Understanding the Policy-Performance Nexus in Sierra Leone’s Energy Sector: Toward a New Framework for Service Delivery

Abstract

Sierra Leone’s energy sector has long been constrained by limited access, weak governance, and dependence on donor-funded interventions. Despite ambitious policies and reforms, service delivery outcomes remained poor. This study investigated the policy–performance nexus to understand why ambitious policies often fail to translate into reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity services. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative household surveys (with a 95% response rate) with qualitative key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and secondary data analysis. This design enabled triangulation of findings across citizen perceptions, institutional perspectives, and policy documents. The findings indicated that energy policies in Sierra Leone were ambitious but undermined by weak implementation, corruption, political interference, and utility inefficiencies. Quantitative results showed that most households perceived electricity as unaffordable, unreliable, and unfairly distributed. Qualitative insights revealed governance deficits, including illegal connections, opaque billing systems, and weak regulatory enforcement. Donor-funded renewable energy projects were found to be unsustainable when community ownership, integration, and capacity-building were absent. The study concluded that Sierra Leone’s energy sector challenges were not due to a lack of policy ambition but to systemic governance and institutional weaknesses. To bridge the gap between policy and performance, a hybrid framework was proposed, emphasising strong governance, financial sustainability, renewable energy expansion, and community inclusion. This framework offers lessons for policymakers, donors, and regional stakeholders on advancing resilient and inclusive energy systems in fragile contexts.