Delivering growth: how SIYB helped Coffee Couriers scale in Sierra Leone

Freetown, Sierra Leone (ILO News) - In Freetown’s growing entrepreneurial scene, Coffee Couriers Sierra Leone Limited has built a name for itself by delivering fresh, locally sourced coffee to urban customers. Founded with a bold idea and strong passion, the business initially struggled with unclear business processes and a lack of strategic direction.

The turning point came when Coffee Couriers was selected to participate in the ILO Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) training programme. Through SIYB, the team gained practical skills in business planning, costing and pricing, financial forecasting, marketing and operational organisation.

The training helped the founders see their venture not just as a delivery service, but as a scalable business with long-term potential. This was reinforced through hands-on coaching, which supported the enterprise to streamline logistics, improve delivery efficiency, strengthen brand identity and introduce reliable record-keeping systems. These changes led to better decision-making and improved customer responsiveness.

Ongoing mentorship further supported Coffee Couriers to refine its vision, explore new financing opportunities, strengthen supplier relationships and diversify its product range, including the development of locally roasted coffee blends. By the end of the process, the business had evolved into a more structured, confident and forward-looking enterprise.

This transformation did not go unnoticed. The founder was featured in Business Digest Quarterly Magazine, recognising her as an inspiring example of entrepreneurial excellence.

The journey of Coffee Couriers Sierra Leone demonstrates how targeted SIYB training, coaching and mentorship can unlock the growth potential of small enterprises — contributing not only to business success, but also to the development of Sierra Leone’s emerging coffee culture.