Select committee inquiry
Recovery and Development in Sierra Leone and Liberia
Closed
What the inquiry looked at
“Sierra Leone and Liberia have made remarkable recoveries since their civil wars. Ban Ki Moon was in Freetown this month to bring an end to the UN Security mission and set the UN presence on a conventional development footing from 1 April 2014. In Liberia there has been a gradual drawdown of the peacekeeping mission which will approximately halve the UN military presence by 2015. However both countries remain fragile with high unemployment and concerns about corruption. The Committee have completed their report and determined that the scale of the Ebola crisis now unfolding in Sierra Leone and Liberia, may well be connected to declining levels of international support for health system improvements in what remain two of the poorest and least developed countries in the world. Terms of reference”
The committee's words, from the inquiry page on parliament.uk ↗.
What it found
In the committee's words, from the summary of 6th Report - Recovery and Development in Sierra Leone and Liberia ↗
The devastating Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone and Liberia demonstrates the dangers of ignoring the least developed countries in the world. When we announced our inquiry into these two countries earlier in the year we had one of our lowest responses ever—with fewer than ten submissions of written evidence. Many NGOs and other organisations declined to provide oral evidence. These countries seemed ‘old news’ to many organisations, more interested in ‘high profile’ humanitarian situations elsewhere. However, Sierra Leone and Liberia are among the poorest countries in the world, lying 11th and 12th from the bottom of the Human Development Index and likely to miss most of the Millennium Development Goals. DFID should maintain its work in such countries as international attention focuses elsewhere; international development programmes should not be left to the whim of world media but be sustained and prolonged if a difference is to be made in post conflict environments.
Ebola
The spread of Ebola has also demonstrated the importance that governments of developing countries need to attach to health system strengthening, as our inquiry into this subject indicates. The weak state of the health system in both countries has greatly reduced the effectiveness of the response to Ebola. There is an alarming lack of capacity in the health system, including a shortage of skilled clinicians; 10% of Sierra Leone’s domestically-trained nurses are working in the UK health system.
We were shocked to discover that in Liberia only $3.9 million of $60 million EU health sector support had been passed on from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Health over a two year period, leaving the Liberian health system struggling. Neither the EU nor DFID seemed to be doing anything to resolve the situation. DFID has been working for the last five years on building up the Liberian health system (and have spent £20 million doing so); Ministers should be concerned that this work is being undone, not least because DFID provides 16% of its total budget to the EU (£1.23 billion).
DFID Sierra Leone and Liberia programmes
There have been great improvements in both Liberia and Sierra Leone over the last decade.
Since the end of the civil wars there have been major improvements in infant mortality with an almost 60% reduction in child deaths and Sierra Leone’s security situation has improved to the extent that it has been able to send a battalion of peacekeepers to participate in the African Union Mission in Somalia. We saw a number of impressive DFID projects, for example a recycling scheme in Bo and in the justice sector Timap for Justice and Fambul Tok working in communities. While so much has been achieved, both countries are at a critical point and it is not the time to disengage or reduce development spending. It will take at least a generation to secure the benefits.
What the government said
The government responded on 11 December 2014.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response.
The Government responds to the Committee's Report by agreeing with some recommendations, partially agreeing with many and disagreeing with others, including the call to reinstate the Sierra Leone and Liberia bilateral budgets.
- On centrally-managed programmes, the Government agrees that "a protocol is now in place" enabling country offices to judge how far to be involved in programme design, noting that involvement "may vary with the size and focus of the programme".
- On total DFID spend by country, it partially agrees and states that work to map centrally managed spend "should be complete in the first half on 2015", with a new Aid Management Platform prototype "by September 2015".
- It disagrees with the recommendation to work with EleQtra on hydro-electric projects, stating that DFID sees its role as supporting "institutional and legal frameworks" rather than being a significant source of capital funding.
- On FGM, it partially agrees, saying leadership "must come from the countries themselves" and listing steps taken, while it will "continue to consider whether and how" to carry over lessons from elsewhere.
Read the government's response ↗ Read the report ↗ Report an error
How the inquiry ran
Each dot is a dated item listed on this page, from the inquiry's opening on 13 March 2014 to 11 December 2014.
