IMF Technical Mission Begins Talks to Unlock $210 Million Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF)
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has commenced a technical mission in Sierra Leone to advance discussions on the country’s request for access to the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF), a lending instrument designed to support long-term structural reforms that address climate change and strengthen resilience.
Sierra Leone is pursuing RSF financing in parallel with its ongoing Extended Credit Facility (ECF)-supported program. If approved at 75% quota, the RSF would provide approximately $210 million in support. The reform measures are expected to be rolled out over a two-year period and completed by end-2027.
The mission will finalize timelines, responsibilities, and coordination among key government institutions, including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, and the National Disaster Management Agency.
Chairing the opening discussions on Monday, 29 September 2025, Acting Minister of Finance, Kadiatu Allie, stressed the importance of alignment on both timing and content, urging all agencies and partners to coordinate effectively.
According to Sellu McCarthy, Head of the Climate Finance Unit at the Ministry of Finance, progress will be tracked through four semi-annual reviews, conducted alongside ECF reviews. Each review will assess progress on reform commitments, with the successful completion of milestones triggering disbursements under the RSF. This structure is intended to ensure both accountability and sustained reform momentum.
The reform agenda will focus on strengthening climate governance, infrastructure resilience, fiscal planning, social protection, water utility sustainability, and financial sector reporting.
Representatives from the World Bank welcomed the mission’s work but called for additional technical discussions to ensure clarity and shared understanding of the reform process.
