In a landmark move aimed at addressing Sierra Leone’s persistent housing challenges, the Sierra Leone Housing Corporation (SALHOC) on Tuesday, 15th April, 2025 initiated discussions with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), exploring opportunities for strategic collaboration. The high-level engagement, held at SALHOC Headquarters in Freetown, brought together top executives from both institutions.

During the meeting, the Deputy General Manager (DGM) of SALHOC, Mr. Emmanuel Tommy formally expressed the Corporation’s interest in partnering with JICA. Emphasizing SALHOC’s commitment to delivering affordable and sustainable housing solutions, the DGM sought technical and developmental support through proposed housing initiatives aligned with JICA’s development mission.

In response, the JICA Country Director to Sierra Leone, Mr. Norihito Yonebayashi, welcomed the initiative and acknowledged the novelty of such a partnership. He noted that JICA typically supports projects through grant provision, equipment supply, and capacity-building programmes, including short-term, long-term, and third-country training opportunities. He further stated that each year, 20 to 30 Sierra Leoneans benefit from training programmes in Japan.

While collaboration with a housing-focused agency like SALHOC would be a first for JICA in Sierra Leone, Mr. Yonebayashi encouraged SALHOC to submit a detailed project proposal outlining the objectives, implementation plan, and anticipated impact. He stressed that any further action would require approval by the government of Japan.

Further strengthening the relationship, on Tuesday, 22nd April 2025, SALHOC’s General Manager, Mr. Joseph Munda Sandi, paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Yonebayashi at the JICA country office. The visit served to reaffirm SALHOC’s commitment to the proposed collaboration and highlight the urgency of addressing the country’s housing deficit through innovative and internationally supported solutions.

The ongoing engagement between SALHOC and JICA marks a significant step toward building a more resilient and inclusive housing sector in Sierra Leone. SALHOC remains hopeful that this initiative will open the door to impactful cooperation, unlocking new resources and expertise to benefit communities across the nation.

 (C) SALHOC Communications Unit