EBID and Vista Bank Sierra Leone partner to boost SME financing and drive inclusive growth

The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) has signed a US$10 million loan facility with Vista Bank Sierra Leone; a move designed to strengthen the country’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector and promote inclusive economic growth. The agreement was formalised on 27 October 2025 by Dr George Agyekum Donkor, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of EBID, and Mr Pa Ousman Njie, Managing Director of Vista Bank Sierra Leone.

Under the new facility, Vista Bank Sierra Leone will extend its reach to SMEs and corporate clients across key productive sectors of the economy, with a particular emphasis on women-led and youth-driven enterprises. The initiative aims to address one of Sierra Leone’s persistent development challenges — limited access to affordable credit — while stimulating entrepreneurship and job creation.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Donkor underlined the crucial role of SMEs in shaping regional resilience and competitiveness. “Supporting a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, particularly in productive sectors such as agriculture and agribusiness, is critical to enhancing food security, building local industries, and advancing regional value addition,” he said. “By channelling long-term, affordable financing to the real economy, EBID and Vista Bank Sierra Leone are equipping businesses with the resources they need to scale up operations, expand into regional markets, and improve livelihoods.”

Strengthening the private sector

For Vista Bank Sierra Leone, the partnership represents a strategic opportunity to deepen its footprint in the country’s private sector development agenda. Managing Director Pa Ousman Njie described the agreement as a catalyst for meaningful impact across communities. “With prudent credit allocation, robust risk management, and a focus on high-potential sectors, Vista Bank Sierra Leone aims to empower local value creation, broaden financial inclusion, and stimulate impactful economic activity,” he said.

Mr Njie added that the financing will be directed towards sectors with strong multiplier effects — including agriculture, light manufacturing, trade, and services — where SMEs often struggle to secure the capital required to grow sustainably.

A regional development focus

The new facility forms part of EBID’s broader mission to promote sustainable economic transformation across the ECOWAS region. With a growing portfolio that spans both public and private sector operations, the regional development bank has become a key partner for West African economies seeking to bridge infrastructure gaps, enhance productivity, and build resilience against external shocks.

In recent years, EBID has stepped up its engagement with commercial and development banks to expand access to finance for SMEs — widely recognised as the backbone of the region’s economies, accounting for most of the employment and contributing significantly to GDP.

“This partnership with Vista Bank Sierra Leone reaffirms EBID’s commitment to deepening financial intermediation and supporting institutions that share our vision of a prosperous, self-reliant West Africa,” Dr Donkor noted. “We will continue to leverage such collaborations to advance regional integration and accelerate inclusive growth.”

Empowering local enterprise

For Sierra Leone, where SMEs account for over 90% of businesses but face persistent financing constraints, the partnership signals renewed optimism for a more dynamic private sector. By prioritising women and young entrepreneurs, the initiative also aligns with national and regional strategies aimed at promoting gender equality, youth empowerment, and innovation-driven growth.

As EBID consolidates its regional footprint and Vista Bank Sierra Leone scales its SME portfolio, both institutions are demonstrating how strategic financial cooperation can translate into tangible benefits for communities and economies alike.

In the words of Dr Donkor, “Development finance must ultimately be about impact — about people. It is through partnerships like this that we can empower the next generation of African entrepreneurs to create the wealth, jobs, and opportunities that our continent needs.”