By Lamin Bangura
Sierra Leone’s Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC) has completed a three-day training workshop aimed at strengthening government capacity to structure public–private partnerships (PPP) for major water infrastructure projects, officials said.
The workshop, held from March 2 to 4 in Freetown with support from the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) of the African Development Bank (AfDB), brought together senior representatives from government institutions involved in infrastructure policy, regulation and project implementation.
Participants included officials from the Ministry of Finance, the PPP Directorate at the National Investment Board, the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission, the National Water Resources Management Agency, Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO), the National Consumer Protection Commission, the WASH Network and the Freetown City Council.
The training forms part of broader government efforts to modernise the water sector and attract private investment through structured PPP arrangements.
During the workshop, participants examined PPP project structuring, procurement procedures, financing models and contract management for large infrastructure projects.
Technical sessions were led by specialists from the ALSF, advisory firm Rebel Group, law firm AELEX and local legal counterpart Garber & Co., who are supporting the preparation of the Mountain Communities Bulk Water Supply Project.
Managing Director of Guma Valley Water Company Mariwan Kallon said Sierra Leone needed to move beyond theoretical discussions of PPPs and focus on practical implementation.
“For too long our understanding of PPPs, especially in the water sector, has been confined to theory,” Kallon said during the workshop. “What we need now is the practical experience that will allow our utility to negotiate effectively with international partners and implement projects that are financially viable, technically sound and environmentally sustainable.”
Deputy Managing Director Prince Moore-Sourie said the PPP model could help mobilise private capital for large water infrastructure projects that government alone may struggle to finance.
“This is the first time a water service provider in Sierra Leone is exploring private sector participation for infrastructure delivery,” he said, adding that strengthening institutional capacity was essential before entering such agreements.
The training focused heavily on the Mountain Communities Bulk Water Supply Project, which aims to expand access to safe water in hillside communities around Freetown, including Regent, Gloucester, Leicester, Charlotte, Bathurst, Babadorie, Imatt and Hill Station.
The project is being structured as a 27-year PPP and is expected to benefit more than 300,000 residents by developing new dam infrastructure and modern water treatment facilities.
Camille Faure, speaking on behalf of the African Legal Support Facility, said the Government of Sierra Leone requested technical support for the project in 2023.
She said the support includes reviewing the country’s legal and regulatory framework for PPPs, strengthening project documentation and developing transaction templates for future infrastructure partnerships.
Legal adviser Olusina Sipasa of AELEX said Sierra Leone’s PPP regulatory framework provided a solid basis for managing complex infrastructure partnerships.
Under the proposed model, a private partner would be responsible for raising capital, constructing water infrastructure and treating water, while Guma Valley Water Company would oversee regulation, risk management and public engagement, he said.
Matt Gills of Rebel Group, the project’s commercial and financial adviser, said large water projects often require significant upfront investment.
“Building dams and treatment plants requires substantial capital, and tariffs alone are often not enough to cover the full investment costs,” he said.
He said the project would require a balanced financing structure involving government support, development partners and private investors.
Sierra Leone is seeking to expand water supply infrastructure as part of efforts to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of universal access to safe water and sanitation. The Mountain Communities project is expected to serve as a pilot for future initiatives under the Western Area Water Supply Master Plan.
