By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, May 26, 2025 — The Freetown City Council (FCC), led by Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, has welcomed a delegation of student researchers from the Norman Foster Institute (NFI) in Madrid, Spain, as part of a collaborative urban development initiative.
The research team focuses on key priorities such as urban regeneration, climate resilience, and sustainable mobility, aiming to propose innovative solutions for Freetown’s sustainable growth. Their strategies include promoting mixed-use development and densification, expanding tree-planting and coastal resilience efforts, and advancing the cable car project as a sustainable transport alternative.
During her welcoming address, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr emphasized the importance of partnerships in achieving long-term urban transformation.
“Transform Freetown, transform lives is not something an individual or a single team can achieve,” she stated, stressing the need to learn from global experiences and innovative management tools to navigate urban governance challenges.
The NFI research initiative forms part of the institute’s Master’s Programme on Sustainable Cities, and Freetown is one of three cities selected for the 2025 pilot program, alongside Cape Town and Melilla.
Dr. Gareth Simons, Head of City Science at NFI, highlighted the significance of Freetown’s inclusion in the project, while NFI student Sophie Njei Njogu explained the team’s approach.
“The challenges in Freetown are synonymous with those in my country’s capital, Nairobi,” Njogu noted, emphasizing the importance of engaging with city administrators to collectively tackle urban issues.
Over the past four months, the researchers have been consolidating data on Freetown’s urban planning efforts. They presented their findings to FCC officials to assess whether their insights align with on-the-ground realities. Depending on feedback, their interventions may include enhancing pedestrian infrastructure and supporting climate action initiatives that complement existing city strategies.
Throughout their stay in Freetown, the NFI team will engage in technical discussions with various FCC departments and conduct community outreach across Freetown. These engagements will inform a detailed project proposal that the students will develop over the next six months.
The collaboration underscores Freetown’s commitment to leveraging international expertise to drive sustainable urban development and enhance the quality of life for its residents.