By: Energy capital & power

Multilateral financial institution the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a new Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for Sierra Leone (2025–2030), committing approximately $500 million to support the country’s development agenda.

The investment focuses on two priority areas: developing sustainable infrastructure to boost private sector participation and strengthening the agricultural value chain to enhance food security and job creation.

“This strategy represents a bold step toward building a resilient and inclusive economy in Sierra Leone,” stated Halima Hashi, Country Manager, Sierra Leone.

Infrastructure investments will focus on increasing renewable energy generation and expanding electricity access from 41% in 2024 to 60% by 2030, alongside modernizing road networks and improving water and sanitation services for an additional 12 million people.

In the agricultural sector, the CSP seeks to reduce the country’s dependence on food imports – which currently account for 70% of staple crops such as rice – while creating over 500,000 new jobs, with a focus on women and youth empowerment.

The CSP requires an estimated $2.1 billion in total financing and aligns with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and the AfDB’s Ten-Year Strategy.

The approval of the CSP follows Sierra Leone’s 6.7% GDP growth between 2020 and 2024 and builds on the AfDB’s $150 million investment across 10 ongoing projects aimed at improving road connectivity and energy access.