New Climate Information Systems for Freetown (Sierra Leone)

Environmental and social impact assessments studies financed by the UMDF contributed to unlock a USD 15M grant to enhance Sierra Leone’s resilience to natural disasters.  

On October 25, 2023, the board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) approved an USD 15M grant to train and better equip Sierra Leone climate agencies’ ability to predict and plan for future extreme weather events based on robust climate information. The UMDF financed the Preparation of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of this project, through its “Small Grant Initiative” budget.  

Sierra Leone in general, and Freetown in particular, is highly vulnerable to climate change. But a lack of functional agency’s dedicated to hydrometeorological and disaster management services, means that these challenges are not being addressed. 

Called “Enhancing Climate Information Systems for Resilient Development in Sierra Leone”, part of the “Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping Program”, the project financed by the GCF aims to establish an efficient Multi-Hazard Impact-based Forecasting and Early Warning and Early Action System, to better protect the most at-risk communities. 

A co-financing from the AfDB is expected to follow in 2024.