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Sierra Leone and Liberia

A young voter in Kenema, Sierra Leone, listens for election results via radio [Annie Bungeroth]

Sierra Leone and Liberia are still recovering from long, bitter and vicious civil wars which devastated communities and the lives of their citizens

The civil war had a devastating impact on Sierra Leone - more than two million people were affected, many of whom are still refugees in neighbouring countries.

Sierra Leone is the lowest-ranking country in the world for life expectancy, access to education and standard of living. Average life expectancy is just 34, and almost three-quarters of the people live below the poverty line.

CAFOD spent £226,000 in Sierra Leone and Liberia in 2008/09

Former President Charles Taylor left Liberia in 2003 in the midst of a crisis. Since then UN peacekeepers have been deployed across the country, co-ordinating a national Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration programme.

The war displaced one million people and left 200,000 dead, while 80 per cent of people live below the poverty line, and the country is heavily dependent on foreign aid. We support two partners in Liberia, both of which were present throughout the conflict era, and are now focused on post-conflict rehabilitation, particularly for young people.

CAFOD supporters have lobbied for - and won - commitments on aid, debt and a fairer system of world trade [Kate Stanworth]

Meet the policy team

Our Policy Unit researches and analyses international policies affecting poor communities, and suggests alternatives to reduce poverty

Faith in Nigeria

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos promotes cooperation in the everyday and normal aspects of living as the best way of overcoming conflict.

Ex-civil war combatant Aminata Sesav (in yellow) is training as a hairdresser with Caritas [Annie Bungeroth]

Skills training for former child soldiers

Caritas Makeni provides vocational training for former child soldiers, such as Aminata, during Sierra Leone’s civil war

Convictions fail to provide justice for war survivors

The conviction of three Revolutionary United Front (RUF) leaders by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone is not enough to provide real justice for victims of the civil war

Communities in Sierra Leone learning how to use video to change their own lives for the better by lobbying their leaders for change [Alex Coley]

Bringing life to film

Paul Higgitt writes about how a Sierra Leone project is proving that digital video can play a vital role in communicating the stories of those who are often voiceless

Published on 29/07/2003, last updated on 12/01/2010

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CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales

Sierra Leone and Liberia