Despite regional and global crises, Sierra Leone has actively pursued a robust agenda of strategic, legal and institutional reforms since the publication of the Investment Policy Review (IPR) in 2009. Key elements of these reforms include the adoption of new investment-specific legislation and important efforts towards gender equality, improvement of trade procedures, and modernisation of the regimes governing different sectors. FDI inflows peaked in 2011 and declined thereafter, reflecting the impact of multiple exogenous shocks. Nonetheless, the countries of origin and sectors currently attracting FDI are diverse and FDI inflows are expected to rise.

In 2024, the Government of Sierra Leone requested UNCTAD to review the implementation of the IPR recommendations and provide guidance to continue improving the investment environment. The Report on the implementation of the IPR of Sierra Leone analyses progress and suggests additional actions to support the achievement of Sierra Leone’s 2024–2030 Medium Term National Development Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals, based on UNCTAD’s Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development. The recommendations address remaining challenges regarding the investment-specific legal framework and highlight priority areas of action, including digitalization of business establishment procedures, enhancing investment promotion, and strengthening statistical capacity.