Encouraging private sector development in Sierra Leone

  • Status:
  • Complete
  • Funder:
  • FCDO
  • Partner:
  • Cadmus
  • Years:
  • 2023-2025
  • Key Policy Areas:
  • Business EnvironmentCarbon CreditsGreen Financing
  • Type of Support:
  • Coalition BuildingPolicy Design and DevelopmentPolicy Influencing Support

Invest Salone (ISL) collaborated with businesses and Business Membership Organisations (BMOs) to enhance the business environment in Sierra Leone and boost private sector investment. Kivu was an integral part of the ISL team, supporting the private sector to influence Government of Sierra Leone policies. 

Initially, Kivu offered strategic advice to ISL on designing a high-impact policy-influencing programme. This guidance included politically-informed “issue selection” and programme design, combining strategic prioritisation with a highly adaptive approach to policy engagement. 

A key strategic priority was Carbon Credits. Kivu advised the ISL team on shaping the policy and regulatory environment to maximise the potential of Carbon Credits in Sierra Leone. This involved collaborating with the Government, private sector and civil society to develop a national carbon credit framework, ensuring inclusive inputs from all stakeholders to build cross-sector support. 

Kivu also offered responsive support for short-term projects exploring opportunities for change. One example was highly adaptive post-election policy dialogue with newly reform-minded ministers. This rapid and responsive government engagement involved a series of Ministerial Briefing notes and follow-up meetings by ISL, following the post-election cabinet reshuffle. 

Initially Kivu provided strategic advice to ISL on how to design a higher-impact policy-influencing programme.  This included advice on politically-informed “issue selection” and programme design—including combining strategic prioritisation with a highly adaptive approach to policy engagement. 

A strategic priority has been Carbon Credits. Kivu advises the ISL team on shaping the policy and regulatory environment to maximise the potential of Carbon Credits in Sierra Leone. Kivu also provides responsive support on short-term projects responding to opportunities for change.  One example was highly adaptive post-election policy engagement with new reform minded ministers.  

Key Impacts:
  • Accelerated the development a national carbon credit framework by providing politically informed advice to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
  • To increase the private sector’s policy influencing impact, the creation and upscaling of a Private Sector Carbon Forum.
  • Nationwide programme of events giving voice to local communities, working in partnership with an expert local partner – this led to community interests, often forgotten, being high on policymaker minds.