Sierra Leone Moves to Institutionalise Public-Private Dialogue
Freetown, Sierra Leone | Thursday, 10 July 2025 In a bold step towards strengthening economic governance and fostering inclusive reform, the National Investment Board (NIB), in partnership with Invest Salone, convened a high-level roundtable to explore practical strategies for embedding effective Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) into Sierra Leone’s institutional framework. Held at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, the event brought together key figures from the public sector, development agencies, and policy reform champions for a robust exchange of ideas.
Opening the session, Mr. Joe Gbonda, Director of Strategy at NIB, stressed the importance of PPD as a catalyst for investor confidence and economic transformation. “PPD is not a checkbox exercise; it’s a transformative mechanism for inclusive growth. Let us engage with sincerity and purpose to shape a sustainable and coherent PPD framework,” he urged.
Ms. Georgina Laverse and Mr. Will Paxton of Invest Salone presented a customized framework and practical toolkit designed to support the institutionalization of PPD across government structures. Their session also introduced a prioritization approach to guide the strategic rollout of PPD processes nationwide. These insights formed the basis for a dynamic exchange, as participants shared challenges, lessons learned, and opportunities for aligning PPD with Sierra Leone’s development agenda.
Madam Fatima Mahawa Sandi, Deputy Executive Director of NIB, issued a strong call for genuine collaboration and action-oriented reform. “True progress goes beyond policy formation; it requires effective implementation and collective accountability. Until we begin to think holistically, say what we mean, and deliver on those promises, we risk having just another talk shop,” she cautioned.
An interactive panel discussion featured representatives from NIB, the Public Sector Reform Unit, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Speaking on behalf of NIB, Mr. Victor Bangura, Chief Operating Officer, reinforced the institution’s role as a One-Stop Shop for investment facilitation. He emphasized PPD as a core pillar of NIB’s operational strategy, highlighting its commitment to regular investor consultations, multi-agency coordination, and ongoing dialogue with the private sector.
