By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu, Bo City
In an effort to enhance collaboration and accountability in land-based investments, Land for Life Sierra Leone, in partnership with the National Investment Board (NIB), organized a one-day regional dialogue. The event, held at the Wizard Conference Hall in Bo, brought together Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), private sector representatives, and community stakeholders.
This dialogue is part of a larger, nationwide consultation initiative aimed at developing a CSO-Private Sector Framework. The framework will guide more responsible, transparent, and sustainable investments across the country.
Jacob Wilson, Communications and Monitoring & Evaluation Officer at Land for Life Sierra Leone, underscored the importance of establishing structured pathways for collaboration between communities and investors.
“The National Investment Board plays a critical role in ensuring smooth investment processes in Sierra Leone. These regional dialogues provide an important platform to identify and address issues affecting investments, particularly at the community level,” Wilson explained.
He noted that communities often raise concerns over unfair treatment by investors, while investors similarly express frustration with negative responses from local communities. This ongoing tension highlights the need for a coordinated framework that mediates between the interests of both parties and builds trust.
Wilson emphasized that the new framework would place CSOs at the center of the process, allowing them to act as intermediaries. Their role would involve addressing challenges, guiding investors and communities toward best practices, and minimizing potential conflicts.
“This framework aims to change the narrative. By positioning CSOs as central to investment governance, we can enhance local-level accountability, reduce disputes, and ensure smoother investment operations in Sierra Leone,” Wilson affirmed.
The Bo dialogue is one of several regional consultations that will inform the development of the national CSO-Private Sector Framework. Stakeholders believe the framework will set a new standard for inclusive and responsible land-based investments in Sierra Leone.