From June 11th to June 14th, a four-person delegation from Bloomberg Philanthropies, along with their Global Mayor’s Challenge partner Delivery Associates, visited Freetown as part of a global tour of the 15 cities that triumphed in the Bloomberg Global Mayor’s Challenge.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr expressed the city’s excitement over this prestigious visit, which celebrated Freetown’s recognition and ongoing achievements.
The visit was highly productive, featuring extensive meetings with the Freetown City Council (FCC) management and the #FreetownTheTreeTown project team.
The Bloomberg delegation received comprehensive updates on the project’s progress, including the successful engagement of a carbon developer and the localization of the tree tracker digital platform.
One of the key events was a donor roundtable introducing the Bloomberg team to major funders like the World Bank’s RUSLP and PSSNYE projects, which have significantly supported the planting of 977,000 trees to date and an additional 300,000 trees scheduled for planting this week. CRS, a direct tree donor and project partner, also participated in the discussions.
The visit featured a community-focused #FreetownTheTreeTown Town Hall on June 13th, with active participation from Community Based Organizations (CBOs), tribal leaders, school children, and tree growers.
The event included testimonies and a skit highlighting the positive community impact of the project.
A highlight of the visit was the hike to the Botanical Gardens, where 18,700 trees have been planted and monitored.
The team also visited Congo Town, witnessing the planting of 80,000 mangroves in collaboration with CRS. The Bloomberg team actively engaged in the project by planting trees and uploading photos to the digital tree tracker app.
Funding from Bloomberg and the World Bank underpins the sustainability of the #FreetownTheTreeTown initiative and supports the creation of 1,187 direct jobs starting next month for an initial period of one year. This project not only aims to stabilize slopes, mitigate landslide risks, protect water catchments, and restore biodiversity but also transforms lives by generating employment opportunities.
Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr emphasized the dual benefits of the project, stating, “#FreetownTheTreeTown is not just about environmental restoration; it’s about creating jobs and transforming lives.”
