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Human Capital Development

Building a Skilled, Healthy, and Inclusive Workforce for a Thriving Sierra Leone

Human Capital Development (HCD) is the heart of national transformation. Without an educated, skilled, and healthy population, there can be no sustainable development.

Under the Big Five Game Changers, Sierra Leone is doubling down on investments in people—especially in education, healthcare, gender equality, water and sanitation, housing, and social protection. The Human Capital Development agenda aims to empower every Sierra Leonean to live with dignity, contribute meaningfully, and thrive in a competitive 21st-century economy.

This priority is not just about services—it’s about unlocking human potential.

THE PRESIDENT'S VISION

This Big Five priority scales up previous gains and widens the scope of human capital to include skills, safety, equity, and long-term wellbeing.

With HCD at the center, Sierra Leone is preparing a resilient, innovative, and productive workforce that will drive the country toward middle-income status by 2039.

Our vision is a Sierra Leone where every child is educated, every woman is empowered, and every citizen is healthy and skilled. Human Capital Development is the cornerstone of our national ambition.
Brig. Rtd. Julius Maada Wonie BioPresident of the Republic of Sierra Leone

Core Pillars Of HCD

This reform priority focuses on five areas that will redefine how government works and serves.

Free Quality Basic and Senior Secondary Education

Ensure that every child—regardless of income, gender, or geography—has access to inclusive, equitable, and high-quality education.

Key actions

  • Maintain 20%+ of national budget allocation to education
  • Expand school infrastructure and teacher recruitment
  • Provide free textbooks, uniforms, and exams
  • Address school violence and increase girls’ retention
  • Strengthen learning assessments and curriculum reform

Outcome: Government that works, measures results, and takes responsibility.

Tertiary and Higher Education

Improve access, quality, and employability of graduates from universities and technical institutes.

Key actions

  • Upgrade public universities and polytechnics
  • Promote Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
  • Expand research and innovation programs
  • Establish new higher education institutions in underserved regions

Outcome: A civil service filled with smart, skilled, and motivated professionals.

Health and Nutrition

Deliver affordable, quality healthcare to all—especially mothers, children, and the elderly.

Key actions

  • Invest in hospitals, clinics, and mobile health units
  • Train and deploy healthcare workers to rural areas
  • Provide free maternal and child healthcare
  • Improve immunization, nutrition, and mental health services

Outcome: A modern, connected, efficient state that saves time and reduces corruption.

Ending AIDS and TB by 2030

Achieve near-zero infections and deaths from HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

Key actions

  • Scale up prevention campaigns and testing
  • Ensure affordable access to antiretroviral and TB medication
  • Support vulnerable populations and strengthen data systems

Outcome: A responsive, inclusive government that works where people live.

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)

Universal access to clean water, safe sanitation, and hygiene education.

Key actions

  • Construct and rehabilitate water supply systems
  • Promote hygiene practices and menstrual health
  • End open defecation through latrine coverage
  • Mainstream WASH in schools and health centers

Outcome: A responsive, inclusive government that works where people live.

Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality

Remove structural barriers to women’s participation in education, leadership, and the economy.

Key actions

  • Enforce the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Act
  • Increase female political representation and access to finance
  • Expand reproductive health and GBV support services
  • Promote girls’ STEM education and land rights

Outcome: Citizens regain confidence in their institutions and participate in governance.

Protection of Children, the Aged, and Persons with Disabilities

Guarantee dignity, safety, and opportunity for vulnerable populations.

Key actions

  • Strengthen child protection and early childhood development programs
  • Provide social assistance and pensions to the elderly
  • Ensure inclusive schools and workplaces for persons with disabilities

Outcome: A responsive, inclusive government that works where people live.

Social Protection

Shield the poorest and most vulnerable from shocks and chronic poverty.

Key actions

  • Expand the Social Safety Net cash transfer program
  • Integrate disability, women-led households, and displaced youth into coverage
  • Strengthen coordination of humanitarian responses

Outcome: A responsive, inclusive government that works where people live.

Land, Housing, and Urban Development

Ensure access to secure housing, planned urban development, and fair land distribution.

Key actions

  • Scale low-income housing programs
  • Expand access to legal land titles
  • Implement smart city and rural-urban integration policies

Outcome: Citizens regain confidence in their institutions and participate in governance.

Sierra Leone’s greatest resource is its people.

Through the Human Capital Development agenda, we are building a nation where every citizen has the tools to succeed—regardless of background, gender, or geography. When we invest in people, we invest in peace, prosperity, and our shared future.