Sierra Leone Advances National Digital Identity and Digital Public Infrastructure Agenda

The Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI)  has convened a national Public-Private Sector Dialogue Forum to advance Sierra Leone’s digital identity and Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) agenda, marking the next phase of a strategic partnership established earlier this year.

The dialogue follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June 2026 between the Ministry, Bhutan National Digital Identity (Bhutan NDI) and the SIGN Foundation. The agreement aims to support the development of Sierra Leone’s national digital identity ecosystem through open-source technology, verifiable credentials and internationally recognised standards for privacy, security and data sovereignty.

The forum brought together representatives from government, the private sector, financial institutions, academia, civil society and development partners to discuss the country’s approach to Digital Public Infrastructure. According to the Ministry, the engagement focused on establishing the digital foundations needed to improve access to public services, enable business innovation and enhance the efficiency of government service delivery.

Discussions centred on the three core pillars of Digital Public Infrastructure: trusted digital identity, secure and efficient digital payments, and interoperable data exchange. These components are expected to form the foundation of Sierra Leone’s broader digital transformation strategy.

The Ministry said the dialogue marks the beginning of a coordinated national effort to develop the policies, governance frameworks and technical infrastructure required to build a trusted, secure and inclusive digital identity ecosystem that supports citizens, businesses and public institutions.