Sierra Leone
When Sierra Leone gained independence from Britain in 1961, it was considered a model colony, its strength and stability exemplified by an uncorrupt judiciary, excellent educational system and free press. In just a few decades, however, this lush country by the sea sank into a morass of corruption and poverty. By the early 1990s, the country was a tinderbox, and the outbreak of war in neighboring Liberia was the spark that set it alight. What followed was one of West Africa's most gruesome wars.
Since Sierra Leone's 11-year civil war ended in 2002, notable progress has been made. While the country is no longer considered the poorest country in the world, according to the United Nations, poverty is severe and widespread. The statistics are staggering:
- An estimated 70 percent of the population is below the national poverty line, living on less than $1 a day.
- Fifty percent of the population is undernourished, which is higher than the averages for West Africa or sub-Saharan Africa.
- Life expectancy at birth is less than 41 years; the country also has the highest child mortality rate and maternal mortality ratio in the world.
Catholic Relief Services began working in Sierra Leone in 1963. Since the end of the war in 2002, CRS has moved from responding to emergencies to focusing on long-term development. CRS Sierra Leone works primarily in agriculture, health (including HIV and AIDS), and peacebuilding. Our principal local partners include Caritas; the Justice, Peace and Human Rights Commission; and the West African Network for Peacebuilding of Sierra Leone.
CRS' main office is in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. CRS also has two suboffices in the northern city of Kabala (Koinadugu district), and the eastern city of Kenema (Kenema district), with an additional field office in the town of Segbwema (Kailahun district). There are 132 staff members working together to support our programs. The current country representative, Alexander Mathew, has served CRS for many years in various capacities; he joined the CRS team in Sierra Leone in July 2007.
