ITC Kicks Off Three-Day Training on Business Modelling and Financial Readiness for Innovation Hubs in Sierra Leone

By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

Freetown, 6 May 2025 – The International Trade Centre (ITC), in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has launched a three-day training on business modelling and financial readiness for innovation hubs in Freetown.

The training, which began on Tuesday 6 May, forms part of ITC’s flagship Ready Salone project. The initiative aims to strengthen Sierra Leone’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, with a focus on empowering women and youth-led start-ups.

Bringing together over 29 innovation hubs and entrepreneurship support organizations (ESOs), the training provides participants with critical tools to improve service delivery and foster more sustainable business models.

The event opened with the presentation of the Sierra Leone Entrepreneurship Support Ecosystem Mapping Report, offering data-driven insights into the current landscape for entrepreneurs in the country. Key findings highlighted challenges, collaboration opportunities, and actionable recommendations based on global best practices.

Baboucarr Sallah, Programme Officer and Project Manager for Women, Youth and Vulnerable Communities (WYVC) at ITC, noted that the training is informed by a comprehensive nationwide mapping exercise.

“We identified key gaps and overlaps in service delivery and are now equipping hub managers with practical skills to build partnerships and improve their business models,” Sallah explained.

He added that the four-year project, launched in June 2024 with a budget of over $8.6 million, is being implemented in close partnership with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation.

The training is part of broader efforts to enhance the sustainability and impact of innovation hubs, which serve as critical incubators for local enterprises. Future activities under the Ready Salone project include training-of-trainers sessions on e-commerce and the onboarding of local businesses onto digital platforms.

Jesse Kamara, Innovation Lead at the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, described the project as a key milestone in the implementation of Sierra Leone’s National Innovation and Digital Strategy (NIDS).

“We cannot build a robust innovation ecosystem without clear, data-driven insights. This mapping and training provide the foundation for effective policy development and a supportive environment for startups,” Kamara said. He encouraged all ecosystem actors to engage fully with the training and leverage it for collaboration and growth.

Mamoud Javombo also commended the efforts made so far, acknowledging the essential role played by Business Support Organizations (BSOs) and stakeholders.

“I want to thank all the BSOs present. The insights shared during this presentation came directly from your feedback and interviews with entrepreneurs. This mapping report should serve as a guiding document, not just for ITC, but for all of us — including government and development partners — throughout the life of this four-year project,” Javombo remarked.

He emphasized the importance of tracking progress and using the document as a reference point to measure implementation success over time. “It’s not just about identifying gaps, but also recognizing our strengths and building on them. This document belongs to all of us.”

As the Ready Salone project moves forward, it is expected to unlock more opportunities for local entrepreneurs, strengthen innovation hubs, and contribute to building a dynamic digital economy aligned with Sierra Leone’s national development goals.