The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a new five-year Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for Sierra Leone, committing $500 million to support inclusive economic growth, strengthen resilience, and advance the country’s path toward becoming a middle-income economy.
Covering the period 2025 to 2030, the strategy focuses on two key areas, sustainable infrastructure development and agricultural transformation, aimed at addressing Sierra Leone’s most pressing challenges, including weak infrastructure, limited private sector capacity, and climate vulnerability.
According to the AfDB, the total financing package, including contributions from development partners, is expected to reach $2.1 billion. The plan aligns with Sierra Leone’s National Development Plan (2021–2025) and long-term Vision 2030, both of which prioritize industrialization, job creation, and poverty reduction.
Under the infrastructure component, the Bank will invest in renewable energy projects to expand electricity access from 41% in 2024 to 60% by 2030, while also upgrading climate-resilient road networks and water systems to bring safe drinking water to an estimated 1.2 million people.
The agricultural programme aims to transform value chains and cut Sierra Leone’s heavy dependence on food imports, currently about 70% for staple crops such as rice. It is expected to create more than 500,000 jobs, especially for youth and women, through support for agribusinesses and small and medium enterprises.
“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 Bank will also expand access to financing for women-led businesses under its Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative and promote the use of digital tools to improve agricultural productivity and market access.
Sierra Leone’s economy has shown steady growth, averaging 6.7% between 2020 and 2024, driven by agriculture and services. The new strategy builds on this progress, complementing the Bank’s existing $150 million portfolio across 10 ongoing projects in energy, transport, and water sectors.
The CSP also supports Sierra Leone’s commitments under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by strengthening trade infrastructure and promoting agricultural exports. Cross-cutting themes include climate change mitigation, gender equality, and youth empowerment.
Implementation of the strategy will begin immediately, in coordination with the government, private sector, and civil society. The Bank said environmental and social safeguards will guide all projects to ensure compliance with Sierra Leone’s 2022 Environmental Protection Act.
Through this new partnership framework, the African Development Bank aims to help Sierra Leone reduce fragility, improve living standards, and build a stronger, more resilient economy by 2030.
