Sierra Leone–Finland Investment Forum

Newsroom

News and announcements

Updates from the secretariat on forums, pipeline cohorts and partnerships.

Announcement

Sierra Leone joins the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action

Sierra Leone's membership of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action has been endorsed, and the Ministry of Finance has established a Climate Finance Unit to carry the work. The Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland and the Sierra Leone-Finland Investment Forum team supported the process. Climate finance now joins the priority sectors the Forum brings to Nordic and international capital in Helsinki on 23 and 24 November.

Announcement

Helsinki forum dates confirmed for 23–24 November 2026

The Sierra Leone–Finland Investment Forum will convene in Helsinki on 23–24 November 2026, with a ministerial delegation from Freetown and pre-screened matchmaking across six priority sectors.

Delegates seated in plenary at an earlier Sierra Leone-Finland Investment Forum in Helsinki
Delegates in plenary at a previous edition of the Sierra Leone-Finland Investment Forum, Helsinki. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
Programme

Finnpartnership cost-sharing explained for African project sponsors

Finnish SMEs can have up to 70% of eligible project costs covered when developing business with African partners (50% for large companies). Our clinic walks sponsors through what qualifies.

Speaker addressing delegates beneath the Sierra Leone-Finland Investment Forum banner in Helsinki
A Forum session in Helsinki, beneath the Forum banner. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
Pipeline

First pipeline cohort opens: agriculture, housing and energy

Applications are now open for companies across all 54 African countries. Approved companies are published to the Deal Room where registered investors can request meetings.

Partnership

Freetown to host the reciprocal Europe forum on 28–29 January 2027

A Nordic and European delegation will travel to Sierra Leone for site visits and due diligence on projects originating from the Helsinki matchmaking round.

Forum gallery

Photographs from earlier editions in Helsinki. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.

Delegates seated in plenary at an earlier Sierra Leone-Finland Investment Forum in Helsinki
Delegates in plenary at a previous edition of the Sierra Leone-Finland Investment Forum, Helsinki. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
Speaker addressing delegates beneath the Sierra Leone-Finland Investment Forum banner in Helsinki
A Forum session in Helsinki, beneath the Forum banner. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
Sierra Leonean and Finnish participants seated around a table during a sector roundtable
A sector roundtable: Sierra Leonean and Finnish participants around the table. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
Forum participants in a working session with remote partners visible on a screen
A Forum working session, with partners joining on screen. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
Sierra Leonean and Finnish participants holding bilateral discussions around a meeting table
Bilateral discussions during the Forum. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
Delegates seated around a conference table during a Forum session
Delegates in session. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
The Sierra Leone delegation seated at a long conference table in Helsinki
The Sierra Leone delegation in Helsinki. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
Participants gathered around a table during a Forum working session
A working session of the Forum. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
A group of smiling participants at an earlier Forum in Helsinki
Participants at the Forum. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
A group of participants gathered at an earlier Sierra Leone-Finland Investment Forum in Helsinki
Participants at the Forum. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
Delegates standing together at an earlier Sierra Leone-Finland Investment Forum in Helsinki
Delegates at the Forum. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
Sierra Leone-Finland Investment Forum banner beside the European Union flag in Helsinki
The Forum banner: Sierra Leone-Finland Investment Forum, Helsinki. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.
Official portrait of a Forum representative standing beside the flag of Sierra Leone
Official portrait with the flag of Sierra Leone. Photo: Sierra Leone Planning Office in Finland.

Want to be in the next cohort?

Applications are open to companies from all 54 African countries and to Nordic, Finnish and international investors.

ApplySee the forums