93304 IDA at Work Sierra Leone: On the Path of Full Return to Development I DA has been Sierra Leone’s key source of continued and reli- able development assistance since the country joined the World Bank in 1962, a year after its independence. During the country’s emergency period between 1996 and the end of its war in 2002, IDA funded projects provided timely support to the rehabilitation of over 3,000 war affected communities and for leveraged trust fund resources to support the demobilization of over 45,000 ex-com- batants. Over US$240 million of IDA resources were committed to more than 15 projects since the war ended in 2002. IDA has there- fore been notable in Sierra Leone for supporting the restoration of basic community infrastructure and services during the early post conflict period, and, for supporting institutional reforms, economic growth, and governance as well as decentralized service delivery. Challenge Since its devastating war ended in March 2002, Sierra Leone has made enormous progress towards exiting from post-conflict status to a full return onto a development path. The democratic elections of 1996 and 2007 which paved way for peaceful transfer of power contributed immensely towards consolidating peace and security, and restoring basic services, building social capital, and making improvements in, for example, child immunization, school enrollment, access to maternal and child health services and the decentralization of governance. Funding from the International Development Association (IDA) has been critical in achieving these gains by promoting key reforms in economic governance, building state capacity, delivering services and helping to stimulate economic growth and employment. However, the country continues to face enor- business confidence. It allowed for a mous challenges and it still remains at the higher real level of recurrent spending, bottom of the Human Development Index. a significant part of which was channeled Problems of poor infrastructure, including into health, education, and economic roads and energy, low capacity, youth unem- services, with a diminishing share accruing ployment, high maternal and infant mortal- to defense. Higher spending in these areas ity, widespread rural impoverishment, impact helped to secure improvements in service of the global economic downturns, and lapses delivery and in sector outcomes. Significant in public financial management and gover- improvements were also made to public nance still persist. There is also a daunting finance management. The Multi Donor Bud- challenge faced in enhancing transparency in get Support dialogue has also contributed managing the country’s vast natural resource to maintaining a positive trajectory of endowments. change on governance issues. For example, the preparatory processes leading to the Approach passage of the Freedom of Information Act are now far advanced. Through its Joint Country Assistance Strategy, IDA is supporting the Sierra Leone’s “Agenda ▪▪The Institutional Reforms and Capacity for Change,” which puts priority on human Building Project (US$25 million plus a development and three growth drivers: agri- further US$25 million from an IDA-admin- culture; energy; and transport infrastructure. istered Trust Fund) has in the last six years These are underpinned by support for Good supported the decentralization process. A governance, capacity development, private functioning local government system has sector growth, and management of natural been established, with continuing improve- resources. IDA efforts are also focused on ments in transparency and accountability. strengthening country systems, including Local councils are now firmly embedded through support to decentralized services and responsible for the delivery of devolved and public finance management and helping services to their communities. There is to build the demand for good governance. evidence to show that the availability of basic services has improved between 2005 Results and IDA Contribution and 2008. The biggest improvements have been felt by communities living far from Economic Governance Freetown but close to district towns. The greatest improvements have been found in ▪▪In support of the economic governance access to a water source within 15 minutes, and growth agenda of the government, access to a health clinic within 30 minutes, IDA resources have been used directly in and access to a market area within 60 funding policy and institutional reforms. minutes. There have been countrywide The direct budget support has contributed sensitization program on local government to sustained fast growth in the post-conflict that has helped build an active citizenry, period by providing a non-inflationary boost which in turn has led to the departure of to public spending whilst also improving two mayors and one council chair who were forced out amidst corruption scandals. 2 Human Development access roads completed by 2009. There were 305 small works subprojects under ▪▪Through the completed IDA funded Health implementation through the cash-for-work Sector Reconstruction and Develop- component and the program has created ment Project Sierra Leone has benefitted temporary employment for over 12,000 immensely in restoring the most essential people by 2009. functions of the health sector delivery sys- tem. The project helped to improve primary ▪▪The Bank has supported the education and first referral health facilities in four dis- sector through Rehabilitation of Basic tricts. A number of specific outcomes of the Education Project, and Education for All project include the following: (a) 50 health Fast Track Initiative. The objective has posts in the four districts are now fully- been to re-establish education services and equipped, (b) four district hospitals have prepare the grounds for strengthening the been rehabilitated and fully-equipped, (c) education sector. The