Post-Ebola recovery plans take shape
Sierra Leone has suffered heavily in terms of loss of life and lost economic activity since the deadly Ebola virus took hold in early 2014. However, the country has not recorded any new cases of Ebola since mid-September this year and expectations are high the outbreak is finally coming under control. Sierra Leone could be declared Ebola free if no new cases emerge through to mid-November. Attention will soon shift to the post-Ebola environment and implementation of the recovery plans already presented by the governments of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. So far, the international community has committed around US$5bn-US$6bn of finding to support the recovery process. Priority areas to receive project implementation assistance and financial support include healthcare, agriculture, education, social protection programmes, as well as essential utility service of electricity, water and sanitation. The Sierra Leone government plans to spend heavily on these areas together with transport infrastructure over the coming years, although the on-going crisis in the mining sector caused by a slump in global prices and much softer demand for iron ore could curtail their ambitions.