Oxfam's work in Sierra Leone in depth

Background

Sierra Leone emerged from a ten-year civil war in 2002. Since then, the government, citizens, donor community, private sector, and civil society have been working on maintaining peace and “building back better” the infrastructure that previously existed.

However, life expectancy in Sierra Leone is still only 34.3 years, Sierra Leone has the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world, only 7 per cent of the rural population has access to safe sanitation facilities. The country is ranked second lowest on the UNDP's Human Development Index (2006). Income poverty and food insecurity are huge problems. 70 per cent of Sierra Leone's population live on less than a dollar a day. Sierra Leone is ranked 134th out of 136 for the GDI (Gender-related Development Index).

Access to education is a serious problem. While net primary enrolment is now estimated at 87 per cent, a lack or loss of formal education for girls (resulting in the illiteracy of four in five women in Sierra Leone) diminishes the self-confidence of women in formal communication and negotiation - this is a major barrier to women’s political engagement. Bad governance, endemic corruption and an on-going denial of citizens’ basic human rights still pervade.  A culture of impunity and non-accountability remains within a very hierarchical society: all these affect (directly or indirectly) all parts of society and the potential pace of pro-poor economic growth.

In August 2007, Sierra Leone held its second elections since the end of the war, and the first since the departure of the UN peace-keeping force. Ernest Bai Koroma was elected and observers rated the elections to be adequately free and fair.

Oxfam in Sierra Leone

Oxfam GB began working through partner organisations in Sierra Leone in 1961. In 1998 direct operations were set up in the country, in response to increasing numbers of internally displaced people, as a result of the escalating conflict.

During the emergency period, Oxfam’s work focused on the delivery of water and sanitation services in the north and west (Freetown, Koya rural, and Port Loko) and the south-east (Bo, Kenema and Kailahun).

Since early 2004, the programme has been moving away from emergency relief towards a more development-orientated approach that aims to seize some of the opportunities of the post-war context.

Our focus

Oxfam focuses on three key thematic priorities:

1. To promote good governance by developing a culture of gender equality in all positions of political leadership and supporting an emerging civil society to assist the government and hold it to account
2. To support the development of appropriate pro-poor water and sanitation policy and decentralised implementation through modeling good practice in Kailahun district
3. To facilitate gender equality and women’s economic empowerment through internal gender mainstreaming, external promotion of the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, and community-based women’s economic empowerment

Governance – Women in leadership and decentralisation

The Governance Programme in Sierra Leone was established in May 2003. It aims to address the improvement of the functioning of local and national government, increased citizens participation and civil society in the decentralisation and democratisation process.

‘Promoting A Culture of Equal Representation’ and ‘Strengthening Governance’ are two of our key projects.

Strengthening governance

This project seeks to strengthen democratic governance through capacity building of staff, civil society and local councils to enhance the access to and supply of good governance for all citizens. By this it will enhance equal representation of men and women in decision-making and support decentralisation by enabling local community participation in local governance.

With our partners we are:

• Training ward committees (the most local level of government)
• Conducting needs assessment for Council of female Councillors
• Providing training and support to monitor and analyse the 2007 elections
• Developing strategic plan for the Global Call against Poverty Coalition
• Supporting advocacy and lobbying activities at the national and local levels
• Networking and coalition building of allies in support of decentralisation and democratisation
• Developing Governance programme strategy

Promoting a culture of equal representation

The project addresses the structural barriers to women’s active and equal participation in policy formulation, implementation and monitoring within local and national government, with a view to ensuring gender-equitable and pro-poor development planning and action.

With our partners we are:

• Identifying at least 180 aspiring female candidates
• Organising and coordinating public events to mobilise support for female candidates in the run up to the parliamentary and local council elections
• Establishing accountability forums that encourage constructive engagement, innovative thinking and increased accountability
• Building a coalition of partners and allies in support of equal representation for women
• Developing a national equal representation advocacy strategy, plan and implementation timelines
• Organising and coordinating media campaigns for advocacy, especially in the run up to both the parliamentary and district council elections

Our work on women's leadership will be expanded to enable us to work closely not only with candidates for national and local elections, but also with women in leadership positions to ensure that they are properly represented in places where key decisions are taken. As part of our work, we will challenge the structures that exclude women and calling for laws to enforce greater equality in leadership.

Public health

Lack of safe water and sanitation is a major public health challenge in Sierra Leone. Despite plentiful water resources, almost half the population does not have access to safe drinking water, whilst more than 60 per cent have no access to sanitation. There are strong disparities between rural and urban areas: only 7 per cent of the rural population has access to safe sanitation facilities and, for example, 76 per cent of the population in Kailahun District relies on unprotected water sources.

Oxfam’s involvement in public health, water and sanitation has mainly been through its work in the remote rural location of Kailahun District, since 2002. Oxfam is entering into a new phase within Sierra Leone in terms of public health provision. We are progressively shifting from direct service delivery to working with partners and placing a far greater emphasis on championing change with the government. 

Our main objective is to contribute to the reduction of poverty and improvement of resident’s health status in Kailahun district and to strengthen the decentralisation process of water and sanitation service delivery in Sierra Leone. 

Last updated: August 08