SALWACO Pitches NLe4.5bn FY2027 Budget

By Abdul Rahman Bah

The Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) has unveiled an ambitious FY2027 financial and investment programme designed to strengthen its operations, expand water infrastructure and improve access to reliable water services across communities served by the company.

The programme was presented on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown during the Government’s FY2027 budget hearing, where SALWACO outlined its plans under the theme, “Transforming SALWACO into a Functional and Financially Viable Institution.”

At the centre of the company’s FY2027 programme is a proposed recurrent ceiling of NLe4.5131 billion, which will support the institution’s operational requirements and enable SALWACO to continue delivering on its public-service mandate.

In addition to the recurrent budget, SALWACO has identified a strategic investment requirement of approximately US$13.707 million for FY2027. The proposed investment is expected to support the expansion and rehabilitation of water infrastructure, development of new water schemes and strengthening of existing systems.

The investment programme reflects SALWACO’s broader ambition to improve water infrastructure and increase the reliability and reach of services in communities across the country.

With increasing demand for safe and reliable water services, the company’s proposed infrastructure investment is expected to create opportunities for the expansion of water networks and improve the capacity of existing systems to serve growing communities.

SALWACO has also projected a commercial revenue target of NLe17.698 million for FY2027, demonstrating the company’s commitment to strengthening internally generated revenue and improving its financial sustainability.

The revenue strategy is expected to support maintenance, customer service, operational requirements and future reinvestment, while also encouraging greater efficiency across the company.

To achieve its FY2027 objectives, SALWACO has outlined a diversified financing strategy involving government recurrent releases, government capital and counterpart funding, development partners, concessional financing, commercial revenue and efficiency savings.

Government recurrent funding will support operational continuity and institutional outputs, while government capital and counterpart financing will contribute towards advanced works, certificates and other national obligations.

Development partners and concessional financing will remain important to SALWACO’s infrastructure expansion strategy, particularly in supporting climate-resilient water infrastructure and the construction of new water schemes.

The company has also emphasised the importance of coordinating all financing sources through a single delivery plan. Under the proposed approach, projects will be linked to identified financing sources, disbursement triggers, project ownership and expected service outcomes.

This approach is expected to strengthen project coordination and provide a clearer framework for tracking the implementation and impact of investments.

SALWACO’s FY2027 programme also demonstrates the company’s growing focus on transforming its operations into a more functional and financially viable institution.

The company’s emphasis on commercial revenue, efficiency savings and improved customer management is expected to strengthen its capacity to support maintenance and service delivery while complementing government and development-partner financing.

The proposed investment programme comes at an important time for Sierra Leone’s water sector, where expanding access to safe and reliable water remains central to public health, economic development and improved living standards.

By investing in infrastructure, strengthening institutional systems and improving financial management, SALWACO is positioning itself to respond more effectively to the changing water needs of communities.

The company’s focus on climate-resilient infrastructure is also expected to strengthen the sustainability of water investments in the face of environmental and climate-related challenges.

SALWACO’s FY2027 financial plan therefore represents more than a budgetary request. It is part of a broader institutional transformation agenda aimed at building a stronger, more efficient and financially sustainable national water utility.

The combination of the NLe4.5131 billion recurrent ceiling, US$13.707 million strategic investment requirement and NLe17.698 million commercial revenue target provides the financial framework for the company’s FY2027 ambitions.

With effective implementation, stronger revenue mobilisation and continued collaboration with government and development partners, SALWACO expects to advance its infrastructure programme and improve the quality, reliability and reach of water services.

The FY2027 programme ultimately reflects SALWACO’s commitment to strengthening its institutional capacity while ensuring that investments in the water sector translate into tangible benefits for communities.

As the company moves forward with its transformation agenda, its focus remains on building a functional and financially viable institution capable of supporting Sierra Leone’s long-term water needs and contributing to national development