primary gross enroll- the percentage of population within a one ment ratio (GER) had increased to nearly mile radius from the nearest primary health 155 percent in 2007 from 104 percent in unit in the targeted districts has increased 2005. That means more youth are engaged to over 60 percent in 2009 from 41 percent in several types of formal education activi- in 2004, (e) twelve primary health facilities ties. Junior secondary GER increased to 55 are now fully rehabilitated and equipped, percent from 41 percent during the same (f) the percentage of children aged 12-23 period. Girls’ enrollment also improved months completely immunized was 78.9 during the period of implementation to percent in 2008, compared with 75 percent 47 percent from 45 percent between 2005 in 2006, (g) the number of insecticide- and 2007. Admission into primary one treated bed nets purchased under the increased to 323,000 from an estimated project and distributed to the population 200,000 over the project period. The num- exceeds 160,000, (h) at least fifteen labo- ber of pupils passing the National Primary ratories are capable of performing malaria School Examination after primary grade six microscopy, (i) the percentage of pregnant also increased to 73 percent in 2007 from women in the targeted districts who sleep 69 percent in 2005. The actual number of regularly under insecticide-treated bed nets pupils passing this examination increased is at least 40 percent, (j) the percentage of to 69,774 in 2007 from 52,122 pupils in tuberculosis (TB) smear-positive cases suc- 2005. Access to primary and junior second- cessfully treated under the directly observed ary education has been enhanced by the treatment strategy in the targeted districts rehabilitation and construction of 207 out is at least 85 percent, (k) an increase in of a planned 240 schools. Quality has been community-directed distribution of the supported by the distribution of textbooks River Blindness medicine (Ivermectin) to and training of teachers. Over 490,000 sets 70 percent in 2009 from none in 2005. of textbooks (out of a target of 500,000) have been distributed to primary schools, ▪▪The IDA-funded National Social Action and over 45,000 sets (out of a target of Project has helped improve access to 50,000) have been distributed to junior community roads, with 196 kilometers of secondary schools during the project 3 implementation period. A total of 4,010 The project provided capacity building in primary teachers also have been trained. procurement, financial and post contract management for the feeder roads. It has Infrastructure and the established a seed and planting material Productive sectors distribution scheme to provide improved planting materials for rice, cassava and ▪▪Under the IDA-funded Infrastructure cocoa to farmers, which is helping improve Development Project, the Sierra Leone productivity and rural incomes. It has Port Authority is completing the techni- supported the establishment of a market cal and financial evaluation processes information system and initiated studies to necessary for granting a concession for a support the establishment of food safety container terminal. The project has also standards to boost exports. supported enactment of the Road Mainte- nance Fund Act, 2010, which provides the ▪▪The IDA-supported Bumbuna Hydropower basis for establishing an independent fund Project has been instrumental in increas- for this purpose. Rehabilitation of all the ing power generation by 50 megawatts, selected priority roads under the project while ensuring appropriate environmental was completed on time and within budget. and social safeguards exist, including the The project has supported improvements creation of a safe zone along the high in the baggage handling function of the voltage transmission line right of way and Sierra Leone Airport Authority through resettlement of affected people. outsourcing. Moving Forward ▪▪The recently approved West Africa Regional Fisheries Project, will be help- IDA will continue to support Sierra Leone ing address the problem of illegal fishing, in pursuing its key priorities in the Poverty strengthen regulation in the sector, and Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP), with special increase value addition locally of fish prod- focus on strengthening economic governance, ucts. improving human development, and boosting infrastructure and productive sectors. The ▪▪The Rural and Private Sector Develop- IDA portfolio will continue to be based around ment Project has established working budget support and projects in key sectors. relationships with all 13 elected district The expectation is that budget support would councils of the country, approved matching allow the government to continue to take grants to 75 Farmer Based Organizations forward key policy reforms, while projects (FBOs) with a total membership of nearly would provide support for capacity develop- 5,000. These grants have provided storage ment and supporting critical investments. sheds, drying floors and processing equip- ment for the FBOs. The project has sup- Developing a sharper focus on M&E and results ported the creation of cocoa cooperative both at the country strategy and project-level with a total membership of nearly 13,000 will be a key priority, as will be improving the people. It is supporting the rehabilitation portfolio quality. New projects in the areas of of nearly 500 kilometers of feeder roads. decentralization, fisheries, youth, financial 4 sector and energy would allow IDA to contrib- will continue to leverage its national alloca- ute to significant improvements in the lives of tion through additional support from other ordinary Sierra Leoneans. Policy dialog with sources. the government and other stakeholders will focus on policy options and managing risks, Last Updated April 2011. including in the extractive industries. IDA http://www.worldbank.org/ida 5