'Going home' in post-conflict Sierra Leone - Diamonds, agriculture and re-building rural livelihoods in the Eastern Province

Sierra Leone has recently emerged from a long period of political instability and civil war which has relegated the country to the bottom of the world human development league table. A process of reconstruction and rehabilitation is now underway, to restore livelihoods, repair damaged infrastructure and rebuild the economy The sustainable development of valuable mineral resources and the restoration qf rural production systems and food security are important priorities. This article examines the post-war reconstruction process and presents evidence from communities in the Eastern Province which were badly affected during the conflict. Although some progress is being made, the pace qf change is slow, and the threat of a return to instability is a common concern among all citizens and organisations, from national government to individuals and communities at the grassroots level.