Recent years have seen growing scholarly interest in circular economy approaches to procurement. However, a systematic review of this knowledge remains lacking, particularly for developing economies. This review aims to address that gap by examining how Circular Procurement (CP) can support Sierra Leone’s sustainable development objectives and enhance resource efficiency. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we conducted a systematic literature review of publications from 2016-2024, employing rigorous search, screening, data extraction and analysis methods focused on Sierra Leone’s public procurement sector. Our findings highlight CP’s potential to transform Sierra Leone’s public procurement management through; waste reduction, cost savings, improved resource efficiency and structured asset recovery turning end-of-life public assets into value streams. Nonetheless, implementation is hindered by several challenges, including institutional constraints, limited stakeholder awareness, capacity gaps, and weak policy alignment. While CP presents a promising pathway for enhancing resource efficiency, its successful adoption requires targeted interventions: capacity building for procurement staff, policy reforms, stronger stakeholder collaboration, and the integration of digital procurement solutions. This review provides the first comprehensive assessment of CP’s potential within Sierra Leone’s unique public procurement context, offering both theoretical insights and practical implementation guidance.
Cite this paper
Monson, F. K. S. and Musa, N. (2025). Promoting Resource Efficiency: A Systematic Literature Review of Circular Procurement Practices for Sierra Leone’s Public Procurement. Open Access Library Journal, 12, e3467. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1113467.
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