Plan research in Sierra Leone.
Explore a research brief for Sierra Leone, in Western Africa. Start with the decision you need to make, the people you need to reach and the evidence you need to collect.
Fieldwork context in Sierra Leone
English is the official language and the main working language for government, schools, and formal approvals. Krio is essential for broad national interviewing, with Mende, Temne, Limba, Kono, and other languages added by district. Translation should be built around oral comprehension, because respondents often switch between Krio and a local language, and back-translation should use district-aware reviewers.
Freetown and the Western Area carry the largest urban concentration, while Bo, Kenema, Makeni, and Koidu anchor major regional samples. Much of the population remains rural, with settlements spread across chiefdoms and road access varying by season. National samples need province, district, and chiefdom coverage, while targeted studies should separate Freetown from mining, agricultural, and border districts.
Mobile phones support many short surveys, but data service and online response are much stronger in Freetown and larger towns than in rural areas. Face-to-face fieldwork must plan for rains, road conditions, ferry or peninsula access, and local authority protocols. Health, education, and NGO studies commonly require ethics clearance and district permission, with collection often needing three to five weeks.
Fieldwork notes compiled from public sources by Surveysphere Africa; confirmed with our in-country partner before a study starts.
Define your local study requirements
Plan the locations, participants and practical requirements for your study.
Study locations and participants
Identify the locations and audiences you need to reach in Sierra Leone. Confirm access and recruitment feasibility before commissioning.
Languages and methods
Specify interview languages, accessibility needs and your preferred collection approach. Local availability must be confirmed.
Timing and approvals
Share your intended fieldwork dates and any institutional or participant approval requirements.
Research approaches in Sierra Leone
Explore the service that fits your research question.
Plan your study in Sierra Leone.
Tell us who you need to reach in Sierra Leone, what you need to learn and when. We will discuss the feasibility with you.
Discuss a study in Sierra Leone