The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, has used the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly to advance its agenda for mobilising diaspora finance as a strategic source of development financing.
Against a global financing environment marked by declining Official Development Assistance and widening financing gaps, Sierra Leone is seeking to move beyond the traditional role of the diaspora as a source of remittances and unlock its wider potential as a source of investment capital, skills, technology, entrepreneurship and international market access.
The Government hosted a High-Level Side Event on Diaspora Finance on the margins of UNGA 2026 under the theme, “Mobilising Diaspora Finance for Sustainable Development: From Potential to Investment.”
The initiative is anchored in Sierra Leone’s Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF), which identifies diaspora finance as an important avenue for diversifying development financing beyond traditional aid and borrowing.
The side event provided a platform to present Sierra Leone’s emerging approach to mobilising diaspora capital and to explore practical ways of converting diaspora interest into productive investment that supports national development priorities.
The event focused on five key objectives: presenting Sierra Leone’s Strategic Framework for Mobilising Diaspora Finance; showcasing a portfolio of bankable and investment-ready projects; strengthening partnerships with diaspora networks and Development Finance Institutions; discussing reforms aimed at strengthening investor confidence and addressing trust barriers; and generating concrete investment interest and financing opportunities.
The discussions placed particular emphasis on sectors aligned with the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2024–2030 and the Government’s Big Five Game Changers, including the blue economy, tourism, fisheries and agriculture.
The Government is also exploring innovative financing instruments capable of attracting diaspora capital, including diaspora bonds, investment funds and blended finance mechanisms.
The initiative reflects a broader shift towards strengthening domestic and international financing partnerships for Sierra Leone’s development. By creating stronger links between diaspora resources and bankable national projects, the Government is seeking to transform diaspora engagement from primarily remittance-based support into a broader partnership for investment, enterprise development and sustainable economic transformation.
Through the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Sierra Leone continues to strengthen its financing architecture and partnerships to mobilise the resources required to implement national development priorities and advance inclusive and sustainable growth.
MoPED Communications