Study on diaspora investment in Sierra Leone

Conducted by researchers from the International Growth Centre of the London School of Economics and Political Science, with funding from UK Aid, the study uses a qualitative approach to understand the current state of the demand side of diaspora investment in Sierra Leone, particularly the alignment between public sector engagement with private sector opportunities. The study identified key bottlenecks, such as limited trust and investment vehicles; lack of a robust data and evidence base; macro-economic challenges (e.g. exchange-rate volatility, domestic market uncertainty); and lack of policy frameworks that define and guide diaspora engagement. To respond to these challenges, seven recommendations were presented to improve the policy and business environment for diaspora investment in Sierra Leone.