About the Project
READY Salone is a national digital-skills and innovation programme designed to unlock economic opportunities for Sierra Leonean youth, women, and small businesses. Implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in partnership with KOICA and the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI), the project equips young people with practical digital competencies that enable them to learn, work, earn, and innovate in today’s rapidly changing digital economy.
Launched in 2024, READY Salone is part of Sierra Leone’s broader commitment to accelerate digital transformation, youth employment, women’s inclusion, and the development of a nationally competitive digital workforce. The programme supports the Government’s strategic agenda under the Big Five Game Changers, especially the pillars of Human Capital Development, Youth Employment, and Technology & Infrastructure.
At its core, READY Salone brings inclusive, accessible and market-driven digital opportunities to young people across Sierra Leone — ensuring that no youth is left behind in the country’s digital future.
Why READY Salone?
Sierra Leone’s youth represent one of the country’s greatest assets. Yet, many young people face barriers accessing decent jobs, digital skills, and income-generating opportunities. The global digital economy is expanding rapidly, and remote work, e-commerce, digital entrepreneurship, and online freelancing are creating unprecedented pathways for youth to participate meaningfully in the global marketplace.
READY Salone responds to these opportunities by:
- Building job-ready digital skills that match global industry demands
- Strengthening local innovation ecosystems and tech hubs
- Enabling youth to compete for international online work
- Supporting startups and SMEs to operate digitally and efficiently
- Expanding access to women, rural youth, and underserved groups
Through hands-on training, mentorship, and ecosystem support, READY Salone is helping create a generation of Sierra Leonean youth that can work confidently in digital spaces, build sustainable businesses, and contribute to national development.
Objectives of READY Salone
Strengthen digital literacy and core ICT skills
Equip youth with essential digital competencies, productivity tools, online safety awareness, and foundational ICT skills.
Support youth to access digital employment and freelancing opportunities
Provide hands-on training that enables young people to take up work on global platforms and earn remotely.
Build entrepreneurial and business-development skills
Deliver training for SMEs and startups in digital marketing, e-commerce, financial readiness, business modeling, and customer engagement.
Strengthen the national innovation ecosystem
Support innovation hubs with capacity building, mapping, HCD training, and operational support to improve service delivery.
Promote inclusive digital participation
Ensure that women, persons with disabilities, and underserved youth have equitable access to digital opportunities.
Contribute to Sierra Leone’s national digital transformation goals
Align activities with national policies and support the Government’s efforts to create a competitive digital workforce.
Programme Pillars
Pillar 1 — Digital Literacy & Core Skills
Participants learn foundational digital tools, online safety, document creation, productivity software, and essential workplace tech skills.
Pillar 2 — Digital Freelancing & Online Work
Training enables youth to build profiles, navigate global job platforms, pitch to clients, manage projects, and secure paid online work.
Pillar 3 — E-commerce & Digital Business Development
SMEs and entrepreneurs receive training in online selling, digital payments, business branding, customer experience, and cross-border trade.
Pillar 4 — Human-Centred Design & Innovation Skills
Participants from innovation hubs and tech communities learn the HCD approach for designing inclusive, user-driven solutions.
Pillar 5 — Innovation Hub Strengthening
READY Salone supports tech hubs with strategic mapping, capacity building, mentorship, visibility, and operational improvement.
Pillar 6 — Women’s Empowerment in Digital Spaces
Targeted programmes ensure women have access to digital-skills training, entrepreneurship support, and freelancing opportunities.
Key targets
Reach 10,000 Youth
(30% women) learn about work, education and entrepreneurial opportunities in the digital economy
Train 250
Young entrepreneurs and startups become more competitive through digital technologies
Support 8
Business support organizations and tech hubs improve their service offerings to youth
About ITC
As the joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, the International Trade Centre (ITC) is the only multilateral agency fully dedicated to supporting the internationalization of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Its joint mandate combines a focus on expanding trade opportunities with the aim of fostering sustainable development. To learn more about our work, click here.
About KOICA
In support of the joint response to global issues (poverty, gender equality, climate, change, human rights, etc.), KOICA has carried out multilateral development cooperation projects primarily in countries lacking in or excluded from aid and areas with ongoing conflicts, utilizing the expertise and networks of the international organizations to supplement existing two-party bilateral aid. The aim is to establish strategic partnerships with international organizations to create synergy.