Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr

Sierra Leonean mayor driving urban reform and environmental initiatives in Freetown

Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr became Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone in 2018, implementing transformative policies addressing decades of urban neglect. A civil engineer and former World Bank official, she focused on sanitation, drainage systems, and digital governance. Her 'Clean Freetown Initiative' deployed 2,000 waste collectors, reducing open dumping by 70%. During the 2020 floods, her early warning systems saved thousands of lives through SMS alerts.

Aki-Sawyerr pioneered UNDP-supported projects like solar-powered streetlights and flood-resistant housing. She introduced e-licensing systems to formalize informal markets, boosting tax revenue while protecting vendors' rights. Her Guardian interview (2020) highlighted her vision of 'green urbanism' for coastal cities.

Aki-Sawyerr's leadership earned her Forbes Africa's 2020 Women of the Year award. Her book Urban Resilience in the Climate Crisis (forthcoming 2024) will detail lessons from Freetown's climate adaptation strategies. She mentors young leaders through LEAD Africa, inspiring a new generation of urban planners.