Temporary labour migration and sustainable post-conflict return in Sierra Leone

Abstract

Economic and social development indicators suggest that the small West African state of Sierra Leone is among the poorest countries in the world. Sierra Leone's economy and quality of life deteriorated rapidly during a decade of political instability and civil war in the 1990s, when many people fled their homes and abandoned their livelihoods due to the rebel insurgency. This paper examines the post-war reconstruction scenario in Sierra Leone and presents recent evidence from two rural communities in the Eastern Province that were badly affected by the conflict. The paper considers the links between the farming and diamond mining sectors, which, despite severe dislocation during the conflict period, have proved to be remarkably resilient. It is argued that seasonal labour mobility associated with this dual economy has not only continued to be a key ingredient in sustaining livelihood portfolios, but is actually an essential pre-condition for the creation of an enabling environment for sustainable post-conflict return.

Agriculture and Artisanal Gold Mining in Sierra Leone: Alternatives or Complements?

“…There is at present already a close relationship between artisanal mining and farming that can complement each other in their seasonal characteristics (Binns and Maconachie, 2005;Maconachie et al, 2006). The seasonality of mining is largely influenced by the costs it incurs during the rainy season, when only 'dry ground' deposits can be profitably exploited by artisanal miners.…”

Where artisanal mines and forest meet: Socio-economic and environmental impacts in the Congo Basin

“…Around a third (29% in Cameroon and 37% in CAR) work for sponsors, who purchase materials, food and medicine for their workers and buy finds. Unlike supporter‐tributor mining systems in countries such as Sierra Leone (Maconachie et al ., 2006), the sponsor‐miner relationship in the TNS is less common. Power conflicts in such relationships, while occurring, are minor: “dishonesty of sponsors” mentioned by 5% and “need for trust” by 3%, indicating that this relationship does not create major problems.…”

Trade unions in a fragile state: the case of Sierra Leone

“…In common with global trends, there is a shift from rural to urban areas (which is impacting on the labour market itself), and Freetown is a growing capital city with higher levels of unemployment, particularly among the predominantly young population. Finally, seasonal migrations have been a long‐standing characteristic of the economy, and, for example diamond mining is estimated to attract 10,000 mobile workers (see Maconachie et al ., 2007 for this and a more general discussion).…”