Authors : Joseph Momoh Conteh

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 2 - February

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/5cram2wa

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/24hcbyjt

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26feb488

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Sierra Leone represents a paradox in West Africa. The nation possesses abundant natural resources and a substantial labor force, yet it remains the region's least developed economy. The country struggles with persistent high inflation, inadequate infrastructure, minimal industrialization, and an undiversified economic base. For generations, Sierra Leoneans have aspired to sustainable growth and shared prosperity, but these goals have remained elusive. This paper examines Sierra Leone's economic trajectory through Professor Justin Lin's pragmatic framework: identify existing capabilities, strengthen what works, and scale successful initiatives. The analysis employs the Growth Identification and Facilitation Framework (GIFF), a systematic approach comprising two tracks and six steps designed to uncover sectors with latent comparative advantages and formulate actionable growth strategies. The methodology reveals six priority sectors positioned to drive economic expansion: footwear manufacturing, clothing production, agricultural products, food processing, mining operations, and construction. Each sector demonstrates untapped potential that, with proper support, could generate employment, increase exports, and diversify the economy beyond raw material extraction. The paper proposes a comprehensive intervention strategy combining broad-based reforms with sector-specific measures. Crosscutting improvements include infrastructure development and business environment enhancements that reduce transaction costs and improve competitiveness. Sector-specific interventions address unique challenges facing each priority industry, from skills development to supply chain optimization. The findings suggest that Sierra Leone's path to prosperity lies not in abandoning its resource endowments but in leveraging them strategically while building productive capabilities across multiple sectors. By identifying and nurturing latent comparative advantages through targeted policy interventions, the nation can transform its economic structure. This transition promises to shift Sierra Leone from extractive resource dependence toward broad-based industrial development, creating pathways to inclusive economic prosperity that have eluded previous generations.

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