By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a new five-year Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for Sierra Leone for 2025–2030, committing approximately $500 million to promote sustainable economic growth, strengthen resilience to fragility and foster inclusive development.
The strategy focuses on two central priorities, developing sustainable infrastructure to enhance private sector competitiveness and supporting agricultural value-chain development to drive job creation and food security. Those objectives directly tackle Sierra Leone’s core development challenges, including infrastructure deficits, limited private sector growth and vulnerability to climate change.
With total projected financing of $2.1 billion, including contributions from development partners, the CSP is aligned with the Government’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (2021–2025) and Vision 2030, which aim to transform Sierra Leone into a middle-income economy.
Under the CSP, flagship infrastructure projects will expand renewable energy generation, targeting an increase in electricity access from 41% in 2024 to 60% by 2030. The Bank will also support the upgrading of climate-resilient road networks and improvements in water and sanitation systems, expected to provide 1.2 million additional people with access to safe drinking water.
The agricultural component emphasizes agro-industrial transformation aimed at reducing food import dependency, currently around 70% for staple crops like rice and creating over 500,000 jobs, particularly for women and youth. Support will be extended to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to strengthen local production and enhance value addition.
Sierra Leone’s economy, which has maintained an average GDP growth of 6.7% from 2020 to 2024 driven by agriculture and services, stands to gain further momentum under this new initiative. The strategy builds on AfDB’s ongoing portfolio of 10 projects worth $150 million, which have already improved connectivity and energy access nationwide.
“This strategy represents a bold step toward building a resilient and inclusive economy in Sierra Leone,” said Halima Hashi, AfDB Country Manager for Sierra Leone. “By investing in sustainable infrastructure and agriculture we are empowering communities, creating jobs and supporting Sierra Leone’s vision for transformative growth.”
The CSP integrates programs such as the Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA), which will provide financing and capacity-building for women-led agribusinesses. It also promotes the use of digital tools to improve supply chain efficiency and market access in the agricultural sector.
Cross-cutting themes within the strategy include climate change mitigation, gender equality and youth empowerment. The plan promotes renewable energy investments and climate-smart agriculture to reduce the country’s carbon footprint and minimize the effects of floods and droughts.
Implementation will commence immediately, with coordination among Government institutions, the private sector and Civil Society to ensure effective delivery and alignment with national priorities. Environmental and social safeguards will guarantee compliance with national laws, including Sierra Leone’s 2022 Environmental Protection Act.
Through this landmark $500 million strategy, the AfDB aims to address the structural causes of fragility and inequality in Sierra Leone; laying the foundation for sustainable, inclusive and transformative growth over the next decade.
