GIZ Sierra Leone and Liberia

Sierra Leone launches its first-ever National Data Strategy!     `Data has become the most important resource in the digital age. This strategy has been implemented to guide the national government in the right direction, and is a crucial step towards increasing development in Sierra Leone's digital future.` Mohamed Mouminie Jalloh, Chief Director at Ministry of Communication, Technology & Innovation.     Led by the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, the National Data Strategy is built on the pillars of Sierra Leone’s Digital Development Policy (2023–2029). It works hand-in-hand with the upcoming Digital Government Bill, forming the institutional backbone of the country’s digital future.     The National Data Strategy   ✅ contributes to better services and transparency by treating data as a public asset.   ✅ puts people first by focusing on equity, inclusion, and citizen empowerment.  ✅aligns with African Union and ECOWAS goals for digital transformation      🌍Sierra Leone has become the second country in West Africa, after The Gambia, to turn digital frameworks into national action.     The Sierra Leone National Data Strategy is supported by the Data Governance in Africa Initiative #D4DataGOV under the Digital for Development (D4D) Hub. It is implemented by GIZ African Union, in close collaboration with the African Union, AUDA NEPAD and Digital Impact Alliance. It is co-funded by the European Union and the Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)    James Cobba, Holger Rommen, Dominic Orr, Franz von Weizsäcker     #DigitalSierraLeone #DataStrategy #DigitalGovernance #AU2030 #ECOWAS #OpenData #DigitalTransformation #DataGovernanceAfrica #TeamEurope #GlobalGateway 

🌱 Since March 2025, the new project Ecological and Economic Transformation of Selected Value Chains (EET) is underway, following the successful completion of the Employment Promotion Programme (EPP). EPP laid the groundwork for this next step. EET focuses on sustainable economic development through structural reforms, targeting vital agricultural value chains like cassava, cocoa/coffee, poultry, and vegetables. The focus is on selected value chains in Sierra Leone to provide more job opportunities for women and youth. The project is implementing its initiatives along three outputs:   🔹Support to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises   🔹 Promoting the entrepreneurial ecosystem   🔹Promoting gender equality and women's empowerment To kick off the project, we organized a launch event, where we met with important stakeholders from the ministry and private sector to discuss the fruitful impact EET will have in the upcoming years. Let us know in the comments what your ideas agricultural value chain development in Sierra Leone are! The Ecological and Economic Transformation of Selected Value Chains (EET) is a project implemented by GIZ and commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany). #SustainableDevelopment #Agriculture #EconomicTransformation #EET #SierraLeone #SMEs #BusinessClimate #Cassava #Cocoa #Coffee #Poultry #Vegetables

Seit Januar 2025 leidet Sierra Leone 🇸🇱 unter einem schweren Mpox-Ausbruch, mit bislang 5.000 Infizierten und 46 Todesfällen. Um lokale Gemeinden im Kampf gegen die Krankheit zu stärken, haben wir mit unseren Projektpartnern ein umfassendes Trainingsprogramm vor Ort aufgesetzt.   Auftakt bildeten Fortbildungen mit Teilnehmenden aus Gemeinden, Schulen und dem Gesundheitsbereich zu:
✅Grundlagen von Mpox und Infektionsschutz ✅Risiko- und Krisenkommunikation   ✅Community Engagement ✅Fallverfolgung   Das so erlangte Wissen unterstützt die Gemeinden dabei, schnell auf neue Mpox-Fälle zu reagieren. Denn nur mit lokaler Expertise und Engagement lässt sich die Ausbreitung stoppen!   Einen großen Dank an die Schnell Einsetzbare Expert*innengruppe Gesundheit (SEEG), das GIZ-Gesundheitsprojekt HSSEP, die Expert*innen von African Volunteer Health Corps (AVoHC) und die Kolleg*innen der National Public Health Agency, die die Schulungen vor Ort ermöglicht haben! Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH

“GIZ didn’t just give me tools, they gave me hope and dignity.” These words from Saffea Konnah, a physically challenged tailor from Koidu, capture the profound impact of targeted support. For years, Saffea worked tirelessly from a cramped corner of his home with a single manual sewing machine and limited materials. Despite the tough conditions, he remained determined to expand his business and provide for his family. His dream became reality when the Facility for Growth Private Sector Development (F4G) team identified him as a promising small-scale entrepreneur in need of support. Through their intervention, Saffea received modern sewing machines, essential tailoring materials, and a complete renovation of his workspace, transforming it into a more accessible and professional environment. With GIZ’s support, Saffea has significantly scaled up his business. He now produces a wider range of clothing, including school uniforms, traditional leaders' garments, and custom men’s suits. His increased capacity has tripled his monthly income, allowing him to reinvest in his operations. Most notably, Saffea has taken on four young apprentices from his community, one of whom also lives with a disability, passing on his skills and helping others build a livelihood. Saffea’s journey is a powerful example of how inclusive economic empowerment can transform lives. His story reflects the remarkable impact of targeted support, showing that persons with disabilities can thrive and lead change when given the right opportunities. The Facility for Growth in the Private Sector Development component (F4G) is an intiative of the Employment Promotion Program (EPP), a project implemented by GIZ and commissioned by Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) and co-financed by the European Union in Sierra Leone. @German Embassy #Germancooperation #Germany #EU #EPP #WomenEntrepreneurs #SkillsForSuccess #Empowerment 

