NIB, Invest Salone Push for Institutionalised PPD
New Brookfields Hotel, Freetown, Sierra Leone Thursday, 10th July 2025 In a strategic push to deepen collaboration between government and the private sector, Invest Salone and the National Investment Board (NIB) hosted a Public Sector Champion Roundtable to chart a path toward institutionalising effective Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) in Sierra Leone. The high-level event brought together senior policymakers, reform advocates, and development partners to explore actionable strategies for embedding PPD as a central feature of policymaking and economic governance.
Opening the session, Mr. Joe Gbonda, Director of Strategy at NIB, welcomed participants with a compelling reminder of PPD’s potential to build investor confidence and accelerate reform. He called for a departure from performative dialogue, encouraging a culture of honest engagement and strategic thinking. “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.
The roundtable featured a detailed presentation by Ms. Georgina Laverse and Mr. Will Paxton of Invest Salone, who introduced a practical framework and toolkit for embedding PPD across government institutions. Their presentation also outlined a prioritisation approach designed to align PPD efforts with national development objectives and institutional mandates.
Participants engaged in a robust exchange of views, drawing from local experiences and international best practices. Discussions focused on practical implementation, long-term sustainability, and the integration of PPD into Sierra Leone’s policy and reform processes.
Madam Fatima Mahawa Sandi, Deputy Executive Director of NIB, delivered a clear call to action. She underscored the importance of moving beyond policy rhetoric toward meaningful implementation. “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 said.
An interactive panel discussion followed, featuring representatives from NIB, the Public Sector Reform Unit, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Mr. Victor Bangura, Chief Operating Officer at NIB, reiterated the Board’s central role in facilitating investment through dialogue and collaboration. He emphasized that PPD is embedded in NIB’s operational ethos and highlighted ongoing efforts to engage investors, entrepreneurs, and public institutions through consultations, business forums, and cross-agency coordination.
The roundtable concluded with a shared commitment to building a more responsive, transparent, and participatory policy environment where public-private engagement becomes a sustained practice, not a periodic event.
