1 Sierra Leone Country Profile
Sierra Leone, officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north, Liberia to the south-east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south-west. Sierra Leone has a tropical climate, with a diverse environment ranging from savannah to rainforests. Sierra Leone has a total area of 71,740 km2 and an estimated population of 6 million (2011 United Nations estimate). Freetown is the capital, largest city, and the economic and political centre. Bo is the second largest city. The other major cities in the country with a population above 100,000 are Kenema, Makeni and Koidu Town. Sierra Leone is divided into four geographical regions: the Northern Province, Eastern Province, Southern Province and the Western Area, which are further divided into fourteen districts.
Generic country information can be located from sources which
are regularly maintained and reflect current facts and
figures. For a generic country overview, please consult the
following sources:
Generic Information:
Wikipedia Information on Sierra Leone
IMF Information on Sierra Leone
(*note - this is a paid service)
Facts and Figures:
Population Information on Sierra Leone
Humanitarian Organisation Information:
Website of the WFP on Sierra Leone
1.1 Sierra Leone Humanitarian Background
Disasters, Conflicts and Migration |
||
---|---|---|
Natural Disasters |
Yes / No |
Comments / Details |
Drought |
Yes | Sierra Leone’s dependence on
slash-and-burn practices coupled with rising population density and
lack of available land, make traditional methods of agriculture unsustainable in the long term, as within this system, land needs to lie fallow for some seven years. |
Earthquakes |
Yes |
15 years ago 4.4 magnitude, 10 km depth Koindu, Eastern Province, Sierra Leone |
Epidemics |
Yes | Ebola outbreak in 2014/15, Measles, Malaria, Yellow fever, Cholera, Lassa fever, Dengue fever, Typhoid fever |
Extreme Temperatures |
No | - |
Flooding |
Yes | During the rainy season |
Insect Infestation |
Yes | Rice stem borers |
Mudslides |
Yes | During the rainy season |
Volcanic Eruptions |
No | - |
High Waves / Surges |
Yes | With 402 km of coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, high waves should always be taken into consideration as a potential risk. |
Wildfires |
Yes | Wild or bush fires are one of the biggest causes of forest destruction and land degradation in the country. |
High Winds |
Yes | Sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February). |
Man-Made Issues |
||
Civil Strife |
Yes | From 1991 to 2002 |
International Conflict |
Yes | With Liberia and Sierra Leone during the civil strife |
Internally Displaced Persons |
No | At the present, there are no IDPs in the country. |
Refugees Present |
Yes | Approximately 690 Liberian refugees |
Landmines / UXO Present |
N/A | - |
For more a detailed database on disasters in Sierra Leone, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Database.
Calamities and Seasonal Affects
Seasonal Affects on Transport | ||
---|---|---|
Transport |
Comments |
From (month) to (month) |
Primary Road Transport |
Yes, some potholes might appear during the rainy season since most of the primary road is not paved. | May to October |
Secondary Road Transport |
Yes greatly affected during the rainy season since none is paved | May to October |
Rail Transport |
N/A | - |
Air Transport |
Heavy rain during the rainy season and the Harmattan wind during the dry season might affect or disturb the air transport |
May to October / January to March |
Waterway Transport |
Limited during the dry season as the water level decreases. | November to May |
There are two seasons in the year; the
Rainy season from May to October and the Dry Season from November
to April. The rainy season has impact on road conditions,
especially the secondary and feeders which are dirt roads and could
become impracticable due to the heavy rain and the traffic of heavy
trucks.
Seasonal Affects on Storage and Handling (economic, social, climate…) |
||
---|---|---|
Activity |
Comments |
From <month> to <month> |
Storage |
No |
- |
Handling |
Yes |
May to October |
The heavy rain during the rainy season could delay the handling of cargoes. In the country, there is a lack of adequate storage facilities. Combined with the inaccessibility of some areas due to the bad roads it is recommended to pre-stock before the rainy season.
Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response
Government
The Office of National Security (ONS) is the government entity entitled to manage disasters by its National Disaster Department. In addition to an opaque mandate, this entity lacks resources and capacity. During the Ebola outbreak, which was considered a health crisis, the president established a new entity called the National Ebola Response Centre headed by the Minister of Defense (CEO) and seconded by the ex-Minister of Social Welfare. The NERC is supposed to operate until the end of 2015 before handing over its operations to the MoH and ONS. The military assets could be used in a potential emergency situation.
To access the Government Contact List, please click on the following link: 4.1 Sierra Leone Government Contact List
Humanitarian Community
The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Sierra Leone consists of all the 17 UN agencies, funds and programmes in Sierra Leone. The UNCT works “as one” to support Sierra Leone in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sierra Leone’s own national development agenda, or “Agenda for Prosperity” through a people-centred, rights-based approach to development as outlined in the Joint Vision of the UN Family for Sierra Leone – 2009-2012 and the Transitional Joint Vision – 2013-2014. The UNCT is currently led by UN Resident Coordinator interim and FAO Resident Representative for the Republic of Sierra Leone.
To access the Humanitarian Contacts Contact List, please click on the following link: 4.2 Sierra Leone Humanitarian Agency Contact List
1.2 Sierra Leone National Regulatory Departments
The National Revenue Agency (NRA) is charged with the responsibility of assessing and collecting domestic taxes, customs duties and other revenues specified by law, as well as administering and enforcing laws relating to these revenues. Sierra Leone is a member of the International Organization for Standardization. The Ministry of Trade and Industry supervises the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau (SLSB) and seeks to ensure an increased compliance with international standards. The National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) was established by an Act of Parliament in 2006 to regulate the Sierra Leone telecoms sector, protect consumer interests and ensure fair competition among service providers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in 2008 through the Environmental Protection Agency Act (2008) with the goal of creating and enforcing a strict regulatory framework for environmental regulation in Sierra Leone and became operational in 2009. The Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone was established through an Act of Parliament in 1988, and reviewed in 2001, to regulate Pharmaceutical Products, Medical Devices, Cosmetic Chemical substances, food and dietary supplement and herbal products, the practice of Pharmacy and any other matters related thereof. Ministry of Transport and Aviation (MoTA) provides the policy and regulatory framework for transport management in Sierra Leone. The SPECIALIST INSPECTION SERVICES (SL) LTD carries out the Pre-Shipment Inspection of exports from Sierra Leone.
For contact information, please see the following links:
4.1 Sierra Leone Government Contact List
4.3 Sierra Leone Laboratory and Quality Testing Company Contact List
1.3 Sierra Leone Customs Information
Duties and Tax Exemption
For contact information regarding government custom authorities, please follow the link: 4.1 Sierra Leone Government Contact List
Emergency Response
[Note: This section contains information which is related and applicable to ‘crisis’ times. These instruments can be applied when an emergency is officially declared by the Government. When this occurs, there is usually a streamlined process to import goods duty and tax free.]
Agreements / Conventions Description |
Ratified by Country? |
---|---|
WCO (World Customs Organization) member |
Yes, 06 November 1975 |
Annex J-5 Revised Kyoto Convention |
Yes, 10 November 2006 |
OCHA Model Agreement |
No |
Tampere Convention (on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations) |
No |
Regional Agreements (on emergency/disaster response, but also customs unions, regional integration) |
African Union (AU), ECOWAS, Mano River Agreement |
Exemption Regular Regime (Non-Emergency Response)
The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) aid policy lays down a number of procedures for receipt of external aid in general, and technical assistance in particular.
Ministries are expected to develop
proposals for external assistance and have these
formally signed off by the ‘Donor Harmonisation
and Aid Coordination Committee’ prior to
agreeing a package of assistance. NGOs offering
assistance in Sierra Leone must acquire NGO status. Firstly, the
NGO must be registered with the Sierra Leone Association of
Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO). After that registration,
the NGO should further register with the Ministry of Finance and
Economic Development (MOFED). Sierra Leone has no expedited
inspection and documentation procedures in place to facilitate the
rapid entry of goods and equipment intended for international
disaster response operations. All goods imported into Sierra Leone
are subjected to pre-shipment or destination inspections, which
are, in turn, subject to a fee. Duty free concessions and waivers
are accorded for the importation of relief items. The National
Revenue Authority (NRA) is responsible for the administration of
duty waivers while the Minister of Finance is responsible for
policy guidelines in respect of waivers. There are a number of
requirements to be fulfilled by those eligible for duty waivers.
