By Aminata Abu bakarr Kamara
Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr has successfully completed the one-year African Mayoral Leadership Initiative (AMALI) programme, which culminated in a final in-person convening in Nairobi, Kenya. The program, a collaboration between Big Win Philanthropy, Bloomberg Philanthropy, and the African Centre for Cities (ACC) at the University of Cape Town, aims to support African city leaders with tailored initiatives to refine and implement their visions for their cities.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr highlighted the impact of her participation in the AMALI programme on the development of the Transform Freetown initiative, particularly its goal of creating 120,000 decent jobs for women and youth by 2028. “AMALI has been instrumental in providing capacity building, data management expertise, and technical input as we work toward achieving this ambitious target,” she stated.
The final convening in Nairobi was co-hosted by Governor Sakaja Johnson of Nairobi City and Governor Joseph Ole Lenku of Kajiado County. The field visits allowed participants to observe the successful implementation of legacy goals in these regions, which have brought tangible benefits to local residents.
During the event, the AMALI participants had the opportunity to meet with Kenyan President William Ruto, who emphasized the vital role that cities must play in Africa’s development, particularly as urbanization continues to accelerate across the continent.
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr expressed her gratitude for the insights and mentorship provided by AMALI’s co-chairs, Jamie Cooper, Founder and President of Big Win Philanthropy, and Edgar Pieterse, Founding Director of the ACC. She also praised advisors Mdme Mamphela Ramphele, Honorary Co-President of the Club of Rome, and former First Lady of Namibia, H.E. Monica Geingos, for their valuable perspectives on youth engagement and local community participation.
Inspired by the experience, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr looks forward to applying the knowledge gained through the AMALI programme in her continued service to the people of Freetown.
