Sierra Leone’s Infrastructure : A Continental Perspective
Infrastructure development in Sierra Leone contributed about half a percentage point to the economy's per capita growth rate in 2003-07. But if Sierra Leone could upgrade its infrastructure to the level of the best performer in Africa, per cap...
Main Authors: | , |
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Format: | Policy Research Working Paper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2012
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000158349_20110629104032 http://hdl.handle.net/10986/3478 |
Summary: | Infrastructure development in Sierra
Leone contributed about half a percentage point to the
economy's per capita growth rate in 2003-07. But if
Sierra Leone could upgrade its infrastructure to the level
of the best performer in Africa, per capita growth rates
could be boosted by more than three percentage points. After
nine years of peace, economic activity is flourishing at
every level in Sierra Leone. But the 11-year civil war
destroyed the country's infrastructure, and rebuilding
the road network and ports while improving the electrical,
water, and telecommunications infrastructure is proving
difficult. Looking ahead, expanding electrification is a top
priority because current access levels, at only 1-5 percent
of the urban population and 0 percent in rural areas, are
impeding other development. The water and sanitation sector
faces similar challenges, as only 1 percent of the rural
population has access to piped water. Sierra Leone has been
spending about $134 million annually on infrastructure in
recent years. About $66 million is lost each year to
inefficiencies. Comparing spending needs against existing
spending and potential efficiency gains leaves an annual
funding gap of $59 to $278 million per year. If savings from
greater efficiency could be fully captured, Sierra Leone
would not meet its posited infrastructure targets for
another 30 years. Sierra Leone needs to make difficult
decisions about the prioritization of infrastructure
investments and must think strategically about bundling and
sequencing investments for maximum returns. |
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