Mr. Osman, a local rice mill operator in Sierra Leone, faced significant challenges with limited space, outdated machinery, and inadequate drying facilities. His productivity was low, and growth opportunities were scarce. Thanks to targeted support from the Employment Promotion Program (EPP), his business underwent a transformative change. The intervention included expanding his Operational Centre, constructing a modern drying floor, and providing state-of-the-art milling equipment. This laid the foundation for a more efficient and competitive enterprise. With the support from the EPP Project, Mr. Osman’s production has tripled. His monthly income has increased, allowing him to reinvest in his business and improve his household’s well-being. Most remarkably, he has employed eight new workers from the surrounding communities, creating jobs, supporting families, and strengthening the local economy. Mr. Osman’s journey is a powerful reminder of how targeted investments in small-scale agribusinesses can unlock lasting impact. His success demonstrates the ripple effect of empowering local entrepreneurs, boosting productivity, and fostering inclusive growth at the community level. This impact was achieved by the Employment Promotion Program (EPP), implemented by GIZ and commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-financed by the European Union in Sierra Leone. #Germancooperation #Germany #EU #EPP #Entrepreneurship #SkillsForSuccess #Empowerment

Meet Abdul, a 29-year-old married father of two, who transformed his small shoes and bags workshop in Koidu City into a thriving business. ✨ Through a friend`s tip, Abdul learned about the opportunity to submit a business plan to compete for a grant from GIZ. Abdul seized this chance and emerged as the winner. With the grant, he established a business near his home, investing in essential machinery. Reconised for his potential, he also underwent additional training in business administration. “GIZ supported me greatly to fullfill my entrepreneur dreams.” says Abdul. Thanks to training and grants from the Employment Promotion Programme (EPP), Abdul gained the knowledge needed to lead his own business.  Today, Abdul's shop employs 10 permanent staff members and 5-day labourers. His flourishing business is now expanding, with plans to construct a larger production facility and a new shop, intending to hire 60 employees. Abdul´s story is an example how targeted business opportunities and skills training can create new opportunities for business owners. His success reflects the transformative impact of the Employment Promotion Programm (EPP), a project implemented by GIZ and commissioned by Germany (Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) and German Embassy), co-financed by the European Union in Sierra Leone. #GIZ #Germany #GermanCooperation #EU #EPP #SierraLeone #SkillsForSuccess #Empowerment 

📢 Apply Now: 2025 Young Professionals’ Placement Initiative Final-year students and recent graduates in Freetown and Bo are invited to apply for a 4-month paid placement (Sep–Dec 2025) with REASL member companies, supported by the EnDev Project. 📅 Deadline: Friday, 25 July 2025 📩 Send applications to: [email protected]

📢 Call for Applications: Technical Advisor - Environmental (Facilitator) The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is accepting applications from the environment sector in Monrovia, Liberia. Relevant experience in biodiversity conservation, project management, facilitation, stakeholder engagement, or other related areas is required. 🗓️ Application Deadline: 24th of August 2025 🌐 Link to Apply: https://lnkd.in/dE-P7kuA The role of the technical advisor as an environmental facilitator represents the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership but is embedded in a relevant ministry or regional institution to support and fast-track NBSAP implementation. The facilitator will act as a bridge between the host government and the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership. What's in it for you? - Facilitate the identification and prioritization of NBSAP needs - Support the implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) - Mobilize support and foster collaboration among stakeholders - Accelerate NBSAP implementation through supporting a Whole of Government and Whole of Society approach The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership is a country-led global initiative to support the development and implementation of ambitious National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and collectively achieve the goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), ultimately aiming for the global vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050.

Meet Georgiana, a 24-year-old from Kailahun who was previously unemployed and had never held a formal job. Like many young women in her community, she had limited resources to build a sustainable livelihood.  That changed when she took part in a six-week TVET Training under the Employment Promotion Programme (EPP). Through this training, Georgiana gained basic catering skills, along with the confidence and professionalism needed to thrive in the hospitality industry. Shortly after completing the training, Georgiana secured employment at Alma’s Kitchen, one of Kailahun’s most popular and reputable restaurants. She now earns a steady income above the national minimum wage, marking a significant milestone in her life achieving financial independence.  “I can now independently take care of myself without anybody else and buy stuff I like.", says Georgiana Her story is a powerful example of how targeted skills training can create new opportunities for youth employment, especially for young women striving for financial independence. Her success reflects the transformative impact of the Employment Promotion Program (EPP), a project implemented by GIZ and commissioned by Germany (Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) and German Embassy), co-financed by the European Union in Sierra Leone. #Germancooperation #Germany #EU #EPP #WomenEntrepreneurs #SkillsForSuccess #Empowerment 

Only 54% of children aged 12-23 months in Sierra Leone have received all basic vaccinations. This is leaving many risk of preventable diseases. As part of the Digital Innovation in Pandemic Control (DIPC), Sierra Leone is leveraging digital innovation to transform immunization systems and enhance health outcomes.   The outcomes for the DIPC were a strategic planning support to transition from paper-based systems to an integrated digital system for the Sierra Leone Digital Health Strategy 2024. To achieve this 100 laptops were provided to support real-time data entry into the Electronic Stock Management Tool (eSMT) especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Training and mentoring for 96 healthcare providers across four districts to train and mentor basic computer skills, solving common computer and application issues and do a eSMT application training to learn stock overview, physical stock counts and system updates. This enables healthcare workers, particular Maternal and Child Health Aides at 44 DIPC health facilities to shift from paper-based to digital stock management for vaccines.   These sessions engaged stakeholders at national, district, and facility levels, ensuring vertical alignment in understanding of the digital health roadmap, and their respective commitment. This project was implemented by Germany (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German embassy in Freetown and the GIZ, with the support of UNICEF and the Ministry of Health & Sanitation - SL   #GIZ #BMZ #UNICEF #DigitalHealth #Germany #Germancooperation #SierraLeone #HealthForAll #InnovationForImpact