Investing in Habope

In countries ravaged by a history of
civil war and genocide, the overarching goal for local
government and international donors alike is to promote
social cohesion, stability and community reconstruction. In
Sierra Leone, reconstruction programs emphasize a
decentralized approach to: (i) rapidly build market
institutions; (ii) enhance community decision making; and
(iii) strengthen intra and inter-community tolerance and
benefit sharing. This study addresses a program to provide
small grants to some of the poorest communities in Sierra
Leone. The program builds on the success of relevant micro
financing initiatives. However, compared to traditional
loans to small enterprises, which are generally available in
urban and peri-urban areas where micro financing
institutions are accessible, socially motivated grants to
reach the poorest households are used. This report presents
the findings of financial assessments funded by the Public
Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) of the
World Bank. The assessments cover two of the poorest
districts in northern Sierra Leone under the Habope project.
The project, which means ‘to give hope’ in the local
language Krio, is implemented by the governments National
Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) and financed by the
Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF). One of its components
provides grants to group enterprises which are comprised of
vulnerable households who are at risk for hunger and deprivation.