Orange Foundation and ActionAid Sierra Leone have partnered to establish a digital inclusion training centre in Freetown that will equip 150 persons with disabilities (PWDs) with digital skills, assistive technologies and entrepreneurship training.

The initiative aims to expand access to employment and economic opportunities while supporting broader efforts to ensure digital transformation is inclusive and leaves no one behind, according to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on Monday.

During the signing ceremony attracted key stakeholders from the private sector, civil society, and government. In her opening address, Orange Foundation Annie Wonnie-Katta said persons with disabilities have long been excluded from digital opportunities. She added that the new partnership with ActionAid would help bridge the digital divide and create pathways to employment and entrepreneurship for PWDs in Sierra Leone

ActionAid Director Foday-Bassie Swaray described digital inclusion as “transformative,” noting that access to technology is now fundamental to education, work, and civic participation. 

Orange CEO Aicha Toure said that the initiative reflects her company’s broader commitment to ensuring innovation benefits everyone. 

“We believe technology must empower every individual, regardless of ability,” she said.

Brima Abdulai Sheku from the Ministry of Social Welfare reaffirmed the government’s support for the project, stating that it aligns with national commitments to advance equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.

“The Ministry of Social Welfare welcomes this partnership,” he said. It complements our mandate to ensure no one is left behind as Sierra Leone moves into a digital future.”

The training centre is tailored specifically to the needs of PWDs, and will offer digital literacy education covering basic to intermediate computer and internet skills; practical skills training in areas such as online business, digital marketing, and remote work tools; and access to assistive technologies, including screen readers, adaptive keyboards, and other tools essential for participation

Speaking on behalf of the disability community, Joseph Alieu Kamara expressed optimism about the project’s potential. For many PWDs in Sierra Leone, lack of access to devices, training, and inclusive digital spaces has deepened economic exclusion. The initiative aims to directly address those barriers.

“This initiative will unlock new opportunities and foster greater independence for persons with disabilities,” Kamara said. “A new door is now open for us to compete, to work, and to contribute.”

The collaboration aligns with Orange Foundation’s focus on digital and social inclusion and ActionAid’s mission to support marginalized and vulnerable communities.

Both organizations said the project contributes to sustainable development goal 10, which aims to reduce inequalities by expanding access to technology and reducing the digital divide.

“The signing and exchange of the MoU was more than a formality,” said Wonnie-Katta. “It was a shared pledge to promote digital inclusion as a right, not a privilege.”

As Sierra Leone accelerates its digital transformation, partnerships like this signal a shift toward ensuring that transformation is inclusive.

The centre is expected to start enrollment in the coming months.