- Oral evidence 2 sessions
- Report 2 Oct 2014
- Government response 11 Dec 2014
What it recommended 24 recommendations · 6 conclusions
1We realise that there will be differences between the priorities of the UK and those...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We realise that there will be differences between the priorities of the UK and those of the Government of Sierra Leone, for example, as we discuss later on FGM. But since Sierra Leone has agreed to be one of seven pilot countries for the implementation of a “New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States”, we recommend that DFID do more to align its programmes with national priorities set out in Sierra Leone’s Agenda for Prosperity, not least to ensure there is political buy-in from the recipient government.
2We recommend that, following the claims by NGOs of the successful use of consortia in...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We recommend that, following the claims by NGOs of the successful use of consortia in WASH and education in Sierra Leone, DFID considers expanding this approach to other sectors such as health and to other countries where it could also work well.
3We find the DFID Liberia satellite office model a successful and sensible approach for the...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We find the DFID Liberia satellite office model a successful and sensible approach for the region. We recommend that DFID consider applying this model to other countries specifically to Burundi.
4We note that the UK is already working with other partners in the region, particularly...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We note that the UK is already working with other partners in the region, particularly with the USA, but more can be done within the Mano River Union as a whole—the importance of this has been demonstrated by the Ebola outbreak across the area. We recommend that DFID work more closely with its US counterparts in Liberia and French colleagues in Guinea.
5We note the problems DFID has had in recruiting and retaining staff in Sierra Leone...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We note the problems DFID has had in recruiting and retaining staff in Sierra Leone and Liberia. If this is because staff are attracted to those countries in the media spotlight because of better promotion prospects, we recommend that DFID reconsider its promotion criteria. We are concerned about the consequences of the Ebola outbreak for future recruitment; in its response, DFID should state what steps it has taken in response to this emergency to protect DFID staff.
6We are appalled that as DFID’s budget rises to 0.7% of GNI, bilateral programmes to...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We are appalled that as DFID’s budget rises to 0.7% of GNI, bilateral programmes to Africa’s poorest countries are being cut. We disagree with cutting bilateral programmes in vulnerable countries either to go to regional programmes or humanitarian relief—for which DFID still refuses to set out to us the budgeting allocation or process. The case for returnable funding should not apply to key development programmes in low income countries; it should still retain a poverty reduction focus. We recommend that the Government reinstates the budget for Sierra Leone and Liberia.
7Multilaterals do not always provide adequate oversight of the programmes they manage.
Recommended (the committee's words)
Multilaterals do not always provide adequate oversight of the programmes they manage. In particular, we recommend the World Bank should appoint a full time country expert in Liberia to oversee the World Bank managed pooled fund on transportation.
8We believe that bilateral country offices should not only be consulted in the operation of...
Concluded (the committee's words)
We believe that bilateral country offices should not only be consulted in the operation of the centrally-managed programmes within the country, but also in their design 88 Recovery and Development in Sierra Leone and Liberia stage as they are the people who know the country and have the necessary internal contacts. The fact that they are not consulted is very concerning. We are aware that DFID is now putting in place a ‘protocol’ for how centrally managed programmes work with country offices, but it is shocking that this has not been in place for some time
9We are also appalled that DFID and the Minister do not know how much DFID...
Concluded (the committee's words)
We are also appalled that DFID and the Minister do not know how much DFID spends in total in Sierra Leone. This is a figure which should be widely available and used by officials and ministers in meetings with Sierra Leonean counterparts. By just using the bilateral country figure it seriously underestimates the scale of the UK and DFID’s contribution to the country which is not only bad accounting but also reduces the UK’s negotiating position.
10We recommend that in its Annual Report DFID lists figures for centrally-managed programmes in countries...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We recommend that in its Annual Report DFID lists figures for centrally-managed programmes in countries where DFID has a bilateral programme.
11We recommend that the protocol to link bilateral country offices with centrally-managed programmes be established...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We recommend that the protocol to link bilateral country offices with centrally-managed programmes be established as a matter of urgency. The protocol should ensure that the country offices are informed of all the DFID centrally-managed programmes in the country and that the DFID country teams are consulted on the programme design stage. In its response to this Report, DFID should inform us of how this protocol will operate in detail.
