financing and training specifically to women-led businesses in agriculture. Furthermore, the implementation of digital tools is anticipated to streamline supply chain efficiency and improve market access for agricultural producers.
Alignment with National and Continental Goals
This CSP is not only in sync with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan but also resonates with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, as well as the AfDB’s Ten Year Strategy. The plan supports Sierra Leone’s commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by enhancing trade-related infrastructure and boosting agricultural exports.
Focus on Climate Change and Social Impact
Incorporating essential themes like climate change mitigation, gender equality, and youth empowerment, this strategy seeks to actively reduce Sierra Leone’s carbon footprint through renewable energy initiatives and promote climate-smart agricultural practices. This approach aims to mitigate the adverse impacts of environmental challenges, such as floods and droughts, that have increasingly affected the country.
Immediate Implementation and Coordination
Implementation of this comprehensive strategy will begin without delay, with a focus on close collaboration between the government, private entities, and civil society. This partnership will ensure that the strategic efforts are in line with national priorities. Compliance with national regulations, including the 2022 Environmental Protection Act, will be maintained through rigorous environmental and social safeguards.
Targeted Investments and Monitoring Framework
The strategy addresses the structural factors contributing to fragility in Sierra Leone through focused investments in infrastructure and agricultural value chains. Additionally, it establishes monitoring systems designed to track progress towards measurable development achievements and gender-inclusive outcomes.
Media Contact:
Natalie Nkembuh
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org
