By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
Freetown has launched a US$4.66 million environmental project aimed at reducing pollution, strengthening waste management and promoting a circular economy in Sierra Leone.
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the five-year project was officially launched on Monday, 2 November 2026, during an inception meeting held at the Country Lodge Hotel in Freetown.
The meeting brought together key implementing partners, including the Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone (EPA-SL), Freetown City Council (FCC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sierra Leone and other government institutions.
The initiative seeks to minimise pollution and improve the city’s waste management system through stronger institutional coordination, effective waste management practices and increased public awareness.
Freetown is reportedly the only city from a least developed country among the five cities participating in the project worldwide, placing Sierra Leone among countries taking part in the global effort to address environmental pollution and improve waste management.
Delivering the keynote address, Executive Chairman of the Environment Protection Agency Sierra Leone, Dr Abu-Bakarr Massaquoi, emphasised the need to change public perceptions of waste by recognising it as a valuable resource rather than something to be discarded.
He noted that the project aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen waste management governance, particularly through the implementation of the Sustainable Waste Management Act.
Dr Massaquoi’s remarks highlighted the importance of adopting sustainable approaches to waste management, including practices that encourage the recovery, reuse and recycling of materials while reducing the amount of waste that ends up in the environment.
At the meeting, implementing partners reaffirmed their commitment to working together to reduce waste generation and improve waste management across Freetown.
They also stressed the importance of improved coordination, clearly defined responsibilities among stakeholders and sustained public engagement and awareness to ensure the successful implementation of the project.
The initiative is expected to contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment while supporting Sierra Leone’s transition towards a circular economy, where waste materials are recovered and reused to create economic and environmental value.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 9th November 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
