A New Frontier for Inclusion

Across West Africa, digital access is growing at a rapid pace. In 2022, the region accounted for over 40% of all new mobile money accounts in Sub-Saharan Africa, making it one of the fastest-growing areas for digital finance globally (GSMA, 2023). As of 2023, about 43% of people in West Africa were using the internet, and mobile phone connections exceeded the total population—many individuals owning more than one device (West Africa and ITU Statistics, 2023). This increased connectivity is transforming how people in rural areas access services, exchange information, and earn income. But to ensure all communities benefit, there is still a need for affordable devices, reliable source of energy, and practical digital skills.

Despite this growing access, many rural and underserved areas in Sierra Leone remain digitally excluded. Barriers like the high cost of smartphones, limited network infrastructure, the cost of mobile data, and frequent electricity outages prevent many young people from fully engaging in the digital economy. As a result, rural youth are often locked out of opportunities for financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, and self-reliance.

The Strengthening Civil Society in Sierra Leone project, Co-funded by the European Union and implemented by MAPCO, APT Action on Poverty, and MUWODA, is demonstrating a powerful model for integrating digital literacy into grassroots development. By delivering community-based digital and financial literacy training, and creating pathways for collaboration between youth, mobile service providers, and local entrepreneurs, the project is helping unlock new economic opportunities for young people. This article highlights how the initiative is turning digital literacy into a tool for transformation—empowering youth to become drivers of inclusive, local economic growth.

How Digital Skills Are Empowering Rural Youth

Digital literacy training under the project focused on highly practical, market-relevant skills. Delivered by trained personnel from mobile network operators such as Orange, the training equipped youth with competencies in mobile money operations, SIM card registration, customer top-up transactions, digital record keeping, and troubleshooting mobile services. Trainees learned how to register as official agents, conduct cash-in and cash-out transactions, reverse erroneous payments, and maintain accurate transaction records.

This approach is particularly impactful in West Africa, where mobile money has the potential to become a cornerstone of economic life. In the absence of widespread formal banking infrastructure, people use mobile money for everyday transactions such as paying school fees, purchasing goods, covering healthcare costs, and sending remittances to family members. However, in many parts of rural Sierra Leone, this potential is still emerging. While digital financial tools are gaining traction, the majority of people are still in the early stages of integrating mobile services into their daily lives. Mobile agents in rural communities help bridge this gap by offering services like deposits, withdrawals, airtime top-ups, and utility payments—all via mobile phones.

Training sessions were held in three regional centres covering clustered communities and used a variety of participatory methods—brainstorming, group work, practical demonstrations, and plenary discussions—to ensure knowledge transfer. The sessions emphasized real-life application and included follow-up support to help trainees navigate the challenges of launching micro-businesses in the mobile financial services space.

There is also growing interest in linking digital access with legal empowerment. In other contexts across East Africa, mobile platforms have helped share information on human rights, disability laws, and legal services. This represents a promising area for expansion, with potential to significantly increase civic engagement, awareness of rights, and inclusion for marginalised communities in Sierra Leone.

From Training to Transformation: Real-World Outcomes

The initiative has led to tangible outcomes in terms of employment and entrepreneurship. Many trainees have become mobile money agents, recharge vendors, or SIM card sales agents. For instance, Nancy, a participant from Njaluahun in Pujehun District, expanded her small shop to include mobile money and top-up services. These new services not only increased her income but also elevated her status as a critical service provider within her community, improving her family’s livelihood and access to education.

Similarly, Joseph started his journey with NLe 1,000 (approximately 38€) and now earns over NLe 3,400 monthly (approximately 130€) by offering SIM card sales and mobile financial services. Such stories highlight the economic potential of digital inclusion. Five trainees have also taken on mentorship roles, helping to sustain skills transfer in their communities. The average reported weekly income of new mobile agents ranges from NLe 850 to over NLe 1,000 (approximately 38€), depending on transaction volume and coverage.

However, a significant barrier remains in securing enough initial credit or start-up capital for business setup, including data usage. Many digital services and applications are too data-heavy for rural users with basic phones, weak internet, and limited data budgets. This leads to digital exclusion, making it harder for rural users to access opportunities that others take for granted.

Breaking Barriers and Building Partnerships

Despite these successes, several barriers persist. The high cost of smartphones, unreliable internet, and limited electricity supply pose major constraints to scaling digital engagement. Most trainees rely on basic mobile phones, and only three have access to permanent sales booths—others operate informally at market days or move between satellite communities. These gaps underscore the need for broader private sector engagement.

NGOs like MAPCO are facilitating informal linkages with telecom operators, but formal partnerships with mobile networks, fintech companies, and energy providers could drastically improve outcomes. Support in the form of solar power banks, Android devices, seed capital, and digital training-of-trainers (ToT) programs would enhance sustainability and reach. While current business involvement in rural areas is minimal, market days and weekly fairs offer entry points for engagement.

Sustainability and the Road Ahead

To sustain momentum, the project is investing in local capacity. Five youth have been identified and supported to serve as digital mentors, and there are plans to establish community-based digital learning centres. These centres would serve as hubs for continued training, peer exchange, and access to devices and connectivity. Furthermore, larger local CSOs, including women’s and youth associations, are beginning to integrate digital tools into their operations—an important shift towards mainstreaming digital inclusion.

The model piloted by MAPCO and its partners offers valuable lessons. It shows that digital literacy can be a powerful enabler of youth-led economic transformation. It demonstrates how community-based approaches, when thoughtfully structured and resourced, can turn rural challenges into innovation platforms—empowering young people to become both service providers and change agents in their local economies.

But to achieve this at scale, stronger partnerships and increased investment are essential. Integrating digital access into wider poverty reduction efforts—such as micro-loan systems, functional literacy programmes, and infrastructure expansion—will ensure that no one is left behind. With thoughtful collaboration between civil society, the private sector, and public institutions, rural youth can harness digital tools not just to participate in the economy, but actively shape a more inclusive and connected rural future.

 This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of MAPCO/MUWODA/APT and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union