Quarterly Newsletter – July 2024

This issue is a round-up of Invest Salone’s work driving private sector growth in Sierra Leone. It features highlights from our collaboration with international finance institutions, the successful launch of the country’s first local currency corporate bond, new insights on the voluntary carbon market, and initiatives to strengthen sustainable finance, fashion and textiles, and innovation.

Related Resources

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.

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.

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.