CIVICUS Civil Society Index Report for the Republic of Sierra Leone: A Critical Time for Civil Society in Sierra Leone Campaign for Good Governance in Collaboration with Christian Aid – Sierra Leone CIVICUS Civil Society Index An international action research project Coordinated by CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation. FOREWORD Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) was pleased to have been part of the CIVICUS Civil Society Index Report for Sierra Leone. This Report has provided civil society in Sierra Leone with the opportunity to analyse its capabilities and examine the alternatives available to civil society in the country, and also to anticipate the challenges that lie ahead. CGG’s facilitation of the CIVICUS process ensured that the whole process was based on dialogue, consultations and consensus-building that reflected the collective preferences and aspirations of Civil Society in Sierra Leone. It is hoped that this scientific report will serve not only as a guidepost to direct Civil Society in its drive to surmount the enormous challenges it faces, but also as the basis for the progressive development of civil society in Sierra Leone. Valnora Edwin Coordinator Campaign for Good Governance 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Civil Society Index (CSI) was carried out by Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) in collaboration with Christian Aid Sierra Leone. The Programme was funded by CIVICUS. We would like to express our appreciation and thanks to them for having made this report a reality. Our thanks and appreciation go to members of the National Advisory Group (NAG) for their commitment to the project until its final stage. This include: Mrs Satula Moijue, Secretary, Muloma Women Development, Small Bo Chiefdom, Kenema District, Mrs. Mary Musa, Chair, Koidu/New Senbehun Town Council, Kono District, Rev. Moses Khanu, Inter-Religious Council, Youth for Christ Building, Mr. Eric B. Jumu, National NGO Coordinator, Freetown, Mr. Ngolo Katta, Coordinator, CCYA, Yeabu O. Mansaray Chairlady, SLMWA – Koinadugu Branch, Mrs. Blanche Gooding, Chamber of Commerce, Freetown, The Director, Sierra Leone News Agency (SLENA), Freetown, Ms Christiana Dickson, Chairperson Gender Empowerment Project, Moyamba District, Mr. Charles Lahai, Executive Director, Sierra Leone Youth Empowerment Organisation (SLYEO), Freetown, Mr Charlie Hughes, Executive Director, Forum for Democratic Initiative (FORDI), Freetown, Mr Abdul Tejan-Cole, Chairman, Sierra Leone Bar Association, Freetown, Mr Abu Brima, Chairman, National Forum Human Rights, Mrs Jeannette Eno, Programme Director, ENCISS, Freetown, and Mr Karim, Secretary - General, Sierra Leone Association of Journalist (SLAJ). We are also thankful to all the Civil Society Organisations for their collaboration. Thanks and appreciation also go to the National Index Team (NIT) which include Mr. Abraham John who was the researcher, Mr. Amadu Sidi Bah the Coordinator and Dr. Abubakar Kargbo who was the Civil Society Expert and who prepared the report. Their selfless efforts since the beginning of the project were crucial to the completion of this report. 2 We also like to extend our sincerest thanks and appreciation to the CIVICUS team at the headquarter office in South Africa for the assistance they provided to the project to ensure its completion. Valnora Edwin Coordinator Campaign for Good Governance and Facilitator of the Civil Society Index in Sierra Leone 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD...............................................................................................................................................................1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................................................................2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ...............................................................................................................................................4 TABLES AND FIGURES ..............................................................................................................................................5 LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................................................................6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................................................7 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................................10 I. CIVIL SOCIETY INDEX PROJECT AND APPROACH ................................................................................12 1. PROJECT BACKGROUND .....................................................................................................................................12 2. PROJECT APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY .........................................................................................................13 II CIVIL SOCIETY IN SIERRA LEONE.............................................................................................................18 1. SPECIAL FEATURES OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN SIERRA LEONE...................................................................................18 2. CIVIL SOCIETY IN SIERRA LEONE TODAY...........................................................................................................20 3. THE CONCEPT OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN SIERRA LEONE ...........................................................................................22 4. THE CONCEPT OF CIVIL SOCIETY USED IN THIS STUDY......................................................................................23 III ANALYSIS OF THE SIERRA LEONE CIVIL SOCIETY .............................................................................26 1. STRUCTURE ........................................................................................................................................................26 1.1. Breadth of citizen participation in civil society..............................................................................................27 1.2. Depth of citizen participation in civil society.................................................................................................29 1.3. Diversity of civil society participants .............................................................................................................30 1.4. Organisational level of CSOs .........................................................................................................................32 1.5. Inter-relations in civil society.........................................................................................................................35 1.6. Civil society resources....................................................................................................................................36 2. ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................................................................................39 2.1. Political context..............................................................................................................................................39 2.2 Basic freedoms and rights................................................................................................................................44 2.3. Socio-economic context .................................................................................................................................46 2.4. Socio-cultural context.....................................................................................................................................49 2.5. Legal environment..........................................................................................................................................50 2.6. State-civil society relations.............................................................................................................................53 2.7. Private sector-civil society relations...............................................................................................................55 3. VALUES ..............................................................................................................................................................57 3.1. Democracy......................................................................................................................................................57 3.2. Transparency ..................................................................................................................................................59 3.3. Tolerance........................................................................................................................................................62 3.4. Non-violence ..................................................................................................................................................63 3.5. Gender equality ..............................................................................................................................................65 3.6. Poverty eradication.........................................................................................................................................67 3.7. Environmental sustainability ..........................................................................................................................69