On World Environment Day, Sierra Leone officially launched the $26.8 million Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project (SLCRP), aimed at protecting 75 vulnerable coastal communities across five districts. With support from the Green Climate Fund and a coalition of international and national partners, the five-year project will restore 1,500 hectares of mangroves, strengthen climate governance, promote sustainable livelihoods, and empower women, youth, and children. The high-level event featured remarks from the Minister of Environment, traditional leaders, youth advocates, and development partners, marking the beginning of a bold national commitment to climate adaptation and environmental justice.
Minister of Environment, Jiwor Abdulai, cutting the tap to launch the Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project in Freetown Abdul Sillah/Save the Children
On World Environment Day, Sierra Leone took a historic step toward climate action with the launch of the Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project (SLCRP), a $26.8 million initiative to safeguard vulnerable coastal communities and restore vital mangrove ecosystems.
The national launch, held at the Atlantic Hotel in Freetown, gathered Paramount Chiefs, government leaders, donors, media, civil society, and youth voices, united in a shared mission: to protect the country’s coastlines and build climate resilience where it matters most.
A Strategic Lifeline for Our Coasts
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Jiwoh Abdulai called the SLCRP “a strategic lifeline” for communities already battling rising sea levels, extreme weather, and degraded natural systems.
“This is one of the boldest steps we are taking to save our coastal zones, with women, youth, and vulnerable populations at its heart. This is what climate justice looks like, not in theory but in practice,” he said. The Minister emphasized the importance of community ownership, saying, “To the women across these five districts, this is your project. You are not just beneficiaries; you are the architects of resilience.”
"Let history record that when the tides rose, Sierra Leone and its people stood firm," he said.
A Promise to Our Children
Patrick Analo, Country Director for Save the Children Sierra Leone, described the initiative as more than just a project. "This is a promise. It is a promise to protect the most vulnerable, to empower the next generation, and to ensure climate change doesn’t rob children of their future.”
He noted that SLCRP views climate change as a child rights crisis, impacting access to education, health, and security and aims to center children and youth as active agents of change.
A Voice from the Frontlines: Youth Advocate Moves the Room
The highlight of the event came when a young climate advocate took the stage, delivering an essay that stunned the room into applause.
“Climate change is already speaking for us, and its voice is not soothing. Every day, children and youth like me are living with the effect of climate change, some of which we barely understand, and most of it we don’t. We watch our trees cut down, our rivers get dirty, our sea levels rise, and farm produce less. This affects our lives and the livelihood of our families.”
She called on all generations to be friendly to the planet so that it can be kind back to us.
Environment Protection Agency, Director of Climate Change, Emmanuel Nyaka, detailed the ambitious Climate Plan stating that the project will embark on
• Restoration of 1,500 hectares of mangrove forests
• Introduction of climate-smart agriculture and fisheries
• WASH infrastructure upgrades in 75 communities
• Establishment of Community Adaptation Committees for local governance
• Rollout of climate education and disaster preparedness in schools
• Economic empowerment through 150 Village Savings and Loan Associations
The project will directly benefit 260,000 people, with more than one million indirectly reached over its five-year implementation.
Multisectoral Approaches to Coastal Resilience
Minister of the Environment, Jiwor Abdulai, SCI and other partners of the Sierra Leone Coastal Resilience Project at the national launch of the project Abdul Sillah/Save the Children
The event featured several panel discussions:
Paramount Chiefs from the five target districts; Kambia, Port Loko, Moyamba, Bonthe, and Pujehun, shared powerful testimonies of how climate change is eroding their coastlines, displacing families, and threatening food sources. They called for more sustained support and respect for indigenous knowledge.
A media panel explored the vital role of storytelling in climate advocacy. Journalists urged for more investment in environmental reporting, stronger training for journalists interested in climate related issues and for collaboration between press the community and policymakers.
Global Solidarity for Local Action
Sahr Yambasu, representing the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, stressed the importance of protecting marine biodiversity as part of Sierra Leone’s national climate strategy.
Asdis Bjarnadottir, Head of Mission at the Embassy of Iceland, highlighted her country’s long-standing commitment to coastal resilience in Sierra Leone since 2018. “This project is a significant step toward strengthening adaptation,” she said. “Let it be an example for the region.”
The SLCRP is funded by the Green Climate Fund, with co-financing from the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission, Clifford Chance, the Embassy of Iceland, AXA Insurance, and the Government of Sierra Leone. Implementing partners include Save the Children, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), Concern Worldwide, the Environment Foundation for Africa (EFA), and the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone.
The Way Forward
The launch ended with a symbolic “Commitment Wall”, where guests, including Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Jiwor Abdul penned pledges to stand for environmental protection.
