Invest Salone, backed by the UK Government and working with British International Investment (BII) under the Africa Resilience Investment Accelerator (ARIA), has released a set of tools aimed at helping Sierra Leonean firms become ready for outside capital.
New resources target investment readiness
The package includes three components: the Sierra Leone Investment Toolkit, an online Investment Readiness Scorecard, and a Business Advisor Directory. The scorecard is anonymous, letting companies gauge their current level of preparedness and receive suggestions on priority improvements.
The toolkit offers practical guidance on governance, financial management, strategy, operations and regulatory compliance. Meanwhile, the advisor directory lists local professionals who can provide specialized support, giving businesses a starting point for external assistance.
Development rooted in local consultation
According to the announcement, the resources were shaped after consultations with small and medium‑sized enterprises across the country. Designers also drew on lessons from similar programmes in other markets, tailoring the content to fit Sierra Leone’s specific business climate.
“Every business is at a different stage of its investment journey, and understanding where you are is the first step towards becoming investment ready,” said Pooja Melwani of Invest Salone. “These resources help businesses assess their current position, identify gaps, and access practical guidance to strengthen their investment proposition.”
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Alex Kucharski, Director of Market Creation at BII Plus, added that the initiative reflects BII’s broader effort to improve conditions for capital attraction in frontier markets. “These three resources help businesses better understand whether they are ready for investment, identify which investors might be right for them, and showcase the local advisory ecosystem that can support them as they look to grow,” he said.
For a country where many firms lack formal financial reporting and struggle with regulatory hurdles, having a clear benchmark can clarify the steps needed to meet investor expectations.
Co‑funding for the Africa Resilience Investment Accelerator (ARIA) comes from the Dutch development bank FMO and the French development finance institution Proparco, adding an additional layer of international expertise to the programme. Their involvement shows a multi‑partner commitment to building a resilient investment ecosystem in Sierra Leone, with each entity contributing experience from prior engagements in emerging markets.
Beyond the immediate tools, the Business Advisor Directory serves as a curated network that connects firms to accountants, legal counsel, and sector‑specific consultants who understand the nuances of Sierra Leonean regulation. By providing contact details and service descriptions, the directory reduces the time firms spend searching for qualified support, streamlining the path from readiness assessment to actual investment negotiations.
