[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1136, 340], "category": "Text", "text": "external shocks hinder the country development potential. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy was only slowly recovering from the 2016 collapse of world market prices for iron, the Ebola epidemic, which paralysed the economy and led to a GDP contraction of 20.5% and the 2017-18 pre-electoral environment that impacted on the macro-economic and public finance management. The country has made more gains in urban poverty reduction, currently estimating 34.8% (on 2018 survey calculation), compared to 46.9% in 2003/04; against rural poverty at 73.9%, compared to 78.7% in 2003/04 - suggesting poverty remains a rural phenomenon in the country²."}, {"bbox": [96, 364, 1136, 733], "category": "Text", "text": "After a period of lax policies reflecting in the significant deterioration of fiscal aggregates and the accumulation of a large stock of arrears, the government elected in April 2018 adopted sound policies paving the way for restored macroeconomic stability and fiscal sustainability. Capitalising on this progress, Sierra Leone secured, in November 2018, a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) Extended Credit Facility (ECF) -supported program and has been engaging other development partners to support wide-ranging economic and social reforms. The authorities engaged in reforms in different areas including public finance management, fighting corruption, human capital development, agriculture and fisheries development, enhancing gender equality and women empowerment or tackling gender based violence. Tangible progress can be observed relating to human development and in particular in relation to the education sector which has been high in the political agenda with the flagship Free Quality School Education Programme (increase in expenditures and critically in enrolment rates). Likewise, the sound macro-economic and fiscal policy mix is reflecting in sounder aggregates such as the inflation heading to single digit, the rise in domestic revenue mobilisation or the prospect of a primary budget surplus in 2022. However the shock of COVID-19 pandemic has been preventing Sierra Leone from fully grasping the expected benefits of the policy shift."}, {"bbox": [96, 761, 1136, 870], "category": "Text", "text": "The balance is quite mixed when it comes to economic governance. Efficiency of the government institutions and quality of service delivery remain a concern. The recent resuming of activities in the mining sector point to some improvement in the business and investment climate, but sustained progress is hampered by the perception of corruption which remains high."}, {"bbox": [96, 894, 1136, 1028], "category": "Text", "text": "COVID-19 pandemic indeed severely hit Sierra Leone economy and public finances. The shock was external but highlighted the vulnerabilities of the country stemming from some deep-rooted weaknesses reflected in the extremely delicate balance between legitimate development needs and fiscal space. As a result of the pandemic, public debt rose to 73% of GDP – high risks of debt distress according to the IMF and also above the quasi fiscal rules of the government."}, {"bbox": [96, 1053, 1136, 1161], "category": "Text", "text": "Sierra Leone has signed all the nine fundamental human rights treaties and submitted initial and/or periodic reports on five of the seven ratified treaties, namely: Convention Against Torture, Convention on Civil and Political Rights, Convention on the Elimination of all Discrimination Against Women, Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination and Convention on the Rights of Children."}, {"bbox": [96, 1212, 393, 1238], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 2.1.2 Rationale and Assessment"}, {"bbox": [96, 1265, 1136, 1346], "category": "Text", "text": "The basis for programming is the Medium-term National development Plan (MTNDP 2019-2023). The MTDNP is a comprehensive plan that is frank about the challenges faced by Sierra Leone and relevant to the country needs. MTDNP's key socio-economic goals are aligned with the EU cooperation policy."}, {"bbox": [96, 1371, 1136, 1479], "category": "Text", "text": "The challenges are wide-ranging and can be classified as sectorial (such as inadequate human capital and education or lack of access to energy and finance), systemic (such as persistent inequalities and poverty or weak democratic and inefficient institutions) and political (high political polarisation which undermines consensus-building and participation)."}, {"bbox": [96, 1504, 1136, 1558], "category": "Text", "text": "With a view to sustain the prospects of a resilient, prosperous and peaceful future in the interest of Sierra Leone and the EU, the Multiannual Indicative Programme 2021-2027 will adopt a comprehensive approach combining:"}, {"bbox": [85, 1595, 1144, 1647], "category": "Footnote", "text": "² Voluntary National Review (VNR), Report 2021, Sierra Leone. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/279542021_VNR_Report_Sierra_Leone.pdf"}, {"bbox": [1037, 1680, 1144, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 17"}]