The Chief Executive Officer of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDA), Sharka Samuel Sannoh, has disclosed that the agency is implementing a Climate Adaptation Business Model Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CATBIE) project worth more than US$8 million to support small businesses in Sierra Leone’s energy, water, and food sectors.
Mr. Sannoh made the statement during an event organized by SMEDA in collaboration with United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and other partners to commemorate World Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Day on 27 June 2026.
He explained that over the past year, many micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) have faced significant challenges in operating and expanding their businesses. According to him, the Climate Adaptation Business Model Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CATBIE) Sierra Leone Project, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), was established to help address these challenges by promoting climate-resilient business innovation and entrepreneurship.
Mr. Sannoh further noted that MSMEs account for approximately 80 percent of businesses worldwide, create about 60 percent of jobs, and contribute around 40 percent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
