Sierra Leone is viewed and described as a success story in terms of peacebuilding. However, the country remains one of the last on the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index and many challenges remain in terms of the security-development nexus.

In fact, Sierra Leone constitutes an excellent illustration of the recent World Development Report where a narrow understanding of security and development viewed through a peacebuilding lens would show a positive successful story which would hide the wider structural issues in terms of youth, marginalisation and violence.

This case study will provide insights into potential pathways to a more inclusive political settlement. Envisaged policy change is at the national level first by embedding the recommendations in the National Youth Commission and that will likely influence the government’s steps towards reducing or mitigating violence, as well as provide an informed analysis of the major donors on aid effectiveness in relation to development security initiatives for youths.