Poverty in Sierra Leo - Essay Example

Poverty in Sierra Leo As at 2005, Sierra Leone was the poorest country by the human development index (HDI). Six years down the line, it was ranked number 180 out of 187 this was a clear indication of steady improvement in economic growth and development in the country whose name was synonymous with internal strife and inter community conflict. For over a decade, Sierra Leone engaged in an armed conflict that occasioned internal displacement, destruction of social and physical infrastructure as well as paralyzing the entire economy. Poverty in Sierra Leone can be attributed to high population growth rate, as well as, the ten year old armed conflict that lasted more than ten years. The destruction of the infrastructure and the decline of the economy led to impoverishing of various communities. Such poverty was evidenced by poor health and nutrition indicators. The economy of Sierra Leone has for a considerably long time been distinguished by high unemployment and inflation rates (Christiaensen et al, 2002). Majority of the unemployed youths are former combatants that have no stable source of income. Such unemployed youthful population remains a principal threat to national security and economic stability. In simpler terms; unemployed youths enhance insecurity and other social evils such as prostitution. This paper seeks to explain poverty in the context of Sierra Leone, a country that has been defined as the poorest country in the world for a considerably long time. Sierra Leone is a third world nation or banana republic in West Africa. It has a total population of just about six million people from different communities and a diversity of cultures. Considered one of the most financially weakest countries in the entire world, Sierra Leone is not expected to be self sufficient any time soon, thanks to the ten year old internal armed conflict (Fosu, 2009). The civil war that lasted from late nineteen ninety to mid two thousand and two was brought to a standstill by the joint effort of such African countries as Kenya and Nigeria. The African union made a unanimous decision to intervene after the war proved to be endless and detrimental to the interests of the economy as a whole. Today, Sierra Leone is one of the countries gaining economic stability having indicated a 7% per annum growth rate. Sierra Leone has placed reliance on international donors and well wishers for the reconstruction of the entire economy. Democratization and stabilization of the political climate are among the major concerns of the civilized members of the society. According to UN agencies Sierra Leone is fast moving towards macroeconomic stability. This is to say that the third world country has invested a lot of time and resources in dealing with such macro economic variables such as unemployment, inflation, and population growth rate (Manson & Knight, 2009). Among the poorest people in Sierra Leone are the people rendered landless by the internal armed conflicts. Small scale farmers and single mothers heading families constitute a great percentage of the poor rural population. People that were internally displaced by the civil war are destitute and own or access no resources. As such, they resort to such desperate measures as begging or working for little pay so as to support their survival. It is estimated that 75% of the people of Sierra Leone live below the poverty line, with 27% living in extreme abject poverty. This was according to a 2005 research, which established that fifty percent of the entire populace lives on slightly less than one US dollar per day. According to the records of the year 2005, 80% of the people living in the rural areas lived in extreme poverty. Similarly, the people of the eastern districts were hard hit by the civil strife and lived in extreme poverty (Manson & Knight, 2009). Internal displacement was a common phenomenon that was brought about by fear and lack of foresight. Research has it that 80% of the poor populations of Sierra Leone were in one way or another interrupted by the civil war. On the contrary only 77% of the people were affected by the civil war. The major reason why the people of Sierra Leone are poor is the civil war that caused destruction of both the social and physical infrastructure. Social infrastructure refers to the relationships among people which enhance business transactions in the community. During the civil war such links were broken through the mass killings and displacements of prospective business people (Christiaensen et al, 2002). Similarly, during the civil strife property was destroyed paralyzing such important functions as transport and communication. Additionally, the civil war caused considerable paralysis to the agricultural sector, which was and still is the backbone of their economy. One of the most noteworthy ways in which the civil war impacted on the economy was through reduction of the work force. This is because able bodied young men had been recruited as combatants in the civil strife. On the other hand the insecurity occasioned by the civil war deprived potential farmers and agricultural practitioners of the confidence to commit