• The government hosted a workshop to validate Sierra Leone’s first Open-Source Software Policy.

• The policy supports the 2021 Digital Development Plan. It aims to boost growth and reduce tech costs by using open-source tools.

• Sierra Leone joins Kenya and Rwanda in using open-source digital infrastructure for services like ID, payments, and data.

 The Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation (MoCTI) hosted a national validation workshop on November 17 to review and refine Sierra Leone’s first Open-Source Software Policy for the public sector. Over fifty ICT officers, system administrators, and digital practitioners convened at the Ministry’s Conference Room in Freetown for the event.

Permanent Secretary Stevenson Kakpaetae Kamanda emphasized the significance of the policy, stating, “By adopting open-source as the foundation for public sector technology, we are choosing solutions that are affordable, secure, and built for Sierra Leone’s long-term future. This policy sets the stage for digital services that are reliable, sustainable, and truly owned by the country.”

The policy builds on the National Digital Development Policy 2021, which promotes a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to digital transformation. Its overarching goal is to drive economic growth and human capital development through digital tools, with the ambition of achieving middle-income status by 2039. While progress has been made, the World Bank’s 2021 Digital Economy Diagnostic Report highlighted persistent challenges such as fragmented infrastructure, outdated strategies, and weak legal frameworks. The Open-Source Software Policy seeks to address these gaps by advancing scalable, interoperable, and cost-efficient digital systems.

By making open-source software the default for government digital infrastructure, the policy marks a shift toward technology sovereignty and sustainable innovation. It enables public institutions to reduce costs, avoid vendor lock-in, and develop solutions tailored to national needs. Participants at the workshop raised practical considerations around procurement, cybersecurity, capacity-building, and the need for unified standards across ministries.

Sierra Leone’s initiative aligns with a broader continental movement. Countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and Rwanda are investing in digital public infrastructure that leverages open-source components to support services such as digital ID, payments, and data exchange. These efforts reflect a shared commitment to affordability, transparency, and local innovation.

Globally, the open-source software market is expanding rapidly. According to The Business Research Company, it reached $41.83 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $85.6 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate of 15.2%. Governments around the world are increasingly adopting open-source tools as foundational elements of their digital transformation strategies.

Hikmatu Bilali