USAID/OTI Sierra Leone Program Description: November 2000
Throughout FY
1999, OTI funded
232 small grants to civil society groups supporting peace, human rights, and youth activism for community development.
| 1/97 |
9/01 |
$1,032,000 |
$3,284,938 |
Recognizing that Sierra Leone's development hinged on ending the smuggling of diamonds and other mineral resources across its borders, OTI has sought opportunities to help the government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) establish a legitimate diamond trade policy. Consultations between OTI, the U.S. Department of State, the U.K. British and Commonwealth Office, the Belgian government, and diamond industry representatives resulted in a shared approach to international sanctions on illicitly-traded diamonds of Sierra Leonean origin. In July 2000, the UN Security Council voted to impose a worldwide ban on purchases of rough diamonds from Sierra Leone unless they are identified by a properly issued Certificate of Origin. A trilateral U.S./U.K./Belgian team is working with the GOSL in Freetown on a new certification regime, which the Sierra Leone government presented to the UN Sanctions Committee.
OTI laid the groundwork for joint meetings of U.S., U.K., and Belgian representatives with diamond giant De Beers and the Diamond High Council of Antwerp to advance private sector cooperation in reducing diamond smuggling.
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| Participants in OTI's Youth Reintegration Training and Education for Peace Program in Lungi. |
OTI has also tackled the destabilizing problem of ex-combatant youth whose educational opportunities had literally passed them by during years of war and displacement. OTI developed a remedial education program, focusing on basics such as reading, writing, and simple math. The Reintegration Training and Education for Peace Program is a community-based, nonformal education effort targeted at 60,000 youth, both ex-combatants and noncombatant youth activists.
Following setbacks in the peace process in May, OTI added a new component to the Education for Peace Program to address the frustration of civil society and traditional and religious leaders who have been repeatedly disappointed by failed peace prospects. OTI and its partners, Management Systems International (MSI) and World Vision, are developing educational workshops that will promote positive action and nation building.
OTI is also working with Search for Common Ground (SFCG) on a multidonor effort to launch a radio production studio in Freetown. The studio will produce messages to aid the peace process and lay the groundwork for reconciliation and reintegration of former soldiers.
OTI plans to exit Sierra Leone at the end of FY 2001, with current programs handed off to the GOSL.
OTI's partners in Sierra Leone include the GOSL, the UK and Belgian governments, the World Bank, the Diamond High Council of Antwerp, ECHO, UN organizations, World Vision, MSI, SFCG, and bilateral donors such as the Dutch, the Swiss, and the Canadians.
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