A/HRC/16/78 B. Economic, social and cultural rights 35. In 2009, the Government of Sierra Leone formulated its second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP),called the “Agenda for Change”. While broad-based economic growth is the main goal of this four-year strategy, the rule of law, human rights, peace and security are considered as essential pre-requisites for poverty reduction in the strategy. The United Nations family in Sierra Leone adopted a Joint Vision with 21 programmes aimed at supporting the Government’s Agenda for Change2 which is now in implementation. 1. Right to work 36. The population employment ratio has remained constant at 40 to 45 per cent since 2004. The labour market has not been able to absorb the supply of labour for several reasons, including lack of access to finance and poor infrastructure, but also lack of critical skills in the existing labour force, including lack of general or specific education In the short term, the Government is responding to youth unemployment through semi-capital programmes, known as “cash for work”. In the medium to long term, key interventions will be required in investment in infrastructure, skills and growth areas as highlighted in the Government’s Agenda for Change. The recently established Youth Commission and the National Youth Secretariat will provide the institutional framework for coordination and oversight of youth-related interventions, which are supported by country programmes of FAO, UNDP, WFP, the World Bank and GTZ. The achievement of full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people, hinges on accelerating growth and investment in areas such as agriculture, improving the quality and access to essential rural social services, promoting rural employment and industry, and strengthening the capacity for monitoring and evaluating the country’s employment situation. 2. Adequate standard of living 37. The level of poverty in Sierra Leone is still very high. Absolute poverty had fallen from around 70 per cent, after the war, to around 60 per cent by 2007. Although the malnutrition ratio fell from 31per cent in 2005 to 21 per cent in 2008, progress towards reducing the proportion of people suffering from hunger by half in 2015 is still a daunting challenge. However, current and expected growth in agriculture (subsistence as well as commercial), and recent inflow of private sector investments in the mining and agribusiness sectors are expected to improve livelihoods and boost food acquisition. 38. Inflation is forecast to increase from 11 per cent in 2009 to 14 per cent in 2010, due to the weak currency and rising global oil prices. Food prices have increased as nearly 40 per cent of Sierra Leone’s food needs are fulfilled through importation. Real GDP growth is expected to pick up after a dip in 2009, with a rise to 5.2 per cent in 2010, and 6 per cent in 2011, as the global economy improves. This should boost prices for exports and drive greater foreign investment in mining projects. 3. Right to health 39. Progress in promoting the right to health has been noted. Within the framework of the National Health Strategy that was launched in November 2009, a Free Health Care (FHC) scheme was introduced for under-fives, pregnant and lactating mothers on 27 April 2 The Agenda for Change is the strategy document unveiled by the Government of Sierra Leone in 2007 outlining the priority areas which it felt would lead to economic transformation and allow for broad-based economic growth, which is the primary route out of poverty. 9