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.
An International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) news article about the IFAD Rural Poor Stimulus Facility which aims to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on rural small-scale farmers and producers in Sierra Leone.
This article from The Conversation outlines the surge since March in enrollments for massive open online classes (MOOC).
LinkedIn, Microsoft and GitHub are offering free learning paths mapped to jobs that are in demand.
This page from the International Financial Corporation provides information on financing facilities for businesses which have been hit hardest by COVID-19.
Current financial analysis indicates that: solar distributors in Sierra Leone are high risk investments; distributors require significant working capital to finance needs but find limited financing options; and long-term consumer finance is required to grow solar sales. This document also indicates financing alternatives compared to standard commercial options: PAYG solutions; patient capital and impact investment; and blended financing options.
The ‘Smart Subsidy’ Implementation Guide is a manual for those interested in implementing a market-oriented subsidy and learning from Sierra Leone’s Smart Subsidy Pilot. This pilot was designed as a proof of concept and the primary purpose was to test, adapt and learn.
These trials were carried out to assist financial service providers to help small and growing businesses (SGBs) prepare proper books and records to help these businesses access finance and make better business decisions. The aims of these trials were to increase the value of businesses through training and services, to increase the value perception businesses have for financial service providers and to introduce rates affordable to SGBs.
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.