On April 11, 2024, Madam Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, the Mayor of Freetown, spoke at the 2024 Skoll World Forum on a panel discussing ‘Green Futures: Youth and Climate Positive Economic Growth in Africa.’ With 70% of Freetown’s population under the age of 35 and 70% of youth facing unemployment or underemployment, creating job opportunities for young people is crucial.

During my first term in office, over 4,500 direct jobs were generated through initiatives such as sanitation services, tree planting, monitoring, and urban farming. However, thousands more jobs are still needed.

“Today provided an opportunity to engage with organizations experienced in job creation across Africa. By building markets, strengthening supply chains, facilitating access to finance, and providing skills training, these organizations have made significant impacts. I am pleased to announce that four of these organizations have agreed to partner with Freetown City Council, further supporting job creation efforts in our city,” stated the Mayor.