The World Bank Group has appointed Aissatou Diallo, a Guinean national, with nearly three decades of experience in development finance, as its new Country Manager for Sierra Leone.
Ms Diallo will be based in Freetown and will oversee the World Bank’s portfolio in Sierra Leone, which is currently valued at nearly US$1.2 billion. In her new role, she will lead the Bank’s engagement with the Government of Sierra Leone, development partners, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders to advance the country’s development priorities.
Her appointment comes at a critical time as Sierra Leone continues efforts to accelerate economic growth, create jobs, strengthen human capital, improve resilience to climate and economic shocks, and attract greater private-sector investment.
As Country Manager, Ms Diallo will provide strategic leadership for the implementation of the World Bank’s country programme, with a focus on supporting inclusive economic transformation, improving livelihoods, expanding opportunities for young people, strengthening institutions, and promoting sustainable development.
Ms Diallo brings extensive experience in development operations, financial management, policy dialogue, partnerships, and working in fragile and conflict-affected environments. She has spent more than two decades with the World Bank Group, having joined the institution in the early 2000s, and has served in several senior leadership positions across Africa and other regions.
Before her appointment to Sierra Leone, Ms Diallo served as Resident Representative for Gabon, where she led the World Bank’s engagement with the country. She previously served as Resident Representative for Equatorial Guinea from October 2022 to June 2025.
Earlier in her career, she worked as Senior Financial Management Coordinator for countries in Western and Central Africa, contributing to programmes across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe and Central Asia. Prior to joining the World Bank, she worked as an internal auditor and tax accountant, building a strong foundation in financial governance and accountability.
Expressing her commitment to her new assignment, Ms Diallo said she was honoured to serve as the World Bank Group’s Country Manager for Sierra Leone and looked forward to deepening the institution’s partnership with the country.
“Throughout my career, I have witnessed the extraordinary resilience, ingenuity, and determination of communities to overcome development challenges. I look forward to working closely with the Government, development partners, civil society, the private sector, and citizens across the country to advance opportunities that create jobs, strengthen human capital, build resilience, and improve lives for all Sierra Leoneans,” she said.
The World Bank has been a major development partner for Sierra Leone, supporting key sectors including agriculture, energy, water and sanitation, social protection, governance, digital transformation, human capital development, and private-sector growth.
Among its recent interventions is the US$40 million grant approved in June 2026 for the Sustainable Agricultural Value-chains Intensification for Growth (SAVIG) project. The initiative is designed to improve agricultural productivity, encourage private investment, and create jobs within key value chains under the Government’s Feed Salone agenda.
The Bank has also emphasised the importance of private-sector reforms and investment to support Sierra Leone’s employment needs, including the creation of thousands of new jobs annually for the country’s growing workforce.
Ms Diallo succeeds Abdu Muwonge as Country Manager and assumes office as the World Bank prepares its next Country Partnership Framework for Sierra Leone, expected to guide the institution’s support programme from approximately fiscal year 2027 to 2032.
Her appointment is expected to further strengthen the World Bank’s collaboration with Sierra Leone as the country continues to pursue economic transformation, food security, job creation, and increased resilience for its people.