COMPETE Salone is a competitive grant initiative funded by the UK Government. We help businesses test innovative ideas that have the potential to create jobs, improve livelihoods and increase exports. The initiative works by offering a matching grant and guidance to private companies.
Invest Salone is a private-sector UK Government-funded development initiative which facilitates inclusive economic growth in Sierra Leone. Find out how Invest Salone works to encourage investment, generate exports, create jobs and diversify four key sectors.
There has been a recent resurgence of public–private dialogue (PPD) in Sierra Leone and the potential benefits are beginning to be recognised. In the past 12–18 months, PPD supported by Invest Salone has allowed the private sector to provide structured feedback on the government’s Quick Action Economic Response Programme (QAERP) and facilitated the incorporation of private sector recommendations into the 2021 Finance Act.
On the final day of the COP26 climate summit, Sierra Leone’s banking sector came together at a roundtable in Freetown, Sierra Leone, to agree on a coordinated approach towards mainstreaming environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards in their operations. This will help Sierra Leone tackle the effects of climate change by paving the way to a slice of the private finance pledged to support the global transition to net zero carbon emissions. Keep reading to find out more.
Acumen and Invest Salone brought together representatives from seven impact investors for the impact investment deal summit, concluding a rigorous seven-week bootcamp designed to help companies fine-tune their business plans and improve their understanding of institutional impact investment. The 11 participating entrepreneurs were chosen for their commitment to driving positive social change in Sierra Leone through their businesses. Watch this video to find out more.
Palm oil has become the most popular vegetable oil in world markets, but there is concern over the negative environmental consequences of production in South East Asia. This has to led to consumer demand for more sustainable alternatives. Africa’s emerging industry is in an ideal position to capitalise on this demand. Watch this video to find out more.
At its peak, Sierra Leone was exporting about 20,000 tonnes per year but the country’s coffee exports have declined over the last 30 years. Invest Salone’s review of the coffee industry highlights several opportunities. Watch this video to find out more.
International demand for cocoa is high, yet compared to neighbouring countries, Sierra Leone’s exports are low. Watch this video to find out how Sierra Leone can capitalise on this demand.
Diversifying Sierra Leone’s economy is essential for the country’s economic and social development. Traditional Sierra Leonean textiles such as gara (a form of tie dye) and country cloth (cotton cloth hand woven in narrow strips and sewn together) offer opportunities to tap into a dynamic global fashion market.
This series showcases key industries in Sierra Leone including the textiles sector. Find out the current situation, challenges and opportunities for investing in textiles in Sierra Leone.