In Sierra Leone, the month of December has always been the month of festivities. The country has a majority of Muslims but its unique live-and-let-live culture established since the turn of the 19th Century allows both Christians and Muslims to celebrate Christmas as they do for the Muslim holidays, but December is special. The weather […]
Basing Policy on Empirical Evidence
The use of empirical evidence to influence or determine policy is one of the major challenges found in countries at the bottom of the development ladder. What is the evidence so far about the transmission of Ebola? I am told by one of our erudite specialists in the field that over 99% of the cases […]
Sierra Leone’s Capacity Problems
In a recent discussion I had with one of our donor partners, I argued that the view that Sierra Leone suffers from capacity weaknesses and therefore needs to build capacity; in short train more people and give them more qualifications, is rather simplistic and in some cases just plain wrong. This is not to say […]
Ebola – The Complex Crisis
Global Health Emergency for the world but a Complex Humanitarian Crisis for Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. The world continues to consider the crises in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea a Global Health Emergency when all the signs are apparent that the current Ebola outbreak is already a complex Humanitarian Crisis of unparalleled proportions. The […]
Mano River Union Security Strategy
Done! Ministers from the four member states of the Mano River Union met in Conkary and have adopted the draft Security Strategy for submission to the Heads of States. I led a team of three consultants, including Patrice Vahard and Zannoubo Vinagnon, to draft the Strategy. It was then reviewed, refined and validated by experts […]