12We recommend that ICAI review DFID’s centrally-managed programmes to ensure they are being properly monitored...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We recommend that ICAI review DFID’s centrally-managed programmes to ensure they are being properly monitored and are engaging with country offices.
13Given the range of programmes which DFID contracts to outside consultants, we recommend that DFID...
Recommended (the committee's words)
Given the range of programmes which DFID contracts to outside consultants, we recommend that DFID investigates the potential to set up an arm’s-length wholly or partially-owned consultancy that can either challenge these other providers and help to drive down costs or provide a greater pool of expertise.
14We recommend the UK encourage the UN’s 2015 Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture to consider...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We recommend the UK encourage the UN’s 2015 Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture to consider the cost of UN missions and the consistency of decision-making, including criteria used for deciding when missions should come to an end particularly in reference to Liberia where our impression was that money could be better spent.
15The UK has played an effective role in training the army in Sierra Leone.
Recommended (the committee's words)
The UK has played an effective role in training the army in Sierra Leone. Much needed work has recently begun with the police, who are widely seen as corrupt; it is clear that this should have started earlier. We recommend that in future post-conflict situations, DFID make police reform a higher priority at an early stage.
16We were impressed by DFID’s Access to Justice projects in Sierra Leone where they seem...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We were impressed by DFID’s Access to Justice projects in Sierra Leone where they seem to be making a difference to people’s lives and community cohesion but we have serious concerns about their sustainability without donor support. We recommend that DFID consider how the justice work could be funded in future, whether there are other donors who could be involved or whether it is something the Sierra Leone Government could Recovery and Development in Sierra Leone and Liberia 89 one day consider subsidising in a similar way to Citizens Advice or Legal Aid in the UK.
17We are alarmed that such a high percentage of nurses and midwives from Sierra Leone...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We are alarmed that such a high percentage of nurses and midwives from Sierra Leone are working in the UK. In its response to us the Government should reassure us it is no longer recruiting clinical staff from Sierra Leone. We recommend that DFID facilitate relations between UK healthcare institutions and professionals and those in Sierra Leone and Liberia. This should be a part of the senior health adviser’s job description and not simply left to that adviser’s initiative. We also recommend that the UK Government facilitate contacts between the Sierra Leonean and Liberian diaspora health professionals in the UK.
18We recommend that, as a matter of urgency, working with EU officials DFID actively pursue...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We recommend that, as a matter of urgency, working with EU officials DFID actively pursue what has happened to the EU sector support to health which has not been passed on by Liberia’s Ministry of Finance and has resulted in the weakening of an already strained health system.
19We recommend that DFID assess why Liberia has made much faster progress in reducing child...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We recommend that DFID assess why Liberia has made much faster progress in reducing child mortality than its neighbour Sierra Leone. DFID should also facilitate greater collaboration between the two countries and the sharing of best practices.
20The impression we gained on our visit was that there was a much stronger and...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The impression we gained on our visit was that there was a much stronger and committed leadership in health in the Liberian health ministry than in the Sierra Leonean. We are concerned that this reflected national priorities The horrors of the Ebola outbreak show the importance of a well-functioning health system. We trust that the Government of Sierra Leone will now give a higher priority to health.
21The horrific Ebola outbreak has spread for many reasons, but the weakness of health systems...
Concluded (the committee's words)
The horrific Ebola outbreak has spread for many reasons, but the weakness of health systems has played a part. The outbreak indicates the continuing need for the governments of Sierra Leone and Liberia and for donors to give a high priority to health. Both countries are also going to need support from the international community on the long-term effects of the crisis in rebuilding the health systems and economies. We question whether the World Health Organisation is really on top of the epidemic and whether the international community are providing enough funds to manage the spread of the disease.
22We are extremely disappointed that DFID has not sought to address Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We are extremely disappointed that DFID has not sought to address Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Sierra Leone. We understand Sierra Leone is a challenging context in which to tackle FGM, but this is no reason not to try. Sierra Leone is one of DFID’s largest bilateral programmes, and the country has one of the highest prevalence of FGM in the world. We recommend that DFID works with the survivors of FGM in Sierra Leone to establish a way to address the practice. In its response to this Report, DFID should state how it intends to combat FGM in Sierra Leone.
