Freetown

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

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 Public transportation is often a city’s best strategy to curb congestion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But rapidly expanding populations and insufficient financing

Municipal PPP

Well-designed and well-managed Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) can deliver high-quality and cost-efficient infrastructure, helping municipalities address critical infrastructure needs in the face

Gender and Cities

The World Bank Group takes as its starting point that no country, community, or economy can achieve its potential or meet the challenges of the 21st century without the full and equal participation of
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