The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development has approved more than $101m in financing for energy and digital governance projects in Sierra Leone and Guinea, underlining the growing role of regional development banks in advancing sustainable growth and global development priorities across West Africa.
The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has approved more than $101m in new financing for infrastructure and institutional development projects in Sierra Leone and Guinea, reinforcing the growing role of regional development finance institutions in delivering solutions to global sustainability challenges. The approvals were granted at the Bank's 94th Board Session and reflect a strategic focus on energy security, digital governance and long-term economic resilience across West Africa.
Speaking at the session, EBID's President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr George Agyekum Donkor, emphasised that the investments go beyond national development priorities. According to Dr Donkor, they represent practical and scalable approaches to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through regionally grounded action. By strengthening energy systems and embedding data-driven governance, EBID aims to empower member states while contributing to global efforts to build inclusive, resilient and sustainable economies.
The largest allocation, amounting to $79.389m, has been approved for the Sierra Leone Energy Transmission Project. The initiative involves the construction of a 225 kV and 66 kV transmission network designed to strengthen the country's electricity grid and address long-standing constraints to power reliability. For Sierra Leone, the project is expected to play a pivotal role in improving national energy security, supporting industrial development and reducing system losses that have historically undermined productivity.
From a broader perspective, the project speaks directly to the challenges facing developing economies seeking a just and orderly energy transition. By modernising transmission infrastructure, Sierra Leone will be better positioned to integrate renewable energy sources and reduce reliance on environmentally unsustainable power generation. The project also holds regional significance, as enhanced grid capacity can facilitate future cross-border electricity trade within the ECOWAS sub-region, contributing to more efficient and interconnected energy markets.
EBID has also approved $21.808m for the establishment of Guinea's National Development Observatory and Digital Atlas Project, an initiative aimed at modernising the country's development planning and public administration systems. The project will deploy advanced geospatial data and digital tools to strengthen policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation across key sectors.
In an era where data has become a central asset for effective governance, the investment highlights the growing importance of digital transformation and data sovereignty for developing countries. By institutionalising evidence-based planning, Guinea is expected to improve transparency, optimise resource allocation and enhance coordination between national and local development initiatives. The framework being created has relevance well beyond Guinea, offering a potential model for other countries seeking to harness digital tools to improve public sector performance and accountability.
Taken together, the approved investments demonstrate EBID's deliberate alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals and its role in translating global commitments into concrete outcomes at the regional level. The energy transmission project directly advances SDG 7 by supporting access to reliable and modern energy, while also contributing to SDGs 8 and 9 through its impact on industrial growth, job creation and resilient infrastructure. Meanwhile, the digital governance initiative in Guinea strengthens institutional capacity and supports more effective development planning, reinforcing the foundations for sustainable economic growth.
Equally important is the financing approach underpinning the projects. EBID's use of co-financing structures and emphasis on institutional strengthening underscore its commitment to SDG 17, which recognises partnerships as a critical driver of sustainable development. By mobilising capital, expertise and regional cooperation, the Bank continues to position itself as a key catalyst for development solutions that resonate at both regional and global levels.
As development finance institutions face increasing pressure to demonstrate impact and alignment with international priorities, EBID's latest approvals offer a clear example of how regional banks can bridge the gap between global development frameworks and on-the-ground transformation in Africa.