Poverty profile and poverty alleviation during economic recovery and adjustment in Sierra Leone

Abstract

The Government of Sierra Leone(GOSL) initiated the IMF/World Bank inspired Structural Adjustment Programme to redress the macroeconomic imbalances and structural bottlenecks that characterized the Sierra Leonean economy from the 1970s through the 1980s. Notwithstanding, the macroeconomic imbalances and the structural bottlenecks continue and there is increased hardship for the vast majority of the population. The common contention is that the number of the poor and the severity of poverty increased during the recovery and adjustment period. This study therefore tested the hypothesis that poverty became widespread during the policy reform period (1986 to date). Accordingly, the specific objectives considered include: determining the number of the poor, who they are and where they live, why they are poor and how they cope. This was followed by a proposal on a new agenda for poverty alleviation. Both empirical and analytical approaches were adopted to achieve the objectives. The study utilizes survey reports, data generated by World Bank, UNICEF, Government departments and other agencies. The study found that the number of the poor and the severity of poverty increased during the reform period. It also showed that poverty is more widespread in rural areas than the urban areas and the North and the South are worse off than the West and the East. The causes of widespread poverty include: prevailing macroeconomic imbalances, the disjointed and selective SAP initiated in 1986, population increase, environmental degradation, unemployment, underemployment and low labour productivity.