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Flag of Sierra Leone Africa - Western

Sierra Leone

CARE started work in: 1961

Sierra Leone ranks 182 out of 189 on the Human Development Index (HDI). CARE International’s work in Sierra Leone is focused on healthcare, gender equality, and working with communities to prevent HIV/AIDS.

History of CARE International’s work in Sierra Leone

CARE International began work in Sierra Leone in 1961, initially focusing on school food programs to improve children’s nutrition. 

We later conducted emergency response activities during the civil war (1991-2002) and supported community peacebuilding and rehabilitation after the conflict ended.  

What CARE International does in Sierra Leone 

CARE International’s work in Sierra Leone is focused on healthcare and gender equality including working with communities to prevent HIV/AIDS and to change harmful social norms that prevent women and girls from understanding or accessing their sexual and reproductive health and rights.  

This work includes supporting the national health system through providing medical supplies and modern contraception, as well as training medical professionals to provide quality healthcare. 

We also work with youth in programs to end female genital mutilation. We prioritize working in districts heavily burdened by HIV and with high rates of teenage pregnancy.  

Since 2020, CARE International has been responding to COVID-19 in Sierra Leone. Response efforts include spreading messaging on hygiene methods for preventing COVID-19, distributing food, cash, and vouchers, providing medical supplies, and supporting the continuity of sexual and reproductive health. 

Reach and impact data
Total participants reached in 2023
  • Direct 1,752,899
  • Women & girls 46%
  • Indirect -
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REGION

COUNTRY

Total reach
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SUMMARY

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Please note that the figures in this site may not be the same as those reported to donors or host governments based on different reporting periods. CARE's international aggregated reporting mechanisms always use the Fiscal Year from July to June.

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Sierra Leone: The Sexual Violence Emergency

On February 14th, 2019, the president of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio declared sexual violence a national emergency, vowing that sex with minors would be punishable by life in prison. However, the situation is highly political as, according to the national constitution, the president would need at least two thirds of the votes of the parliament to declare an emergency, which he did not. The opposition party, which has most of the parliament members, protested the decision.

 

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West Africa is bracing for continued food insecurity, with several countries already having experienced food riots this year. A joint survey by CARE and Oxfam shows that the crisis is likely to be worsened by conflicts in Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Mali as food and fuel prices escalate globally.

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