Exploring Alternative Livelihoods: Pathways to Sustainable Development for the Relocated Mining Communities of MABBEN.

Abstract The pursuit of sustainable development in the face of environmental degradation, economic uncertainty and social inequality necessitates the exploration of alternative livelihoods. Alternative livelihood programmes have been adopted as a different form of creating a means of support for people who have been deprived of their original means of livelihood as a result of an economic, social and environmental activities by either a corporate entity or government corporations or government regulations/laws. Some of these activities like in the case of the iron-ore rich MABBEN communities in the northern province of Sierra Leone, communities were relocated from their original ancestral settlements by a largescale mining company for economic or corporate reasons to the company. Alternative livelihood programmes have been seen as a viable option for underprivilege people, however, despite the enormous and increasing importance of alternative livelihood programmes in the mining industry in Sierra Leone especially in the Iron-ore rich MABBEN communities, little studies have been conducted to assess the real impacts on the inhabitants of the relocated communities of MABBEN. This paper explores the impacts of alternative livelihood programmes and its sustainability on the relocated communities. It also examines the potential of alternative livelihoods to promote economic diversification, reduce vulnerability, and enhance well-being. Various literatures were reviewed based on the objective of the study. The method employed in this study is mixed method in which primary and secondary data were collected, interviews and focused group discussions were scheduled to collect data from inhabitants of the relocated communities as well as other key stakeholders out of the communities. The findings suggest that alternative livelihood programmes were done for the relocated communities but they were not sustainable and could not foster economic resilience. Other findings revealed that the alternative livelihood programmes in the area of Agriculture, water and sanitation are inadequate and beneficiaries are generally not satisfied. Also, the beneficiaries indicated that adequate jobs as a form of alternative livelihood programmes as well as entrepreneurship is highly preferable. Beneficiaries also recounted the opportunities that the CDAP (Community development action plan) programme comes with if it is redesigned to enhance sustainability. The major challenge encountered by development partners and companies in implementing alternative livelihood programmes was minimal cooperation from stakeholders. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the indigenous livelihood strategies be built on to enhance cultural sustainability. The paper also provides insights on the need to consolidate the current collaboration and redesign and broaden the scope of the current alternative livelihood programmes to fit the need of the communities and enhance sustainability. Despite the major challenges that the study revealed, the study recommends that continuous community engagement can minimize the implementation gaps that exists between the community and implementing partners.