Sierra Leone conducted general elections in 2018, marking a pivotal moment in its political history, as the opposition party emerged victorious after a closely contested second vote. Subsequently, the newly elected government introduced the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP – 2019-2023), which outlines both immediate and long-term development objectives. The plan reflects a commitment to transition from a fragile state to a stable democracy.

With a population of 7.1 million people, Sierra Leone is characterized by its youthful demographic, with 45.8% under the age of 15 and 74.8% below the age of 35. The nation’s economy continues to revolve around agriculture, serving as the primary source of income for approximately 50% of the adult working population. This dependence on agriculture makes diversifying the economy a particularly challenging endeavor. The Sierra Leonean government is actively working to enhance the agricultural sector by shifting from subsistence farming to higher-yield, market-oriented crops. However, in 2020, Sierra Leone, like many countries worldwide, faced economic challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in sectoral slowdowns owing to global supply disruptions and lockdown measures.

Significant investments have been directed towards the healthcare and education sectors to drive improvements in child and maternal mortality rates, as well as to enhance access to education and educational outcomes. These investments are essential for unlocking Sierra Leone’s full human capital potential.

In early 2020, a delegation from the UAN embarked on a diplomatic mission to Sierra Leone, upon the invitation of Special Advisor to the President and Ambassador-at-Large, Umaru Bundu Wurie.

The primary purpose of this visit was to cultivate mutual cooperation and provide humanitarian support to Sierra Leone by establishing collaborative relations.

The establishment of these relations symbolizes the commitment of the UAN to engage in meaningful exchanges and partnerships with Sierra Leone, with the overarching goal of fostering goodwill and contributing to the well-being of the people of Sierra Leone.

This visit marked a significant stride towards building a robust and positive relationship between the USK Foundation and Sierra Leone.