Freetown

AREA:
82.48 km2 (31.85 sq mi)
POPULATION:
1,387,360
Sierra Leone

Photo by Kelly / Pexels

Freetown, the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, participates in the GEF-7 UrbanShift program implemented by the World Bank in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone and Freetown City Council. Located on the Atlantic coast, the city is home to around one million people and serves as the country’s main commercial port. Rapid urbanization and unplanned development have expanded informal settlements in flood- and landslide-prone areas, heightening vulnerability to climate impacts. Through the Resilient Urban Sierra Leone Project (RUSLP), UrbanShift supports integrated urban management, disaster risk reduction, and nature-based solutions such as the “Freetown the Treetown” initiative, which restores forest cover, reduces erosion, and enhances biodiversity. The program strengthens service delivery, waste management, and early warning systems, improving resilience and livability for Freetown’s growing population.

Recent Initiatives

Transit-Oriented Development

Transit-Oriented Development integrates transport planning, land use, and urban design to create compact, connected, and livable cities.

Municipal PPP

Municipal Public-Private Partnerships are long-term collaborations between local governments and private entities to deliver infrastructure and public services.

Gender and Cities

Women and girls face disproportionate climate impacts in cities, making gender equality essential to achieving resilient, inclusive urban development.
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