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COVID-19 and smallholder producers’ access to markets

A research brief by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on how smallholder farmers can respond to a health crisis, drawing on lessons learnt from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea during the 2014 Ebola outbreak.

Topic: Business resilience, COVID-19, Financial instruments for business, Government and policy

Sector: Agriculture, Other

Geographic Focus: Africa

Published by: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

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Related Resources

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Angel Investment Brief

Sierra Leone’s startup ecosystem is at a pivotal moment, with rising entrepreneurial activity but a critical funding gap in the ‘missing middle.’ This brief explores why angel investment is essential, the first-mover advantages for investors and the opportunities emerging in one of West Africa’s most dynamic early-stage markets.

Topic: Entrepreneurship and innovation, Finance, Financial instruments for business, Investment, Investment Insight, Research and analysis, Sustainable business

Sector: Business, Finance, Investment

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Strengthening collaboration in Sierra Leone: The Public-Private Dialogue Guide

Discover how Sierra Leone is taking a powerful step toward stronger collaboration between government and business.
Invest Salone’s new Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) Guide provides a practical, actionable toolkit designed to make policymaking more inclusive, transparent and effective.

Topic: Government and policy, Investment, Investment and export promotion, Public private dialogue (PPD)

Sector: Business, Investment

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Transforming palm oil in Sierra Leone: Lessons learned

Discover how Invest Salone helped unlock the potential of Sierra Leone’s palm oil sector. By connecting refineries with smallholder producers, mobilising capital and providing targeted support, the programme strengthened sustainable production, and demonstrated the sector’s viability, contributing to over USD 75 million in exports in 2025.

Topic: Business resilience, Entrepreneurship and innovation, Investment and export promotion, Made in Salone, Sustainable business

Sector: Agriculture, Oil palm

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Women in Tourism: Market and investment readiness

In 2024, Invest Salone hosted the “Women in Tourism: Market and Investment Readiness” conference to explore one of the biggest challenges facing women in Sierra Leone’s tourism sector: access to finance. The event brought together financial institutions, policy-makers and entrepreneurs to share insights, build networks and identify opportunities to strengthen women-led businesses.

Topic: Entrepreneurship and innovation, Finance, , Government and policy, Investment

Sector: Finance, Investment, Tourism

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