IsDB, MoPED Explore New Financing Pipeline for Sierra Leone Development Projects
The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) have discussed potential financing opportunities aimed at strengthening priority development projects under a new country engagement framework.
The discussions took place during a courtesy meeting in Freetown as part of an IsDB Country Programming and Portfolio Review Mission focused on shaping Sierra Leone’s 2026–2028 Country Engagement Framework, officials said.
The IsDB delegation, led by Country Manager Kokhorjon Aminov, said the bank is working with government counterparts to identify and develop a pipeline of projects aligned with national priorities, including agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and transport.
Aminov said future financing packages could include support for agriculture value chains, microfinance schemes, and private-sector investment mechanisms designed to expand access to funding for farmers, SMEs, and development partners.
He also pointed to opportunities through IsDB’s private-sector operations, including trade and investment financing for eligible financial institutions and commercial partners in Sierra Leone.
MoPED officials, led by Deputy Development Secretary I Usman Cherry Conteh, said any proposed programmes must align with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan 2024–2030 to ensure coherence with national development priorities.
Government representatives also highlighted the need to strengthen the capacity of ministries, departments, and agencies to develop bankable projects capable of attracting international financing.
Officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Development Assistance Coordination Office (DACO) also participated in the meeting, emphasising coordination between government institutions and development partners in project preparation and implementation.
The engagement forms part of broader consultations under the IsDB mission, which is reviewing Sierra Leone’s development priorities and identifying potential projects for future funding consideration.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration aimed at improving project design, financing readiness, and long-term development impact in Sierra Leone.