The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a new Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for Sierra Leone for the period 2025–2030, pledging approximately $500 million to drive sustainable economic growth, strengthen resilience to fragility, and support inclusive development across the country.
The five-year strategy focuses on two primary areas: developing sustainable infrastructure to enhance private sector competitiveness, and advancing agricultural value-chain development to increase job creation and food security. These pillars address Sierra Leone’s key economic challenges, including infrastructure deficits, limited private sector capacity, and vulnerability to climate change.
With an estimated $2.1 billion in total financing, incorporating co-financing from international development partners,the plan is fully aligned with Sierra Leone’s National Development Plan (2021–2025) and Vision 2030, which aim to transition the country towards middle-income status.
Flagship projects under the new strategy will prioritise renewable energy expansion, targeting an increase in electricity access from 41% in 2024 to 60% by 2030. Other infrastructure investments include upgrading climate-resilient roads and improving water and sanitation systems, which are expected to provide safe drinking water to an additional 1.2 million people.
In agriculture, the strategy aims to drive agro-industrial transformation, cutting Sierra Leone’s food import dependence, currently at 70% for key crops such as rice, and generating over 500,000 new jobs, particularly for women and young people. Support for small and medium-sized enterprises will be central to this component.
Sierra Leone’s economy has shown signs of stability in recent years, with GDP growth averaging 6.7% between 2020 and 2024, largely driven by agriculture and services. The new AfDB strategy builds upon this growth trajectory and leverages the Bank’s ongoing portfolio of 10 active projects worth $150 million, which have already improved road connectivity and access to power.
“This strategy represents a bold step toward building a resilient and inclusive economy in Sierra Leone. By investing in sustainable infrastructure and agriculture, we are empowering communities, creating jobs, and supporting Sierra Leone’s vision for transformative growth,” said Halima Hashi, the Bank’s Country Manager for Sierra Leone.
The plan also incorporates the Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative, which will deliver tailored financing and capacity-building for women-led agribusinesses. Digital tools will play a role in improving efficiency along agricultural supply chains and expanding market access.
The CSP aligns with multiple regional and continental frameworks, including Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the AfDB’s Ten-Year Strategy. It also supports Sierra Leone’s commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), particularly through investments that enhance trade infrastructure and agricultural exports.
Key cross-cutting themes integrated into the strategy include climate change mitigation, gender equality, and youth empowerment. Renewable energy projects will help reduce Sierra Leone’s carbon footprint, while climate-smart agricultural initiatives aim to lessen the impacts of droughts and floods.
Implementation is set to begin immediately in partnership with government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and civil society organisations. The AfDB has committed to ensuring full compliance with environmental and social safeguards under Sierra Leone’s 2022 Environmental Protection Act.
The Bank said that the strategy also tackles structural drivers of fragility by investing in infrastructure and agricultural value chains, with a strong monitoring framework in place to track measurable progress and ensure gender-inclusive outcomes.
