By: Saidu Jalloh
The National Investment Board (NIB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration aimed at advancing investment reforms, institutional development and private sector growth in Sierra Leone.
The commitment was renewed during a high-level engagement between NIB officials and a UNDP delegation led by Deputy Resident Representative Kevin Petrini at the NIB headquarters in Freetown.
Welcoming the delegation, NIB Executive Director Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy highlighted the importance of establishing the Board through the merger of key investment institutions, noting that the reform has created a more coordinated, efficient and investor-friendly framework for investment promotion and facilitation.
Dr. Sandy expressed appreciation to UNDP for its continued support to NIB, particularly in strengthening the institution’s operational capacity following its establishment.
He pointed to the development of a unified NIB website as one of the key achievements of the partnership. According to him, the platform has consolidated information from the institutions merged into NIB and created a single digital gateway where investors can access investment-related information and services.
The NIB Executive Director also commended UNDP’s support to investor aftercare services, including the rollout of nationwide Public-Private Dialogues (PPDs). He explained that these engagements provided valuable feedback from stakeholders and contributed to ongoing efforts to improve Sierra Leone’s business and investment climate.
Dr. Sandy called for continued collaboration with UNDP in areas such as enhancing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) export competitiveness, developing a pipeline of investment projects, implementing the National Investment Strategy and strengthening institutional capacity.
In response, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Kevin Petrini expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved through the partnership and reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s economic transformation agenda.
Petrini highlighted several UNDP-supported interventions, including initiatives in the transportation sector aimed at improving water transport through ferry services, as well as support to public bus and taxi systems.
He noted that future collaboration with NIB would adopt a co-creation approach, enabling both institutions to jointly identify, develop and implement priority initiatives aligned with NIB’s strategic plans and available resources.
The Director of NIB’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Directorate, Mohamed Abu Sesay, also participated in the discussions, highlighting opportunities for strategic partnerships, investment facilitation and stronger collaboration with development partners.
The engagement concluded with a guided tour of NIB facilities, where the UNDP delegation received briefings on ongoing interventions and areas of institutional support under the partnership.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of NIB and UNDP to deepening cooperation in promoting investment, improving Sierra Leone’s business environment and supporting sustainable economic growth and development.