Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone country profile

BACKGROUND

Sierra Leone is a small country on the North Atlantic coast of West Africa. Coastal plains, interior lowland plains, plateaus, hills, and mountains characterize Sierra Leone and the country is endowed with substantial natural resources: mineral deposits, fertile agricultural land, and a deep natural harbour. Between 80 and 90 percent of the population live in rural areas. Agriculture is the largest sector of the economy and employment. An estimated 53 percent of the 7 million people population live below the income poverty line. Its climate is tropical, with coastal areas having hot and humid weather and inland areas having a more temperate climate.

Sierra Leone is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts in terms of food production, poverty, migration, and social stability. It is exposed to floods, wildfires, drought, landslides, and tropical storms. It is also vulnerable to epidemics and disease outbreaks; the 2014 Ebola epidemic claimed 4,000 lives and had a severe impact on the economy.

INFORM RISK INDEX (2022)    

Hazard and exposure: 3.5  |  Vulnerability: 5.7  |  Lack of coping capacity: 6.9 |  Total: 5.2 (high)  |  Rank: 38

HAZARDS COVERED BY ANTICIPATION    

Disease outbreak (Covid-19) | Riverine floods

EXPERIENCE ON ANTICIPATION 

• In 2020, FAO prepared anticipatory actions to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on food supply chains and safeguard the livelihoods and food security of vulnerable farming families in Sierra Leone. 2,000 households were targeted in Moyamba, Bo, Kenema, and Western districts.
• Start Network has alerted and allocated funding to partners in Sierra Leone since 2014 when it first financed an early response to Ebola. Start Fund has since allocated funding for anticipatory alerts on flooding and Coronavirus outbreaks in Sierra Leone.
• Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, with support from the Finnish Red Cross, is developing an EAP for a yet to be determined environmental hazard.