The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is exploring partnership opportunities with the Mano River Union (MRU) Secretariat, aiming to unlock industrial and trade opportunities across the subregion.

A high-level UNIDO delegation led by Dr. Victor Djemba, UNIDO Africa Bureau Chief, paid a courtesy visit to the MRU Secretariat in Freetown as part of their ongoing mission in Sierra Leone. The team included Ms. Matilda C. Muweme, Senior Programme Officer from UNIDO headquarters in Vienna, and Ms. Mariatu A. Swaray, UNIDO Country Representative for Sierra Leone.

During the meeting, Dr. Djemba introduced the Programme for Country Partnership (PCP)—a flagship UNIDO framework that goes beyond traditional technical assistance.

“The PCP helps countries develop project outlines aligned with their national development programmes and brings them toward bankability,” Dr. Djemba explained.

He noted that PCPs have already been developed for Guinea’s Simandou 2040 and Côte d’Ivoire’s PND 2026–2030. Liberia’s PCP is currently being shaped around the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), while a similar programme will soon be designed for Sierra Leone in line with its Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024–2030.

“In the PCP, we use a multi-stakeholder approach. From the design stage, we work together with all key players—the private sector, government, and financial institutions—to achieve results. I believe the MRU is a strategic stakeholder in all this,” Dr. Djemba added.

The Mano River Union Secretary-General, Amb. Simeon M. B. Moribah, welcomed the prospect of closer ties, noting that the MRU Secretariat has long maintained fruitful relationships with partners such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Both teams explored additional avenues for partnership in Women-in-Industry programmes, establishment of the MRU trade corridor, development of the MRU Trade and Industrial Strategy, and skills development for women and young people.

The meeting marks a significant step toward deeper industrial and trade integration in the Mano River Union subregion, with UNIDO’s technical and financial expertise poised to complement the MRU’s vision for sustainable growth and cross-border cooperation.