Beyond formal and informal: Understanding urban informalities from Freetown

Freetown challenges, even more than other cities, entrenched categories of formal and informal. In this paper, the discussion on informality encompasses both the distinction drawn between informal and formal settlements, and between informal and formal economic activities. It is difficult to speak without using these terms given that they are so deeply part of policy discourses in the country by government and development agencies. However, when deployed as an analytical lens, they are demonstrably problematic. Drawing from the findings of a research project, this paper provides insights on what the activities and spaces referred to in policy as “informal” are and what this classification does. It reveals the political use of the term informality, arguing that it is wrong to frame informality as belonging to the poor and challenging the idea that formality and informality are clearly distinct spaces or economic activities in the city. It also demonstrates the fundamental contribution of what policy makers call “informal” to the wellbeing and development of cities, by providing what the state and the “formal” sector are unable to provide: employment and social protection, particularly important for the post-conflict Sierra Leone context. The paper calls for a deep understanding of the contributions of the livelihoods of the residents of informal settlements and a change of criminalisation policies that undermine them

The social regulation of livelihoods in unplanned settlements in Freetown: implications for strategies of formalisation

This paper questions strategies of economic formalisation which prioritise the extension of state regulation as a means of extending access to labour protection and social protection. It draws on a research project on key livelihood systems and their associated governance arrangements in three unplanned urban settlements in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Our analysis of these fishing, and sand and stone-quarrying livelihood systems highlights the collective systems of regulation of these sectors by a range of different state and non-state actors. Reviewing the contributions of these various arrangements we suggest that, instead of focusing on formalisation as pursued primarily through the extension of state regulation, it is also crucial to explore means of working with the (informal) social arrangements through which these livelihood systems are governed

Partnering with higher education institutions for social and environmental justice in the global South: lessons from the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre

In the context of the £1.5 billion aid money that the UK government is now channelling through UK research institutions, this article explores the importance of building local institutions and capacity in order to establish equitable research partnerships that respond to local concerns. It will also explore the role of these institutions in brokering local partnerships for urban justice

The politics of urban management and planning in African cities

Half of Africa’s population is expected to live in a city by 2035, up from 40 per cent today. This is a testament to the fact that a quarter of the world’s fastest-growing cities are in Africa and 52 African cities already have more than 1 million inhabitants each. But these cities are only projected to absorb a quarter of the growth in urban populations, meaning that small and medium cities will host the majority of new urban dwellers (UN-Habitat, 2014: 23–25). African cities are the most unequal in the world, posing a major challenge to their future (UN-Habitat, 2010: 2)

Risk factors for preeclampsia and eclampsia at a main referral maternity hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone: a case-control study

Background: In the African region, 5.6% of pregnancies are estimated to be complicated by preeclampsia and 2.9% by eclampsia, with almost one in ten maternal deaths being associated with hypertensive disorders. In Sierra Leone, representing one of the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, 16% of maternal deaths were caused by pregnancy-induced hypertension in 2016. In the light of the high burden of preeclampsia and eclampsia (PrE/E) in Sierra Leone, we aimed at assessing population-based risk factors for PrE/E to offer improved management for women at risk. Methods: A facility-based, unmatched observational case-control study was conducted in Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH). PCMH is situated in Freetown and is the only health care facility providing 'Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care services' throughout the entire country. Cases were defined as pregnant or postpartum women diagnosed with PrE/E, and controls as normotensive postpartum women. Data collection was performed with a questionnaire assessing a wide spectrum of factors influencing pregnant women's health. Statistical analysis was performed by estimating a binary logistic regression model. Results: We analyzed data of 672 women, 214 cases and 458 controls. The analysis yielded several independent predictors for PrE/E, including family predisposition for PrE/E (AOR=2.72, 95% CI: 1.46-5.07), preexisting hypertension (AOR=3.64, 95% CI: 1.32-10.06), a high mid-upper arm circumflex (AOR=3.09, 95% CI: 1.83-5.22), presence of urinary tract infection during pregnancy (AOR=2.02, 95% CI: 1.28-3.19), presence of prolonged diarrhoea during pregnancy (AOR=2.81, 95% CI: 1.63-4.86), low maternal assets (AOR=2.56, 95% CI: 1.63-4.02), inadequate fruit intake (AOR=2.58, 95% CI: 1.64-4.06), well or borehole water as the main source of drinking water (AOR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.31-3.23) and living close to a waste deposit (AOR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.15-3.25). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that systematic assessment of identified PrE/E risk factors, including a family predisposition for PrE/E, preexisting hypertension, or obesity, should be performed early on in ANC, followed by continued close monitoring of first signs and symptoms of PrE/E. Additionally, counseling on nutrition, exercise, and water safety is needed throughout pregnancy as well as education on improved hygiene behavior. Further research on sources of environmental pollution in Freetown is urgently required

