Sierra Leone

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Some annual results

15,000adolescents have access to sexual and reproductive health services
450youth groups on sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence
15,668entrepreneurs given access to finance
12direct SME investments approved under SIFA

Global Peace Index

43/ 163

GPI Rank

Political Instability

Safety & Security

Ongoing Conflict

Source: Global Peace Index (2016)

Country Office

Freetown, Sierra Leone

71A Bishop Drive, Smart Farm
Off Wilkinson Road
Freetown, Sierra Leone

Country director Sierra Leone

Mohamed Sesay

[email protected]

Cordaid in Sierra Leone

Cordaid has been working in Sierra Leone since the early 90s. Currently, we are rolling out programs in all 14 districts in Sierra Leone, in health systems strengthening and private sector development. Cordaid promotes socio-economic development and fosters entrepreneurship. We support the private sector with resilience business development services (RBDS) and programs that improve access to finance. We also provide adolescent sexual and reproductive health care services, and share data for decision making.

Where does Cordaid work?

In 14 districts in Sierra Leone, Cordaid works in health data strengthening. We support district health management teams (DHMTs) to analyse and use data for evidence based decision in improving health governance. The districts are: Kailahun, Kenema, Kono, Bo, Bombali, Bonthe, Kamiba, Koinadugu, Port Loko, Tonkolili, Bo, Moyamba, Pujehun, Western Rural, Western Urban.
Cordaid also supports teenage pregnancy reduction projects in Bombali, Pujehun and Kenema districts. The Private Sector Development Program supports entrepreneurs all over Sierra Leone in business coaching, mentoring and skills training.

7,4 Million

Population

Rural population

Urban population

6.1% annual

GDP growth

33.2 per 1,000

Mortality rate, neonatal

Source: worldbank.org

Current situation

Sierra Leone is currently recovering from the socio-economic impact of the Ebola epidemic, which ended in 2015. And the decade long civil war, which ended in 2002 and devastated infrastructures and public service systems, still makes it very hard for young people and entrepreneurs to thrive. Sierra Leone remains among the world’s poorest countries, ranking 179 out of 188 countries in the Human Development Index in 2015. 52.96% of the population lives below the income poverty line.

Economically, Sierra Leone was the country that was hit the hardest by the Ebola epidemic - the scale of which the world had never seen before. The Ebola crisis showed the importance to support and strengthen public and private sectors in Sierra Leone. It laid bare the urgency to increase employment and youth participation, and to create sustainable socio-economic growth. It exposed the poor quality of health care, with the resultant effect of reversing the gains made on utilization, as trust and confidence in the health system was massively eroded. And, finally, it showed the need to strengthen the path towards peace and security.

Cordaid in Sierra Leone

Health care

Our health system strengthening program increases the capacities of health structures to deliver life-saving interventions of the right scope, and to diminish maternal and child mortality in Sierra Leone, which are among the highest in the world.

Cordaid has a teenage pregnancy reduction program in Bombali, Pujehun and Kenema districts. This program is fully in line with the national strategy for the reduction of teenage pregnancy, launched in 2013.

We are implementing a Department for International Development (DFID) funded project titled “Saving Lives by reducing Maternal, Neonatal and Under-5 mortality in Sierra Leone”. The Health care data program supports district health management teams (DHMTs) in 14 health districts to improve district health service management and delivery systems, through an effective and efficient data management system for evidence based decision to improve health governance.

A Cordaid-supported health care facility in Sierra Leone (© Wilco van Dijen / Cordaid)

Expansion to Liberia

Cordaid’s Sierra Leone team also supports the Liberian National Verification Agency in improving health care services through Results Based Financing. By doing this we improve the quality of care secondary hospitals in five counties in Liberia (Montserrado, Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Sinoe).

Private sector development

By supporting entrepreneurs and businesses in our resilience business development program, Cordaid ensures easier access to finance and business capacity training for local entrepreneurs. These businesses create employment and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

Cordaid has been developing the microfinance sector in Sierra Leone since 2004, contributing to a competitive, sustainable and inclusive financial sector that provides access to financial services to low income people throughout Sierra Leone. After the end of a five-year program, we remained active in the microfinance sector, providing grants of a total of 1,5 million euro to build the operations and the governance structure of the microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Sierra Leone.

Besides capacity building of the microfinance sector, Cordaid delivered around 1,7 million euro in loans to 7 MFIs since 2004. These loans allowed MFIs to grow their loan portfolio, so that more people in the informal sector have access to finance. At the moment, Cordaid has a strong relationship with two MFIs: Salone Microfinance Trust (SMT) and Grassroots Gender Empowerment Movement (GGEM).

Our current micro-finance investments of 950,000 euro grant access to finance to 15,668 entrepreneurs in the informal economy, of which 65% are women.

Partners and donors

Our health care partners are:

Teenage Pregnancy SAN Project: Health Poverty Action, Planned Parenthood Association Sierra Leone, Christian Brothers
Saving Lives Project: Focus 1000, VSO, Charlie Goldsmith Associates, World Hope International and 4Msolutions

Our private sector development partners are: Partners – ReGrow, Resolve, Sierra Leone Investment & Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA)

Cordaid’s main donors in Sierra Leone are: USAID, DFID, Cordaid (Stop Aids Now).