The Work of the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the Islamic Development Bank in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone experienced a tragic civil war during the 1990s.  This decade-long struggle took 50,000 victims, handicapped thousands, and displaced over half a million Sierra Leoneans.  With the government in disarray and the country ravaged by years of intense warfare, Sierra Leone was in need of major assistance.  Many international organizations came to Sierra Leone’s aid; two of these organizations have been the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).  For the last six years, these two organizations have made significant contributions to Sierra Leone’s reconstruction and sustained stability.

Work of the Organization of the Islamic Conference

OIC Contact Group on Sierra Leone

The OIC Contact Group on Sierra Leone is comprised of Egypt, Guinea, Kuwait, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Sierra Leone.  Upon recommendation of the Contact Group on Sierra Leone, a Trust Fund for Sierra Leone was established to support its rehabilitation and reconstruction.  Thus, Sierra Leone has been important for the OIC.

Sierra Leone Reconstruction Fund of the OIC

In order to remedy the tragic consequences of the civil war of the 1990s in Sierra Leone, the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) established the Sierra Leone Reconstruction Fund of the OIC.  Managed by a Council of Trustees, this fund aims to aid the Government of Sierra Leone in reconstruction, repatriation, and re-building of state structures in Sierra Leone.  The following contributions have been made to the Fund and have been deposited in a special Fund account at the IsDB in Jeddah:

Contributions to Sierra Leone Reconstruction Fund of the OIC

The contributed funds have been used to facilitate activities and projects since January 2004.  A total of 18 projects have been proposed to the Fund by the Government of Sierra Leone and, thus far, 9 have been completed at a total cost of 477,000 USD:

·         Construction of 85 housing units in different regions

·         Drilling of water wells in Masari

·         Construction of basic fishermen facilities in Tombu

·         Construction of town hall in Lunsar

·         Renovation and construction of a school in Mabrouka

·         Construction of Projects Center in Kaylahoun

·         Construction of meeting halls, a mosque, and a health center in Port Loukou

Going forward, the Fund plans to expand its scope with more resources, to attract more media coverage of their efforts, and to attain more technical assistance in implementing their programs.

OIC Capacity-Building Projects in Sierra Leone

OIC member states are involved in capacity-building projects in Sierra Leone.  A project on palm oil cultivation is being implemented by the Njala University College of Sierra Leone in collaboration with Malaysian micro-mills-experts.

Work of the Islamic Development Bank

The IsDB is an international financial institution that fosters economic development and social progress in its member countries and other Muslim communities.  The IsDB supports projects geared towards trade, industry, the private sector, education, technology, and infrastructure development.  An IsDB member, Sierra Leone is a beneficiary of most IsDB programs.  The IsDB has granted scholarships to deserving Sierra Leonean students to study in other IsDB member countries and has also initiated the implementation of several socio-economic projects.

Islamic Development Bank’s Projects in Sierra Leone