The Climate Adaptation Technology, Business Model Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Sierra Leone (CATBIE) Project has launched a new technical working group to connect climate adaptation technologies with businesses, investors, and financial institutions. The Adaptation Innovation Technical Working Group (AITWG) aims to strengthen enterprise resilience and create economic opportunities. The initiative is supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The launch took place on October 29, 2026, at New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown. UNIDO Country Representative Mariatu Swarray emphasized that climate adaptation should be treated not only as an environmental priority but also as an economic development opportunity. She highlighted the significant challenges climate change poses to Sierra Leone's productive sectors, livelihoods, and businesses, particularly micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Swarray noted that the working group would provide a platform for government institutions, businesses, financial institutions, academic and research organizations, civil society, and development partners to coordinate their efforts and develop practical responses to climate-related challenges. She called for stronger partnerships, supportive policies, improved access to appropriate technologies, and increased investment to help enterprises withstand climate shocks and remain competitive.
Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDA) CEO and CATBIE National Project Director Shaka Samuel Sannoh also emphasized the need for coordinated action to address the effects of climate change on businesses and communities. He described the AITWG as a multistakeholder platform for technical coordination, policy dialogue, knowledge sharing, and stakeholder engagement in support of climate adaptation, technology deployment, entrepreneurship, and investment.
During the technical presentations, Abubakarr Sesay from the Ministry of Trade and Industry outlined Sierra Leone's vulnerability to climate change, highlighting flooding, coastal erosion, unpredictable rainfall, rising temperatures, and heat stress. He discussed the country's commitments under the Paris Agreement, including its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which set out the country's climate mitigation and adaptation priorities.
Henry David Bayoh, a senior climate consultant, presented the institutional framework and development process for NDC 3.0. He outlined the involvement of various stakeholders in climate policy coordination and the development process, which included reviewing progress under NDC 2.0, identifying data gaps, and incorporating national policies and scientific findings.
The new initiative aims to promote the development and commercialization of adaptation technologies, products, and services across the water, energy, and food sectors. Key stakeholders are expected to work together to move Sierra Leone from climate adaptation planning toward investment, innovation, and the wider deployment of locally relevant solutions.
Key points
- The CATBIE Project launched a technical working group to connect climate adaptation technologies with businesses and investors.
- The initiative aims to strengthen enterprise resilience and create economic opportunities in Sierra Leone.
- The working group will focus on reviewing and validating its mandate and operational framework, agreeing on governance arrangements, and developing a roadmap for its activities.
