Country profile
Since 2002, Sierra Leone has been recovering from a devastating civil war that virtually destroyed its social, economic and institutional fabric. One of the most urgent tasks is to rebuild the country's agricultural base, which has been left in ruins.
Many rural areas have ceased to function economically since huge numbers of people have migrated to the towns and infrastructure like roads and energy supplies have been destroyed. Corruption is endemic and the private sector and investment climate are very weak. Natural resources research has stopped and a lot of information and knowledge has been lost.
On the positive side, Sierra Leone has a good natural resource base and a favourable climate for agriculture. A wide range of food crops (including sorghum, millet, maize, cassava, beans and rice) can be grown. Progress is being made on peace and security, elections, primary healthcare and education. In addition, the government has begun a process of resuscitating the rural economy.
Sierra Leone statistics
Since 2002, Sierra Leone has been recovering from a devastating civil war that virtually destroyed its social, economic and institutional fabric. One of the most urgent tasks is to rebuild the country's agricultural base, which has been left in ruins.
Many rural areas have ceased to function economically since huge numbers of people have migrated to the towns and infrastructure like roads and energy supplies have been destroyed. Corruption is endemic and the private sector and investment climate are very weak. Natural resources research has stopped and a lot of information and knowledge has been lost.
On the positive side, Sierra Leone has a good natural resource base and a favourable climate for agriculture. A wide range of food crops (including sorghum, millet, maize, cassava, beans and rice) can be grown. Progress is being made on peace and security, elections, primary healthcare and education. In addition, the government has begun a process of resuscitating the rural economy.
Sierra Leone statistics
| Population | 6 million
Source WDI 2008 |
| Land area | 71,740 km2 or 27,699 sq miles |
| Life expectancy | 47.3 years
Source WDI 2008 |
| GNI per capita | US $287
Source: WDI 2008 |
| Growth rate | 6.5%
Source Government of Sierra Leone budget, 2008-11 |
| % of people not meeting daily food needs | 35.7%
Source Core Welfare Indicator Questionnaire Survey, 2007 |
| Ian Maudlin, RIU Director, introduces Research Into Use, explains its aims and outlines the impacts the programme hopes to achieve. November 2009 (3:55) |  |
