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CORDAID believes in a world without poverty and exclusion
We strive for a just and sustainable society where every person counts. We stand for knowledge and talent sharing between North and South, between farmers and businesses, between activists and policymakers. Where poverty, conflict and exclusion divide societies, we connect people and communities. We stand for professionalism, expertise and solidarity across borders. We make a difference where it is most needed. We do that where natural disasters strike, where conflicts tear up communities and where under development keep families in extreme poverty. In the Netherlands, we are known as CORDAID Memisa, CORDAID Menes in Nood, CORDAID Kinderstem and CORDAID Microkrediet. In Sierra Leone, we focus on two key areas of support – Health System Strengthening and Private Sector Development.
In the following 14 districts in Sierra Leone, Cordaid works in health data strengthening, supporting the District Monitoring and Evaluation Officers in data collection, reporting and analysis: Kailahun, Kenema, Kono, Bo, Bombali, Bonthe, Kamiba, Koinadugu, Port Loko, Tonkolili, Bo, Moyamba, Pujehun, Western Rural, Western Urban. Cordaid also supports Teenage Pregnancy reduction projects in Bombali, Pujehun and Kenema districts. The Private sector development program supports entrepreneurs all over Sierra Leone in business coaching, mentoring and skills training.
Current Situation
Sierra Leone is currently recovering from the socio-economic impact of the Ebola epidemic which ended in 2015. The countries decade long civil war, which ended in 2002 left many fragile infrastructures and weak systems in its wake, thereby creating a challenging environment for young people and entrepreneurs to thrive. Sierra Leone remains among the world’s poorest countries, ranking 179 out of 188 countries in the Human Development Index in 2015 and about 52.96 % of the population living below the income poverty line. Sierra Leone’s young people remain vulnerable and are exposed to underemployment and unemployment, and with a high unemployment rate of 9.1%, exposed risks such as crime pose a threat to the country’s security.
However, the Ebola epidemic showed the importance of supporting and strengthening these public and private sectors in Sierra Leone, ensuring that there was increase in employment and youth participation, to strengthen the path towards peace and security, as well as sustainable socio-economic growth. In supporting entrepreneurs and businesses through the resilience business development program, Cordaid is ensuring that local entrepreneurs have easier access to finance and business capacity training. These businesses create employment and contribute to sustainable economic growth. The world had never faced an Ebola outbreak of this scale and magnitude and Sierra Leone was the hardest hit country economically.
The poor quality of care was further exposed during the EVD outbreak with the resultant effect of reversing the gains made on utilisation as trust and confidence in the health system was massively eroded. Furthermore, the recognition that existing structures lack the capacity to deliver life-saving interventions of the right scope, and at scale to drastically change maternal and child mortality, which are among the highest in the world.
What we Do
Health-Teenage pregnancy program in three districts, which are in line with the national strategy for reduction of teenage pregnancy launched in 2013. Health data program used to support the District Health Monitoring and Evaluation teams for proper data collection, reporting and analysis in maternal and child health.
RBDS Program- Resilient Business development program for local entrepreneurs, to build capacity and make them investment ready.
Micro-Finance-investments of 950,000 Euros and working with 15,668 entrepreneurs -65% of which are women, granting people in the informal economy access to finance.
Cordaid Vision and What we Hope to Achieve
Cordaid’s programs in Sierra Leone target economic growth and sustainability as well as innovation in data analysis to influence health policies. Cordaid continues to support the government of Sierra Leone in achieving the sustainable development goals and propel the country from a context of fragility to a middle-income economy by 2030. Cordaid also works collaboratively with communities to ensure that they have agency in how the programs are carried out and the impact on youth, entrepreneurs and women.
Integrated programming around supporting the country out of fragility through health system strengthening (through data for decision making, innovative approaches to sustainable reduction in teenage pregnancy including working with boys and men); private sector development from micro, to missing middle to large businesses including micro finance and SME investment.
