Sierra Leone

UNDP support to poverty reduction started as an interim programme from 2002-2003 to assist the Government of Sierra Leone in fighting chronic and pervasive poverty in the country. Subsequently, the programmes have been designed to ensure UNDP’s continuing assistance in consolidating efforts to reduce poverty, as well as supporting initiatives to create a conducive environment for attracting the kind of investment necessary to address poverty and meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

In collaboration with Government, donors and civil society, the programme extensively supported the preparation of a comprehensive national Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) 2005-2007, which builds on the gains made with the Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (I-PRSP 2001) and the National Recovery Strategy (NRS) 2003-2005. The overall objective, therefore, is to assist with policy level support for poverty reduction and attainment of the MDGs, while also strengthening the capacities of frontline institutions and the private sector, that drive national development processes for poverty reduction.

The key projects include:

• Support to Food Security

• Microfinance for the Poor

• Aid Coordination

• Private Sector Development

• Pro-poor Policy Formulation & Advocacy

• Institutional Capacity Building for Development