[{"bbox": [133, 152, 1135, 259], "category": "Text", "text": "* **General Elections** are scheduled for June 2023 and **political tensions are increasing** between main political parties. The political landscape is characterised by a high degree of polarisation and deep regional divides and many of the factors that led to civil war still persist (interplay of poverty, marginalisation, greed and grievances)."}, {"bbox": [133, 259, 1135, 366], "category": "Text", "text": "* Sierra Leone introduced **positive reforms** such as the abolition of the death penalty and the repeal of the criminal libel law. It is an example of religious tolerance and contributed actively to peace building process especially in the ECOWAS region. Sierra Leone has just been elected as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period 2024-2025."}, {"bbox": [133, 366, 1135, 445], "category": "Text", "text": "* **Poverty remains high** at 57% with more than 10% in abject poverty, affecting disproportionately rural areas, home to 75% of the poor, though there is a rapid migration of mainly poor youth to urban centres. Sierra Leone's HDI score (0.45) is **one of the lowest in the world** and positions the country at 182 out of 189."}, {"bbox": [133, 445, 1135, 551], "category": "Text", "text": "* The **Sierra Leonean economy was severely negatively affected by the impact of the Russian aggression on Ukraine**, which obliged the government to adopt a supplementary budget in June 2022. GDP growth is now projected to reach only 2.1% in 2023 (versus an initial forecast of 5.9% in December 2021) and **public finances are under high stress**."}, {"bbox": [133, 551, 1135, 658], "category": "Text", "text": "* Sierra Leone faces **one of the highest food inflation rates in Sub-Saharan Africa (29.40% in 2022)**. In terms of food insecurity, Sierra Leone is among the most affected countries in the sub-Saharan region (19% of the population affected). **Protests and strikes against the rising cost of living turned violent on 10 August** in Freetown with six police officers and about 30 civilians killed."}, {"bbox": [133, 658, 938, 684], "category": "Text", "text": "* Sierra Leone faces complex, **interlinked, and persistent development challenges**:"}, {"bbox": [208, 684, 919, 710], "category": "Text", "text": "  * Economic challenges of stagnation, unemployment and low productivity,"}, {"bbox": [208, 710, 1118, 737], "category": "Text", "text": "  * Social challenges of poverty, inequality, a sizeable precariat combined with population growth,"}, {"bbox": [208, 737, 1135, 791], "category": "Text", "text": "  * Weak Government effectiveness, patronage system, high levels of corruption and a fragile democracy,"}, {"bbox": [208, 791, 1135, 844], "category": "Text", "text": "  * Environmental challenges of an alarming loss of primary natural forest and forest degradation, biodiversity loss, degrading ecosystems and high climate change vulnerability."}, {"bbox": [96, 871, 1135, 1006], "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 (MIP) 2021-2027 will adopt a comprehensive approach combining: i) the promotion of an inclusive economic transformation towards sustainable green growth and economic diversification with, ii) fostering human development for people to enjoy long, healthy and creative lives, and iii) the promotion of good governance."}, {"bbox": [96, 1030, 1135, 1085], "category": "Text", "text": "The MIP is based on the Medium-term National development Plan (MTNDP 2019-2023). and builds on the Team Europe Initiative \"Green Pact with Sierra Leone\"."}, {"bbox": [96, 1110, 1135, 1191], "category": "Text", "text": "Support measures shall facilitate the implementation of the MIP, provide particular support for Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities, and help to build \"A Stronger Europe\" in line with the Global Strategy for the European Union's Foreign and Security Policy."}, {"bbox": [96, 1215, 1135, 1351], "category": "Text", "text": "Activities under the action are not explicitly identified and are not necessarily linked to a specific policy or programme of the EU but should contribute to gender equality and the GAP¹ III. Mindful of the shortcomings mentioned above and of the need to promote EU interests and positions in Sierra Leone, small-scale initiatives will be launched on an ad-hoc base to support the implementation of the MIP as well as EU public, cultural and economic diplomacy."}, {"bbox": [85, 1389, 342, 1421], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [96, 1436, 322, 1464], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### Short problem analysis:"}, {"bbox": [96, 1489, 1135, 1570], "category": "Text", "text": "Lessons from past cooperation initiatives – including the Technical Assistance Facilities- highlight the importance for the EU Delegation to count with a flexible instrument which allows for quick responses to the needs stemming from the specificities of programme implementation in a country facing a long-lasting situation of fragility and"}, {"bbox": [85, 1597, 1143, 1645], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹ The EU Gender Action Plan III was adopted by 24 Member States through the Presidency Council Conclusion of the 16th December of 2020 (13947/20)."}, {"bbox": [1038, 1682, 1143, 1707], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 15"}]