By Ibrahim Sesay
Orange Sierra Leone has officially released its 2024 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, spotlighting the company’s remarkable contributions to Sierra Leone’s economic growth, digital empowerment, environmental sustainability and social development. The report underscores Orange’s long-term commitment to advancing national priorities through responsible and inclusive business practices.
According to the report, Orange Sierra Leone contributed an impressive NLe781 million directly to the national economy in 2024 through taxes, licenses, wages and statutory payments. Beyond its fiscal impact, the company empowered local enterprises by generating NLe998 million in revenue for Sierra Leonean suppliers. This aligns with Orange’s strategy to promote local partnerships and bolster domestic value chains, ensuring that economic benefits remain within Sierra Leone’s borders.
Orange Sierra Leone continues to lead the digital transformation agenda. The report revealed that 95% of the population is now covered by 4G broadband, vastly improving access to education, business and e-governance services. Additionally, about 70% of Orange’s network sites are now powered by solar energy; a major step toward sustainability and reduced carbon emissions. This milestone reinforces Orange’s role as a technology company committed to environmental responsibility and national resilience.
The 2024 CSR Report highlights a major environmental initiative; the planting of 10,000 trees in Kawase Hill, Moyamba District. This project aims to restore degraded lands, conserve biodiversity and enhance climate resilience in vulnerable communities. The company described such as part of its broader commitment to sustainability and ecological balance.
At the heart of Orange’s CSR efforts lies the Orange Digital Center (ODC), which serves as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and skills development. In 2024 alone, over 14,500 young Sierra Leoneans benefited from training in digital literacy, coding and entrepreneurship. Notably, 47% of participants were women, reflecting the company’s strong focus on gender inclusion. Furthermore, 38% of trainees secured employment or launched income-generating ventures, illustrating the ODC’s tangible impact on youth empowerment and job creation.
Through the Orange Sierra Leone Foundation, the company touched the lives of 14,627 beneficiaries nationwide in 2024. Its programmes focused on education, healthcare, women’s empowerment and community resilience. Key initiatives included scholarships for underprivileged students, digital literacy for girls, maternal health partnerships and breast cancer awareness campaigns. Orange also extended emergency support to vulnerable communities during national crises.
The report reaffirms Orange Sierra Leone’s alignment with the Government’s national development agenda, particularly in areas of digitalization, youth employment, community health and economic sustainability.
In his message accompanying the report, Orange Sierra Leone CEO, Sekou Amadou Bah, stated: “Our CSR ambition is a direct reflection of our brand values: Care, Bold and Responsible. It speaks powerfully to our renewed message; Orange is Here! This presence goes beyond the physical; it represents our unwavering dedication to improving the lives of Sierra Leoneans in meaningful and sustainable ways.”
Orange Sierra Leone emphasized that its CSR achievements were made possible through collaboration among employees, customers, partners and communities. The company reaffirmed its mission to make technology a driving force for positive change, ensuring that innovation remains at the service of human and national progress.
To read the full report, visit www.orange.sl/en/csrannualreport-2024.html.
With its visionary initiatives and measurable social impact, Orange Sierra Leone continues to stand tall as a beacon of corporate responsibility, leading the way in connectivity, innovation and community transformation across Sierra Leone.
