DDS Formalises Strategic Partnership with OpenStreetMap Sierra Leone to Advance Geospatial Research and Development

Development Decision Support (DDS) Limited is pleased to announce the signing of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with OpenStreetMap Sierra Leone (OSM-SL), a registered community-based organization specialized in the creation and use of open geospatial data. The MOU was signed on 10 April 2026 and is valid for three years.

This partnership brings together two complementary organizations committed to generating evidence that drives inclusive and sustainable development in Sierra Leone. DDS contributes its expertise in policy research, public finance, monitoring and evaluation, and institutional advisory work, while OpenStreetMap Sierra Leone brings its nationwide network of university-based YouthMappers chapters, open mapping skills, field data collection capacity, and technology innovation.

Under the agreement, the two organizations will collaborate on a broad range of development priorities including domestic resource mobilization and local revenue, financial inclusion, rural electrification, local governance, agricultural and food security, climate resilience, and health facility access.

The partnership also builds on DDS’s existing work with local councils. DDS currently holds active MOUs with Makeni City Council, Bombali District Council, Port Loko District Council, and Port Loko City Council, supporting these councils on property valuation, billing, compliance, taxpayer engagement, and digital integration.

A Joint Steering Committee has been established to oversee the partnership, with annual joint work plans guiding implementation. The Parties are actively exploring joint funding opportunities from national and international development partners.