Sierra Leone, in partnership with the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) and Craft Management Solution, hosted a one-day eUpshift Climate Final Pitch Event on Friday, 29th August 2025, at Sierra Palm Aberdeen in Freetown. The gathering spotlighted innovative climate solutions developed by young people from across the country, emphasizing the critical role of youth in addressing environmental challenges.
The finalist teams included Tankoro Environmental Protection (Kono), Air Pollution Control (Bombali), Right for Food Security (Moyamba), the Forest Conservation Society, and a group from Tonkolili District. Each presented projects focused on pressing issues such as deforestation, waste management, sustainable agriculture, and air and water quality.
UNICEF Country Representative Liv Elin Indreiten opened the event by underscoring the severe impact of climate change on Sierra Leone’s children and youth. “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing children and young people in Sierra Leone,” she stated. “It touches every part of life: health, education, food security, and livelihoods.”
Citing UNICEF’s Climate Landscape Analysis for Children (CLAC) Report, she noted that at least 80% of the country’s children are at high risk due to combined environmental and poverty-related threats, with districts including Pujehun, Tonkolili, Western Area Urban, and Koinadugu among the most vulnerable. She also highlighted that over 90% of disasters recorded over the past three decades were flood-related, amid growing water scarcity.
Despite these challenges, Indreiten expressed strong optimism about the potential of youth-led innovation. “What gives us hope is what we see here: young people are not only affected by climate change, they are also innovators and problem-solvers.” Over the past year, more than 5,200 young people from 12 districts completed the eUpshift course, with the top teams receiving incubation and mentorship to refine their solutions.
Violet Asgill-Peters, Founder and Managing Partner of Craft Management Solutions, shared insights into the incubation process. Her firm, in partnership with consultant Michaela Mackay, developed and implemented a blended curriculum covering design thinking, business development, financial literacy, and funding options. “This incubation experience has changed our lives and has given us hope not only for our environment but for the future of Sierra Leone as a whole,” Asgill-Peters remarked.
She reaffirmed Craft’s ongoing commitment to providing continuous coaching, mentoring, and connection to investment opportunities for the young innovators.
Indreiten closed with a call to action, urging government, private sector, civil society, and development partners to support the scaling of such initiatives through collaborative funding and digital outreach via platforms like the Learning Passport, WhatsApp, and U-Report.
The event also featured contributions from representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and other partner organizations, all echoing the need for sustained investment in youth-driven climate solutions.
