Unlocking SME lending in Sierra Leone: a step towards more inclusive finance
A new partnership between Vista Bank Sierra Leone, Small Foundation and other ecosystem actors will see Vista Bank pilot a new lending approach designed to improve access to finance for local SMEs.
Making finance work better for SMEs
At the heart of this work is a portfolio guarantee provided by Small Foundation. The guarantee is there to incur some of the risk involved in lending to SMEs, especially those that don’t meet typical collateral requirements.
This gives Vista Bank space to try new lending models and reach businesses that might otherwise be excluded. The first product being piloted is a working capital overdraft facility — designed to offer more flexibility and better fit the cash flow realities of SMEs.
Pa Ousman Njie, CEO and Managing Director at Vista Bank Sierra Leone says:
“At Vista Bank, we recognise that our strong partnership with Small Foundation has created endless opportunities for SMEs. Together, we empower SMEs through a collaboration rooted in trust, flexibility, and shared ambition.
Through our joint efforts, we deliver agile financial solutions that not only fuel growth but also simplify operations and unlock new opportunities for small businesses. Together, we do not just serve SMEs; we build the backbone of the economy.”
Building systems around finance
This work is part of a broader effort to support more inclusive and resilient financial systems.
Vista Bank is receiving technical assistance from Invest Salone, which is helping to strengthen its credit processes and build internal capacity to better serve SME clients. At the same time, Africa Resilience Investment Accelerator (ARIA) is working to connect the bank with development finance institutions (DFIs), opening new pathways for long-term funding and growth.
Together, these partners are helping to build not just better products, but stronger institutions and networks that can support small businesses over the long term.
Learning through practice
This pilot is also a learning opportunity that will provide insights into:
- How alternative lending models work in practice
- Understanding how risk-sharing tools like guarantees can influence lending behaviour
- The role of ecosystem partnerships in strengthening outcomes
These learnings will help shape future work in Sierra Leone and in other markets where SMEs face similar challenges.
“SMEs in Sierra Leone face considerable challenges when it comes to accessing credit, hindered by a range of factors. With one of the lowest levels of financial intermediation globally, only 17% of SMEs in the country have access to the capital they need to grow and succeed.
In response to this urgent issue, we are thrilled to partner with Vista Bank Sierra Leone to launch a risk-sharing facility designed to bridge this critical gap. Vista Bank is uniquely positioned to serve Sierra Leone’s SME market, and this initiative will empower SMEs to expand and increase profitability, contributing to a more robust and inclusive economy.”
– Andrew Tarazid-Tarawali, Investment Director at Small Foundation