23Youth unemployment is one of the biggest problems faced by Sierra Leone, Liberia and indeed...
Concluded (the committee's words)
Youth unemployment is one of the biggest problems faced by Sierra Leone, Liberia and indeed the rest of the developing and developed world. It was raised by many of the people we met on our visit and is a potential source of unrest and political instability. In view of its importance, we have decided to undertake an inquiry on ‘Jobs and Livelihoods’ this autumn.
24We recommend that DFID assess how it can help Sierra Leone to develop its agriculture...
Recommended (the committee's words)
We recommend that DFID assess how it can help Sierra Leone to develop its agriculture and agricultural processing as part of its jobs and livelihoods programme.
25There are many opportunities for renewable power generation, especially from hydro- electric power.
Recommended (the committee's words)
There are many opportunities for renewable power generation, especially from hydro- electric power. We recommend that DFID looks to identify viable projects and in doing so it should consider working with EleQtra an institution which it funds.
26DFID focuses on primary and junior secondary education in Sierra Leone, leaving vocational education to...
Recommended (the committee's words)
DFID focuses on primary and junior secondary education in Sierra Leone, leaving vocational education to other donors. We recognise there are obstacles to working in this area, not least the inadequacies of the Ministry of Education. Nevertheless, given the importance of vocational education, the fact that it is a high priority for the Government of Sierra Leone and that other donors want DFID to work in this area, we recommend that DFID work with other donors and the private sector on vocational education and training. The centrally managed education programme funding may be better spent if it were diverted to a bilateral vocational training programme.
27While the extractive industries have been the main source of economic growth in Sierra Leone...
Recommended (the committee's words)
While the extractive industries have been the main source of economic growth in Sierra Leone in recent years, the majority of the population have seen few benefits. We recommend that DFID ensure that its work with the National Revenue Authority links with its work with the National Minerals Agency to ensure that tax waivers and incentives for the mining industry do not mean that the natural resource wealth of Sierra Leoneans is lost to the benefit of international investors. We recommend that a specialist unit be set up within the National Revenue Authority working with the National Minerals Agency to look specifically at optimising revenue collection from mining companies and its transparency. In addition the economy cannot rely on the extractive industries alone which are subject to fluctuations of the commodity markets—Sierra Leone must diversify its economy.
28Unfortunately Sierra Leone suffers from poor governance, lack of capacity and endemic corruption.
Concluded (the committee's words)
Unfortunately Sierra Leone suffers from poor governance, lack of capacity and endemic corruption. DFID is helping those in Government and the Civil Service to address the problem, but clearly its influence is limited. We do not, however, believe that DFID should stop trying to address the problems. Rather, it should apply all its influence as the country’s major bilateral donor on the Government to show leadership. As we discuss below, DFID should also work more closely with the Sierra Leone Parliament, encouraging better oversight of the Government.
29Parliament is central to good governance and holding Government to account.
Recommended (the committee's words)
Parliament is central to good governance and holding Government to account. DFID has spent large sums on supporting elections, but has not followed this up with significant assistance for Parliamentary strengthening following the elections. We welcome the Recovery and Development in Sierra Leone and Liberia 91 Minister’s agreement to explore how DFID might provide more support. We recommend that DFID adopt the Clerk of the Sierra Leone Parliament’s proposal that it provide funding for the Commonwealth Parliament Association UK programme. We further recommend that DFID provide funding to strengthen Committees which scrutinise areas where DFID spends significant sums such as health.
30MPs in Sierra Leone have made the reasonable request that NGOs and donors inform them...
Recommended (the committee's words)
MPs in Sierra Leone have made the reasonable request that NGOs and donors inform them when they have projects in their constituencies. Again, we welcome the Minister’s support for this proposal. We recommend that DFID insist that NGOs and others receiving funding from DFID inform the constituency MP of the project they are undertaking.
Evidence
Oral evidence sessions 2
- 1 Jul 2014No witnesses recordedparliament.uk ↗
- 13 May 2014No witnesses recordedparliament.uk ↗