Assessing the impact of reintegration programs within communities of ex-combatants in Freetown, Sierra Leone

The Corioli Institute is commencing a research project in Freetown, Sierra Leone in partnership with the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) to conduct ethnographic research and life history interviews of communities into which former child soldiers have reintegrated. This research aims to explore the nuances between child combatants and adult combatants concerning their experiences, perspectives, and challenges related to reintegration in post-conflict Sierra Leone. The study will investigate the efficacy of reintegration programs by examining their impact on child combatants' lives and learn about the extent to which their needs have been met by these programs in the decades following the end of the civil conflict.
The research will adopt a mixed-methods approach, incorporating semi-structured or life history interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) to gather qualitative data from former child and adult combatants. The interviews will delve deep into the personal narratives of selected individuals, providing valuable insights into their journey from being combatants to reintegrating into society, which will further inform understanding of what remains in terms of needs for basic human security for them as well as their communities.