Sierra Leone is taking steps towards shaping its national approach to artificial intelligence, with the World Bank working alongside the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation to assess the country’s readiness to develop and adopt AI technologies.
The assessment, described by the World Bank as its first national AI readiness diagnostic for Sierra Leone, draws on contributions from businesses, academic institutions, civil society organisations and public-sector bodies. It is intended to identify the opportunities, gaps and priorities that should guide the country’s AI development.
The World Bank says the exercise places Sierra Leone at the centre of decisions about how artificial intelligence should be developed and applied, rather than relying solely on approaches designed elsewhere.
The diagnostic is expected to help identify the country’s strengths and weaknesses in areas such as digital infrastructure, technical skills, institutional capacity and the policy environment. Its findings could inform the development of a national AI strategy.
The initiative forms part of wider digital transformation efforts supported by the World Bank. The Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project, implemented by MoCTI, is backed by a US$50 million grant aimed at expanding digital access, improving skills and strengthening government services.
The assessment comes as Sierra Leone seeks to harness AI for economic growth and better public services while addressing concerns around data protection, misinformation, responsible use and the risk of leaving communities with limited digital access behind.
The key challenge will be translating the diagnostic into practical policies, investment and skills development that allow Sierra Leoneans to benefit from AI, rather than remaining consumers of technologies developed elsewhere.
