UNDP and Partners Call for Papers Ahead of National Policy Conference on Sustainable Development Financing

Freetown, Sierra Leone – 25 June 2025: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sierra Leone, in partnership with the Economics Association of Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Finance, the International Growth Centre, other UN agencies, and development partners, will convene a high-level Policy Conference on 7–8 October 2025 in Freetown.

Themed “Options for Sustainable Development Financing for Sierra Leone Amidst the Evolving Global Uncertainties,” the conference will serve as a platform for generating policy-relevant intelligence and actionable knowledge to inform Sierra Leone’s transformation agenda and strengthen economic resilience.

As part of preparations, UNDP and its partners are inviting eligible national and international policymakers, academics, researchers, and development stakeholders to submit full research or policy papers for presentation at the conference. Papers should align with the main theme and address any of the following sub-themes:

• Strengthening domestic revenue mobilization for sustainable development financing

• Constraints and opportunities for raising alternative financing and capital investment.

• Promoting access to finance and financial inclusion for effective private sector participation.

• Tapping into innovative financing instruments for sustainable development

• Unlocking local economic development for inclusive growth and enhanced financing flows

The Conference seeks evidence-based, policy-oriented papers grounded in strong empirical research or relevant experiences from other economies. Selected papers will help shape policy discourse and contribute to framing strategies for inclusive and sustainable development in Sierra Leone.

Interested contributors are requested to submit full papers electronically to: sle.policyconference@undp.org by 8th August, 2025. Only complete papers addressing the conference theme will be considered for presentation.

Further details, including submission guidelines, can be found in the Conference Concept Note.

Media Contact:
Janet Alamisi Dabire 

Communications Specialist
UNDP Sierra Leone
janet.dabire@undp.org
+23230968970