
09/26/2025
Sierra Leone Development Ministry Showcases Investment Opportunities at UNGA80 Roundtable on Innovative Finance.
New York, 25 September 2025
On the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly ( ), Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), led by Minister Madam Kenyeh Barlay, convened an informal roundtable with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The dialogue centered on advancing innovative financial partnerships and exploring alternative financing models for bankable projects within Sierra Leone’s development portfolio.
The session brought together representatives from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and other UN agencies. MoPED showcased five strategic investment opportunities spanning agriculture, tourism, and the blue economy key pillars of Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP).
This engagement highlighted Sierra Leone’s drive to attract private sector investment while reinforcing the critical role of UNCDF and development partners in mobilizing private capital for frontier markets. The discussions also provided valuable insights on project prioritization and financing pathways.
Building on momentum from the recent Seville Financing for Development gathering, MoPED reiterated its commitment to leveraging risk-absorbing financial instruments, blended finance mechanisms, and structured advisory solutions to unlock scalable investment opportunities.
“These conversations are critical for aligning our investment pipeline with global financing innovations,” Minister Barlay emphasized. “We are determined to create pathways that crowd in private capital to support Sierra Leone’s long-term development priorities.”
MoPED stressed that innovative financing remains central to implementing the MTNDP, advancing sustainable growth, and positioning Sierra Leone as an emerging hub for impact-driven investment.