Sierra Leone

Despite the fact that things are moving forward economically and politically in Sierra Leone more than a decade after the end of its brutal civil war, the country is still in a phase of consolidation. Many of the problems are still unresolved today. An estimated 70 % of those able to work are unemployed, underemployed or – especially in subsistence farming – unproductively employed. Poor education and little demand in the labour market have left young people in particular with little to no prospects. This, in turn, bears social and economic risks and could endanger the hard-won political stability within the country. Agriculture is still the largest industrial sector in Sierra Leone and makes up roughly half of GDP, but the potential is still largely idle.

In the scope of the project financed by KfW, economic infrastructure is being set up along select value chains. This is creating as many temporary jobs as possible. Unemployed youth in particular are taking part in these construction measures, giving them a short-term source of income and enabling them to improve their material living situation. In the long run the establishment of economic infrastructure will contribute to the promotion of productive potentials and sustainable growth in the rural regions where the programme is taking place.

Project example - Pro-poor Growth for Peace Consolidation (GPC)  (PDF, 208 KB, non-accessible)