Democracy and Governance in Sierra Leone
The Development Challenge: After 25 years of poor governance under one-party rule followed by an 11-year brutal civil war which ended in 2002, Sierra Leone is now on a steady but difficult path to recovery. Although regional instability continues, Sierra Leone itself is moving toward peace and development thanks to a United Nations (U.N.) Peacekeeping Force and a substantial international investment in returning Sierra Leone to a peaceful, stable and self-sufficient country. Today's peace and stability are fragile, but the outlook is optimistic. Sierra Leone's future lies in maintaining the momentum toward positive development and ensuring the sound management of its substantial mineral, agricultural and fishery resources. For this to happen, better democratic performance on the part of Sierra Leonean leadership must prevail.
The remnants of the civil war are seen in the charred-out homes, schools and hospitals that still litter the countryside and towns, and the limbless children and adults inhabiting the cities and upcountry villages. With this backdrop, it is not surprising that Sierra Leone still holds the rank of 177, last on the U.N. Development Program's 2004 Human Development Index. Sierra Leone's population has grown from 2.9 million in 1975 to 4.8 million in 2002. Almost half of the population is under 15 years of age and urban migration is increasing rapidly. Almost half the country's population is expected to move to the cities over the next ten years. Real GDP growth has increased from 3.8% in 2000 to 6.9% in 2003, yielding a steadily upward trend from 1999's low of -8.1%. As a poor and heavily indebted nation, Sierra Leone remains heavily reliant on foreign aid.
Despite the profound effects of war, the country is on the mend, and donors are challenged to move their assistance from emergency relief towards the longer-term challenges of real development. These challenges include strengthening democratic institutions and governance to sustain peace and stability. Corruption remains rampant and ubiquitous. However, spurred by Anti-Corruption Commission actions, press activism, and donor support, change is coming about through awareness at the grassroots level that corruption will stifle any hope for improvements in Sierra Leoneans' lives. The challenge is now to ensure, at a minimum, a foundation of peace, stability, and food security upon which development can take root. In that regard, President Kabbah has identified food security and increased agricultural production along with decentralization as his top priorities. USAID's program also focuses on these priorities in its Transition Strategy.
The United States has a number of national interests at stake in Sierra Leone. Having provided over $300 million annually in support of the U.N. Peacekeeping Forces, it is in the US interest that this path to stability be maintained in order to capitalize on this investment and avert the need for such support in the future. Sierra Leone's stability is also intertwined with that of the neighboring Mano River Union countries of Guinea and Liberia where armed cross-border factions continue to be a destabilizing factor in the subregion. Maintaining peace and stability in Sierra Leone will contribute to regional security.
The USAID Program: USAID's Transition Strategy, which currently covers the period FY 2001 through FY 2006, includes two mutually-supporting Special Objectives. Under the Reintegration Objective, USAID will continue to provide social, economic and physical support to further solidify the ongoing reintegration process. Efforts are shifting from relief activities such as basic infrastructure rehabilitation and feeding programs to programs which boost agricultural production and increase employment skills and opportunities such as agricultural extension, marketing, and entrepreneurial training. USAID also continues its Democracy Special Objective, aimed at broadening participation of local communities and interest groups in key national and local issues such as the utilization of Sierra Leone's diamond resources, the provision of social services, and putting an end to corruption. During FY 2005, USAID will scale up efforts to focus on youth and gender issues designed to reduce violence, promote community healing, and safeguard human rights. The program will also increase emphasis on training politicians at the local and national levels in constituency relations, improved governance, and anticorruption. Advocacy training for civil society organizations will also receive increased emphasis.
(Excerpted from the 2006 Congressional Budget Justification for Sierra Leone)
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