Energy Indicators for Sustainable Development in Sierra Leone: A Review
Keywords:
Energy, Sustainable Development, Economic, Environmental, Social, Sierra LeoneAbstract
This review examines the application, challenges, and policy implications of energy indicators for sustainable development in Sierra Leone. The country continues to experience persistent energy access shortages and a high reliance on biomass as its primary energy source. Although global interest in monitoring progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) is growing, the application of energy indicators to Sierra Leone's planning systems remains relatively narrow. The review, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, synthesizes evidence from 63 peer-reviewed articles, policy briefs, and institutional documents from the period 2000-2025. The synthesis is based on a tripartite framework that considers the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. The results reveal significant gaps in data, institutional capacity, and the absence of integrated monitoring frameworks. Even though national plans like the National Renewable Energy Action Plan and the Energy Sector Policy articulate sustainable energy targets, no specific performance measurement measures have been outlined. Evidence from other sub-Saharan countries, as well as international agencies such as the IAEA, IEA, and UNDESA, indicates that the adoption of a consistent yet context-appropriate energy indicator framework can improve the evidence-based formulation of energy policy. The review concludes with pragmatic recommendations that focus on institutionalizing energy indicators, simplifying data collection processes, and aligning Sierra Leone's energy policy with global sustainability standards.
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