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Sierra Leone

Key statistics

210

people are identified by UNHCR and partners as forcibly displaced in the country by the end of 2024

19,748

people are identified as forcibly displaced and stateless in the Senegal MCO countries* by the end of 2024

$14.5 million

are needed this year to ensure operations covered by the Senegal multi-country office* are sustained

*UNHCR’s operations in Sierra Leone are managed by the Senegal multi-country office, which also oversees operations in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde, with needs budgeted jointly.

The Multi-country Office (MCO) Senegal is based in Dakar. It is responsible for operations in Sierra Leone, Benin, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Togo, The Gambia, Cabo Verde, and Senegal. There are National UNHCR Offices in Togo, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau.

The overall situation in the MCO countries is one of relative political stability and economic security. Nonetheless, a potential spillover of terrorist operations in Burkina Faso and Niger bordering Benin and Togo has been raising concerns of potential population flows due to insecurity.

Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic that led to the lockdown of economies and the closure of borders had social, economic, and political implications on the livelihoods of refugees and host communities. It undermined the communities’ resilience and hindered access to solutions for protracted refugee caseloads. Integration of refugee caseloads has already taken place for years in most contexts, with solutions strategies and roadmaps discussed, agreed upon and partially implemented.

UNHCR’s proposal, jointly with Governments, of clear legal solutions for naturalization and residence permits for long-staying refugees, is expected to help stabilize PoCs status in the region.

Population and financial overview

Data on population and financials are available at the multi-country office level, which oversees operations across several countries.

Sierra Leone

Use the year selector to access information from previous years.

Populations

Population types

Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is  .

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.

Population by country

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.

Population by origin

NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.

Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.

Financial

Budget and expenditure trend

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by pillar
Budget by objective

Note: The table presents the  budget for this operation broken down at the objective level. Resource allocation at the objective level is subject to change during the course of the year as the operational situation evolves and priorities shift. The current budget, reflected in the bottom line of this table, is updated on a monthly basis and is replaced by the final budget at year-end.

Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.

Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.

Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.

Budget by Impact Area
Protect: Attaining favourable protection environments
Respond: Realizing rights in safe environments
Empower: Empowering communities and achieving gender equality
Solve: Securing solutions
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

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Strategy - Country

Strategy

For more information about our work in Sierra Leone:

Refworld

Find legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection.

Visit Refworld

 

Office contact details

The UNHCR Representative in Sierra Leone

Street Address:
29 Wilkinson Road, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 475, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Phone:
+41 22 739 7292

Fax:
+41 22 739 7293

Email:
[email protected]

Time zone:
GMT +0

Working hours

  • Monday: 8:00 - 17:00
  • Tuesday: 8:00 - 17:00
  • Wednesday: 8:00 - 17:00
  • Thursday: 8:00 - 17:00
  • Friday: 8:00 - 13:00
  • Saturday: closed
  • Sunday: closed