First Lady Advocates for Zero Waste Strategies
By Mackie M. Jalloh
In a decisive move to strengthen Sierra Leone’s environmental sustainability initiatives, Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone and President of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), participated in a high-level meeting of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste during her attendance at the Zero Waste Forum in Istanbul, Türkiye. The engagement provided a platform for the First Lady to highlight Sierra Leone’s ongoing commitment to sustainable waste management and to explore collaborative approaches with international partners.
During the meeting, Dr. Bio presented Sierra Leone’s achievements in promoting zero-waste practices, emphasizing work undertaken in Kenema and Kono cities. These initiatives, she explained, focus on improving waste collection, recycling, and community engagement to create cleaner, healthier urban environments. She highlighted that these efforts are part of Sierra Leone’s broader strategy to transform urban waste management systems while fostering sustainable economic and environmental outcomes.
“The work we are doing in Kenema and Kono represents a model for other provincial cities in Sierra Leone,” Dr. Bio remarked. “We are committed to ensuring that urban centers not only manage waste efficiently but also convert challenges into opportunities for green growth and job creation.”
A key aspect of her discussion centered on seeking technical support and collaboration with the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change. Drawing on Türkiye’s extensive experience in integrated urban waste management, Dr. Bio emphasized the potential to adopt holistic strategies tailored to Sierra Leone’s local context. These include combining policy reform, infrastructure development, and community-driven initiatives to achieve measurable reductions in waste and environmental impact.
The First Lady also highlighted the policy framework being developed in Sierra Leone in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Her office is actively reviewing existing legislation to incorporate provisions that support zero-waste initiatives, ensuring alignment with international best practices. This legislative reform is intended to provide a robust legal foundation for sustainable waste management, incentivize recycling and resource recovery, and strengthen compliance mechanisms at the municipal and national levels.
Dr. Bio underscored the importance of stakeholder collaboration, noting that effective zero-waste strategies require the engagement of government institutions, local authorities, communities, and private sector partners. “Addressing waste management challenges cannot be the responsibility of a single office or agency,” she said. “It requires collective action, innovative solutions, and continuous dialogue with partners who share our vision for a cleaner, greener Sierra Leone.”
Her participation in the UN Advisory Board meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange insights with global experts and policymakers, drawing lessons from successful zero-waste initiatives worldwide. These exchanges aim to inform the implementation of practical, scalable solutions in Sierra Leone, creating models that can be replicated across other African cities.
Looking ahead, the First Lady expressed optimism about the momentum gained through international collaboration. She emphasized her office’s readiness to continue engaging stakeholders, offering technical guidance, and supporting policy development that promotes zero-waste practices across the country. Her vision is to create urban environments where sustainable waste management is integrated into everyday community life, enhancing public health, environmental quality, and economic resilience.
By leveraging international expertise and fostering partnerships, Sierra Leone aims to position itself as a regional leader in sustainable waste management, demonstrating that environmental responsibility can coexist with social and economic development. Dr. Bio’s involvement in the Zero Waste Forum and the UN Advisory Board reflects a strong commitment to advancing these goals while inspiring other leaders to prioritize sustainable urban solutions.
Through these initiatives, Sierra Leone is not only addressing the immediate challenges of waste management but also laying the groundwork for a future of environmentally conscious, economically resilient, and socially inclusive cities. The First Lady’s engagement in Türkiye serves as both a platform for knowledge exchange and a catalyst for transformative action on the ground.