The first is that, at the start of each financial year, entities
eligible for duty waivers must prepare and submit to the NRA an
exhaustive list of goods for which they will be applying for duty
waivers. Should there be any ambiguity in the request, an applicant
may be required to pay duty up-front but refunded if the applicant
can prove satisfactorily that they are entitled to a waiver. Also,
entities entitled to waivers would pay a non-refundable fee of
500,000 Leones per consignment to the NRA as administrative costs
for processing duty waiver applications. The NGO Policy states that
all assets purchased or acquired with donor funds should be the
property of the people of Sierra Leone who are the beneficiaries –
rather than of the NGO itself.
Organizational Requirements to obtain Duty Free Status |
---|
United Nations Agencies |
As per the agreement signed with the government of Sierra Leone, UN Agencies are exempted from all Import/Export taxes, including the GST. However, a waiver should be obtained from both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance. |
Non Governmental Organizations |
The Government of Sierra Leone may provide relevant financial and institutional support to NGOs, in the form of duty waivers, tax allowances and other facilities to enable them develop, reinforce and sustain their organisational capacity for more effective delivery of service. The GOSL has mandated the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED) to approve all duty waivers. In the case of NGOs, the Ministry scrutinises NGO applications for duty waivers and recommends approval to the Minister of Finance. Duty waiver applications (including permit clearance) from NGOs will only be granted by the Ministry of Finance & Economic Development after recommendation by the Director General. |
Exemption Certificate Application Procedure
Duties and Taxes Exemption Application Procedure |
---|
Generalities (include a list of necessary documentation) |
The process of applying for duty free waiver concession in Sierra Leone is a very long one which incorporates as follows:
|
Process to be followed (step by step or flowchart) |
n/a |
Exemption Certificate Document Requirements
Duties and Taxes Exemption Certificate Document Requirements (by commodity) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Food |
NFI |
Medicines |
Vehicles & |
Staff & |
Telecoms Equipment |
Invoice |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
AWB/BL/Other Transport Documents |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Donation/Non-Commercial Certificates |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Packing Lists |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Other Documents |
Certificate of origin, certificate of
radiation, phytosanitary, certificate of declaration of diplomatic
mission. |
n/a |
Import Certificate from Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Customs Clearance
General Information
Customs Information |
|
---|---|
Document Requirements |
An Import Declaration Application Form [IDF] has to be completed by the importer for every shipment to Sierra Leone and only one inspection will be performed per IDF. |
Embargoes |
None |
Prohibited Items |
Right hand vehicles, Antiques, Asbestos, Dangerous goods, haz. or comb. Mats, Furs, Gambling devices, Ivory, Narcotics, Pornography, Precious metals & stones |
General Restrictions |
Arms and ammunition (authorization from the Ministry of Interior, Intelligence Section, is required), Plants (authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is required), Pharmaceuticals (authorization from the Ministry of Health is required), Pets of good health certificate and valid vaccination certificates can obtain permit. Currency:
|
Customs Clearance Document Requirements
Customs Clearance Document Requirements (by commodity) |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Food |
NFI |
Medicines |
Vehicles & |
Staff & |
Telecoms Equipment |
D&T Exemption Certificate |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Invoice |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
AWB/BL/Other Transport Documents |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Donation/Non-Commercial Certificates |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Packing Lists |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
Phytosanitary Certificate |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
n/a |
Yes, Original, 1 copy, applies to UN and not NGOs |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Other Documents |
Certificate of Origin, certificate of radiation, |
n/a |
Import certificate from Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Transit Regime
The customs procedure depends on the instruction written on the Bill of Lading or the AirWay Bill. If the mention ‘in Transit’ is written on the B/L or the AWB then the transit procedures are followed. The clearing agent will establish the necessary document and the customs will provide the escort up to the exit point from the country.
Transit from Sierra Leone is guided by the ECOWAS supplementary convention A/SP.1/5/90 establishing a community guarantee mechanism for inter-stat road transit of goods.