Directorate of Innovation

Overview

The Directorate of Innovation is a core arm of the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation (MoCTI). It is mandated to develop a forward-looking, inclusive, and sustainable national innovation ecosystem that drives economic growth, improves governance, and enhances social development.

The directorate’s work focuses on applying innovation to address national challenges, improve public service delivery, and support Sierra Leone’s transformation into a knowledge-driven, technology-enabled economy.

While the Directorate of Technology provides digital tools and infrastructure, the Directorate of Innovation ensures these tools are strategically applied to create solutions that improve lives and promote national development.

Core Mandate

The Directorate of Innovation leads and coordinates national efforts to advance innovation across all sectors. It supports the creation of scalable and sustainable solutions that align with the country’s development priorities. Innovation is pursued through multiple dimensions, technology, policy, governance, systems improvement, and service delivery.

Students Trained in Digital Skills

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Innovators Supported

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Funding Investment

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Strategic Objectives

Strengthen National Digital Innovation Policy and Governance

Develop and implement national innovation policies and frameworks that promote coordination, inclusivity, and long-term growth.

Develop a Skilled, Future-Ready Workforce

Promote digital literacy, STEM education, and continuous learning to equip citizens, especially youth, with skills for a modern economy.

Empower Entrepreneurship and Startup Growth

Support startups and entrepreneurs through financing, mentorship, incubation, and access to markets to stimulate economic growth.

Apply Innovation for Sustainable Development

Drive innovative solutions to address challenges in health, education, energy, agriculture, environment, and culture for inclusive national impact.

Build a Collaborative Innovation Ecosystem

Strengthen partnerships between government, academia, private sector, and civil society to promote research, knowledge exchange, and resource mobilization.

Functions and Responsibilities

Governance and Policy Innovation

Develop and implement national innovation policies and strategies
Establish guidelines and standards for innovation in public and private sectors
Anticipate global trends to prepare Sierra Leone for emerging opportunities
Encourage experimentation, pilot programs, and citizen engagement via open data
Strengthen public-private partnerships to improve service delivery

Human Capital and Workforce Innovation

Lead national digital literacy campaigns
Strengthen STEM education and problem-solving skills
Introduce innovation bootcamps and lifelong learning programs
Partner with industries for internships and apprenticeships
Support youth-driven innovation projects through mentorship and funding
Introduce AI and robotics training in technical institutions
Recognize informal and online learning achievements

Entrepreneurship & SME Innovation

Support incubators, accelerators, and startup ecosystems
Provide seed funding and microloans for innovative SMEs
Organize national innovation challenges and hackathons
Promote export strategies for local products
Attract venture capital and angel investment
Offer tax incentives for research and startups
Develop innovation clusters and co-working spaces

Science, Research & Ecosystem Development

Establish research hubs and innovation parks
Facilitate technology transfer between academia and industry
Create a national innovation fund
Host international innovation summits
Support intellectual property protection and recognition of innovators
Develop community innovation hubs in underserved regions
Develop innovation clusters and co-working spaces

Monitoring & Evaluation

Relationship Between Innovation and Technology

The Directorate of Innovation and the Directorate of Technology operate collaboratively but with distinct roles:

Innovation is outcome-driven: focusing on creativity, human-centered design, and systemic transformation.

Technology is tool-driven: providing the platforms and systems that enable innovations to succeed.

2025 Activities and Priorities

Big 5 A.I. & Blockchain Hackathon

National program training emerging AI developers; ongoing until December 2025

Establishment of 16 Digital Learning Hubs

Supported by the World Bank one hub per district, equipped with laptops, solar power, high-speed internet

Digital Skills Training

Supported by the World Bank training 1,500 Sierra Leoneans (including women and PWDs) across the 16 hubs

Learn2Earn Pilot Program

Supported by UNICEF, training youth in remote work skills; launching November 2025

DPG Accelerator Lab

In partnership with UNICEF, helping startups develop open-source Digital Public Goods; launching November 2025

Sierra Leone Innovates: Digital Government Summit

Over 3,000 participants, including national leaders

Big Five Innovation Investment Challenge

Trained 250 startups, invested $60,000 in three winners

Digital Learning Hub

Supported by UNICEF, one fully equipped Digital Learning hub was completed and donated to Lorenzo School Waterloo as an Educube pilot.

DPG Community Meetups

Supported by UNICEF Five meetups organized to promote open-source collaboration

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Impact Indicators

Beneficiaries reached, jobs created, gender and inclusion metrics, youth employment

Capacity Building & Training

Number of trainings, participants by gender, inclusion metrics

Innovation Infrastructure

Number of hubs, labs, co-working spaces established

Ecosystem Engagements

Stakeholder meetings, MoUs, partnerships

Youth & Startup Support

Number of startups and innovators supported or funded

Partnerships & Collaboration

Local and international partnerships

Policy & Governance

Policies drafted, validated, or approved (e.g. AI Strategy)

Innovation Events

Summits, hackathons, meetups, showcases, attendee numbers