Stakeholder Participation, Institutional Arrangements in the Bauxite Mining Value Chain and Development in Mining Communities, Sierra Leone

Abstract

Mineral-rich developing countries have been unable to translate their resource wealth into successful development. This study, therefore, considered stakeholder participation, institutional arrangements and development in the bauxite mining sector in Sierra Leone. The qualitative research approach was deployed in the study and case study constituted the study design. Key informants from government institutions, academia, private sector, development partners, civil society organisations and constituents in primary host communities participated in the study. Interview, focus group discussion and documentary review guides and observation checklist were utilised in the collection of data. Qualitative data analysis entailed the use of thematic analysis to analyse the set of transcribed interviews and focus group discussions. The study found that stakeholders along the bauxite mining value chain are classified into four main groups – low interest and low influence; low interest and high influence; high interest and low influence and high interest and high influence. Institutional structures throughout the bauxite mining value chain were found to have been negatively impacted by political involvement. Community development committees were shown to increase stakeholder involvement in decision making and aid in effective development at the local level. The study concluded that excessive political influence permeates the bauxite mining sector. It is recommended that there is the need to reduce the dysfunctional nature of inter-institutional coordination and to operationalise the Transformational Development Stabilisation Fund and Inter-Generational Savings Fund in order to allocate funds for development projects.