Decentralization in Sierra Leone - Research for Development

Decentralization in Sierra Leonethe effectiveness of the local councils is being consistently undermined by competition fromnon-democratic political authorities.It is possible that the backward-looking trend in recent GoSL policy on local government is areaction to the success of the decentralization programme. It may, for example, represent arearguard strategy by conservative elements in government (especially the mainstream civilservice) who have yet to come to terms with the fact that the “genie” of local democracy isout of the bottle. But it is also possible that current GoSL policy on local government is beingdriven by insecurity rather than resurgent authoritarianism. Sierra Leone’s governing classesknow full well that the country does not currently generate sufficient resources to satisfymass demand for wage employment and services. The government may therefore be trying toensure that: a) chiefs can still manage social expectations, and influence voting behaviour,among the rural poor; b) local councils, with donor support, can offer services and democraticaccountability to the better educated and better off. The danger remains that national policymakers are misreading social and political currents in the countryside and that a commitmentto democratic governance and participatory development for all Sierra Leoneans is now theonly political project likely to secure peace and prosperity in the long term: hence thecommissioning of the current study.Fanthorpe Consultancy Ltd Page 15