Newborn mid-upper arm circumference identifies low-birth weight and vulnerable infants: A secondary analysis

BACKGROUND: Low birth weight (LBW) infants are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Identification of LBW may not occur in settings where access to reliable scales is limited. Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) may be an accessible, low-cost measure to identify LBW and vulnerable infants. OBJECTIVES: We explored the validity of newborn MUAC in identifying LBW and vulnerable newborns in rural Sierra Leone. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of infant data from a randomized controlled clinical trial of supplementary food and anti-infective therapies compared with standard care for undernourished pregnant women. Data for singleton liveborn infants with birth measurement and 6-mo survival data were included in this analysis. The primary outcome was validity of MUAC in identifying low-birth weight (LBW) neonates. Secondary outcomes included validity of MUAC and head circumference (HC) in identifying weight-for-length RESULTS: The study population included 1167 infants, 229 (19.6%) with LBW. Birth MUAC ( CONCLUSIONS: MUAC was used successfully to identify LBW infants and infants at risk of neonatal mortality in Sierra Leone. Further evidence is needed to support increased use of newborn MUAC measurement to identify LBW infants and infants at risk of neonatal mortality in community settings where scales are not available. Primary trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03079388. LAY SUMMARY: Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) can be used to identify infants with low birth weight and infants at risk for neonatal mortality, with an MUAC ≤9.0 cm indicating the highest risk

Sierra Leone: Urban Mobility, Accessibility & COVID-19

What policies have been put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19 in relation to mobility and accessibility

Influence of preload and nonlinearity of railpads on vibration of railway tracks under stationary and moving harmonic loads

In railway track dynamics, the stiffness and damping properties of railpads have a significant effect on track vibration, decay rates as well forces transmitted to the track supporting structure. Many studies have shown that railpads exhibit pronounced nonlinear behaviour, with preload and frequency dependent properties. This paper presents a three parameter railpad model, together with its differential equation of motion and the required model parameters obtained from experimental data. A time domain model of a rail discretely supported on these railpads is then formulated using the finite element method. The model is subjected to static and dynamic loading in order to study the effects of preload and frequency on its dynamic behaviour. Results are shown as time histories and frequency spectra for the track displacements and reaction forces for various preload levels. They emphasise the necessity of accounting for nonlinear behaviour based on the large disparities (up to 20 dB) observed between the linear and nonlinear cases for the parameters used in this study

Strategic vision for sustainable urban transport and mobility in Sierra Leone: Practical implementation constraints and opportunities

This document summarises the consensus that emerged during the T-SUM workshop ‘Future Freetown, Improving Mobility – from Vision to Implementation’ that took place on March 4th 2020 in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The participatory workshop was led by SLURC and UCL, with the support of Freetown City Council, the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, the Sierra Leone Road Transport Cooperation, the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineer, Fourah Bay College and the Directorate of Science Technology and Innovation. Circa 50 key stakeholders across sectors and representatives of the public participated