Guides

A practical checklist for evaluating a contractor for a building project in Guinea, Sierra Leone or a neighbouring market: track record, local presence, financing, logistics and handover.

The three common delivery models for building projects compared on responsibility, price certainty, speed, change management and the technical capacity the employer must keep in-house.

Why a building costs what it costs in Conakry or Freetown: import share, logistics, seasonality, labour structure, energy and the contingency lines that separate a realistic budget from an optimistic one.

How humidity, salt-laden air, heavy rainfall and high temperatures change the comparison between reinforced concrete and structural steel — durability, programme, logistics and maintenance.

How to build a realistic schedule in Guinea and Sierra Leone: which activities are weather-critical, what continues under cover, site drainage and access, and how to read a bidder's programme.

How to plan procurement for a project in Guinea or Sierra Leone: what to buy locally, what to import, lead times, documentation, packing, port clearance and the errors that stop a site.

How mixed international and local site teams are organised on projects in West Africa: roles, training, language, safety, accommodation and the practices that turn headcount into productivity.

What a controlled quality system and a complete handover look like on a building project: inspection points, testing, snagging, commissioning, as-built drawings, warranties, spares and training.