By sallieu S.Kanu
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has successfully concluded its 2020-2024 Country Strategy for Sierra Leone, achieving significant infrastructure and economic advancements despite challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on these accomplishments, the Bank has launched its 2025-2030 strategy, aimed at accelerating sustainable growth and job creation through private sector and agro-industrial development.
By April 2025, the AfDB’s Sierra Leone portfolio consisted of 12 operations valued at $265.85 million. Key milestones under the 2020-2024 strategy included:
- The construction of a 1,360 km high-voltage electricity interconnection linking Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea through the CLSG Interconnection Project.
- An increase in access to potable water supply, rising from 59% in 2015 to 65% in 2022.
- The development of the 465-kilometer Trans-West African Highway, connecting Sierra Leone with Guinea and Liberia, enhancing regional trade and reducing travel times.
Lamin Barrow, AfDB’s Director General for West Africa, praised Sierra Leone’s resilience, noting that economic growth averaged 3.9% during the strategy period, peaking at 5.7% between 2021 and 2023. He highlighted the Bank’s support in road, water, and energy infrastructure as a major driver of progress.
New Strategy: 2025-2030
The 2025-2030 framework prioritizes two core areas:
- Enhancing quality infrastructure to stimulate private sector growth.
- Fostering inclusive growth through agro-industrial value chains.
Aligned with Sierra Leone’s 2024-2030 National Development Plan, the new strategy seeks to transform agriculture, improve food security, invest in infrastructure, create youth employment, and strengthen human capital. It will also emphasize high-impact projects and targeted training for project implementation teams to ensure greater efficiency.
Economic Outlook
Sierra Leone’s economic prospects remain strong, with growth projected at 4.7% in 2025 and 4.9% in 2026, supported by expansion in mining activities and stable macroeconomic conditions.
The 2025-2030 strategy will be financed through the African Development Fund and the Transition Support Facility, tailored to meet Sierra Leone’s development needs.
As the country moves forward, the AfDB’s commitment to sustainable growth and regional integration continues to shape Sierra Leone’s economic landscape.