Sierra Leone
India and Sierra Leone share cordial and warm relationship based on common values and shared vision which dates back to almost six decades. India is committed to being a reliable partner of Sierra Leone in its development journey through soft loans, scholarships, and capacity building. India and Sierra Leone also cooperate at the United Nations and other multilateral fora. India had played an important role in achieving peace and stability in Sierra Leone by contributing troops to the UN Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) in 2000-2001.
Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic
- In order to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, India provided a large consignment of medicines to Sierra Leone in February 2021.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- In October 2019, an MoU was signed for Sierra Leone to participate in India's Pan-African Tele-Education and Tele-Medicine initiatives (e-VidyaBharati and e-ArogyaBharati or e-VBAB). More than 547 Sierra Leoneans have enrolled themselves under the e-VidyaBharati programme so far and have received/are receiving online education in various courses from Indian Universities.
- As part of e-VBAB, a learning centre has been established in the library building at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. The learning centre consists of a computer lab and multimedia room for students for attending lectures and taking examinations. All the equipment required for this project (26 sets of computer systems, large smart-screens, networking equipment, UPS, furniture, etc.) have been provided by Government of India through Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) who will also pay for the monthly charges towards internet, in accordance with the aforementioned MoU.
- Sierra Leone is one of the beneficiaries of ITEC scholarships and is provided 50 seats every year in different programmes in various institutes in India. ICCR also provides 15 slots to Sierra Leone for UG, PG and Ph.D courses in India from 2021.
- The India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) hosted a virtual eITEC Training Programme for capacity building of the officials of the Sierra Leone National Electoral Commission from 24 August to 26 August 2021. IIIDEM also hosted a 7-member delegation from the Sierra Leone National Electoral Commission for capacity building in ICT and data management from 30 November to 10 December 2021.
- A number of Sierra Leonean women have got training under the ITEC Rural Solar Electrification course at the Barefoot College, Tilonia, Rajasthan, and have successfully installed solar systems in their villages providing inexpensive electricity.
- In 2018, five officers from the National Digital Crime Resource and Training Centre (NDCRTC), IT wing of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad visited Sierra Leone and imparted training to the Cyber Crimes Bureau of the Sierra Leone Police.
- Sierra Leone is a beneficiary of India’s Duty Free and Preferential Treatment (DFTP) Scheme for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) since October 2021. The scheme provides duty free and preferential treatment to about 98% of India’s tariff lines.
- India has donated 40,000 units of indelible ink to Sierra Leone for the Presidential elections held on 24 June 2023.
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- India's developmental cooperation with Sierra Leone through Lines of Credits (LoCs) and through ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) aggregates to USD 250 million covering a range of sectors. The projects implemented/signed/approved are:
- USD 15 million for agricultural projects including procurement of tractors, harvesters, rice threshers, rice mills, maize shellers and pesticide spray equipment in 2008.
- USD 30 million for rehabilitation of existing facilities and addition of new infrastructure to supply potable water in 2010.
- USD 78 million for transmission line and sub-station project in 2016.
- USD 30 million for irrigation development in Tomabum in 2019.
- USD 15 million for expansion of rehabilitation of existing potable water facilities in four communities in 2019.
- USD 29.45 million for modernization and expansion of network and infrastructure of Sierratel project in 2010 (through EBID); procurement of buses for university and tertiary institutions through EBID.
- USD 20 million for public lighting of Freetown and 13 municipal headquarters through solar energy (through EBID) in 2011.
- USD 32 million for construction of University of Science & Technology at Koidu Town, Kono District (under loan agreement signed between EXIM Bank of India and EBID for USD 500 million in 2018 meant to be funding projects in ECOWAS countries) in 2020.
- To help the Sierra Leonean government combat Ebola Virus Diseases (EVD), in December 2014, India donated USD 50,000 worth of medical equipment and medicines to the local government. This donation was in addition to the Government of India’s contribution of USD 12 million to the UN Trust Fund for Ebola and cash contribution of USD 50,000 to WHO to help fight the Ebola virus disease in the three countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
- In 2009, India gifted 200 military barracks to Sierra Leone. India also provided 29 packages of indelible ink for Sierra Leone's presidential and parliamentary elections held in 2007. India supplied 40,000 tonnes of non-basmati rice in 2008 as assistance to meet urgent needs.
Special Endeavour: Humanitarian Assistance
- In October 2019, India extended humanitarian assistance of 1000 MTs of rice to Sierra Leone as a goodwill gesture.
- India extended financial support of USD 100,000 to the Sierra Leone Residual Special Court through the permanent mission of India to the UN in New York and USD 50,000 contribution to relief efforts for the damages caused by floods and mudslide in August 2017.