funds and resources into agricultural production. Another critical factor behind the poverty of Sierra Leone is the weak system of education that can be perfectly connected to the disruption of education occasioned by the civil armed conflict that took place for well over ten years. Rationally, no person especially a child will have the confidence to go to an institution in search of education where civil unrest is prevalent (Fosu, 2009). Civil strife which occasioned dislocation of families as well as separation of relations caused a major paralysis on the education system of Sierra Leone. Among the most notable effects of the civil war is the killing and the emigration of men and male youths that were the backbone of the economy. Such killings and emigration caused a devastated economy in which education and vocational training seem like simple impossibilities to the citizens. It is a question of common understanding that without educational training a community or a country is doomed to extinction. One the major results of the war that has caused poverty in Sierra Leone is that HIV/AIDS pandemic. The spread of HIV and AIDS became more prevalent during the civil war when sexual assault and exploitation were more pronounced than any other stage in the history of the country (Christiaensen et al, 2002). The HIV and AIDS pandemic weaken the citizens of the country both physically and emotionally. As such, the country, especially rural Sierra Leone lacked adequate work force required to sustain agricultural and farming practices that constituted that backbone of the economy. Additionally, the civil war caused insecurity since the unemployed youth resorted to such crimes as theft and social evil as prostitution as a way of earning a living. The post war period was associated with political instability and zero democracy. It is for this reason that the country lagged behind as far as development and economic expansion were concerned. In my own thinking, one of the most serious causes of poverty is social and political unrest. Education is paramount to the economic development of a country since it is from such process that a country’s labor force is developed. The fact that Sierra Leone’s economy was negatively affected by the weakened education system is enough evidence that education is a primary factor in economic development. Peaceful coexistence is a primary factor considered tin weighing the economic development and expansion. Sierra Leone is a good example in illustrating the role of peace and harmony I economic development and expansion. In my own perception the proponents of social entrepreneurship in third world countries are among the people with the most justified economic views. Debatably, social entrepreneurship has a primary role to play in national growth in third world nations. Sierra Leone is an appropriate illustration when it comes to illustrating the role of social entrepreneurs. In a country where peace is existing economic development is a possibility considering that education and training are only possible and effective in a country where peace and democracy are major factors. In my view, civil war consumes energies and capabilities of major productive groups in society. It is an issue of common understanding that in the event that civil war occurs, men and able bodied youths are consumed into a non productive session phenomenon. It is for this reason that the United Nations advises countries to uphold peace and co existence as a way of attaining economic expansion and development. = Summary Sierra Leone is by all standards one of the poorest nations in the world. This third world nation is a good illustration of what civil strife and internal conflicts may make of a country. The fact that Sierra Leone’s poverty is almost entirely connected to the civil war is a clear indication of the relationship between development and peaceful coexistence. The poor population is majorly made up of single mothers and people that were internally displaced by the war./ with 75% of the entire population falling below the poverty line and 27% living in abject poverty, the country is not expected to get back on its feet anytime soon. In a nutshell, the main causes of poverty in Sierra Leone include the destructive results of the civil war, the weak education system, high population growth rates, the HI/AIDS pandemic as well as political tension and social suspicion and unrest. To overcome such factors, the government has invested a lot of time and resources into research and development. Even so, experts recommend that the ultimate solutions to the state of abject poverty in Sierra Leone are political reasons. Leaders should endeavor to promote peace as a way of restoring social infrastructure. References Christiaensen, L. J., Demery, L., & Paternostro, S. (2002). Growth, Distribution and Poverty in Africa Messages from the 1990s. Washington, D.C.: World Bank. Fosu, A. K. (2009). Poverty in Africa analytical and policy perspectives. Nairobi: University of Nairobi Press. Manson, K., & Knight, J. (2009). Sierra Leone: The Bradt travels guide (Ed. 1. ed.). Chalfont St. Peter, Bucks, England: Bradt Travel Guides Read More