The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a five-year Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for Sierra Leone, committing $500 million to support economic growth, resilience, and inclusive development.
The plan, which aligns with the Government’s Medium-Term National Development Plan and Vision 2030, is expected to attract an additional $2.1 billion in co-financing from development partners.
The strategy prioritizes investment in sustainable infrastructure and the transformation of agricultural value chains to enhance private sector competitiveness, job creation, and food security.
Among its goals are increasing electricity access from 41 percent to 60 percent by 2030, rehabilitating climate-resilient road networks, and improving water systems to serve 1.2 million more people.
On agriculture, the Bank aims to reduce Sierra Leone’s 70 percent reliance on imported staples such as rice, while creating over 500,000 jobs—particularly targeting women and youth.
AfDB Country Manager Halima Hashi described the initiative as “a bold step toward building a resilient and inclusive economy,” pointing to earlier Bank-funded projects that expanded connectivity and energy access.
The CSP also emphasizes climate change mitigation, gender equality, and digital innovation, including direct support for women-led enterprises under the Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) program.
Implementation of the plan will begin immediately in partnership with government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders.
