The Government of Sierra Leone has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable urban development, affordable housing, climate resilience and inclusive land governance during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the Implementation of the New Urban Agenda (NUA), held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 16 July 2026.
The high-level gathering brought together Heads of State and Government, Ministers, senior United Nations officials, development partners, local government leaders and urban development experts to evaluate global progress and identify practical measures to accelerate the implementation of the New Urban Agenda through 2036.
Sierra Leone’s national statement was delivered on behalf of the Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Hon. Dr. Turad Senesie, by the Director of Planning, Policy and Project Development at the Ministry, Dr. Alphajoh Cham.
Addressing the plenary session, Dr. Alphajoh Cham described the Midterm Review as a timely opportunity for the international community to renew its commitment to sustainable urbanization. He urged stronger global cooperation to tackle the increasing challenges posed by rapid urbanization, inadequate housing, climate change and limited access to urban finance.
The statement highlighted that rapid population growth in Freetown, the Western Area and emerging secondary cities has intensified demand for land, housing, infrastructure and essential public services. It also noted that many communities remain vulnerable to flooding, landslides and coastal erosion, emphasizing the need for integrated planning, resilient infrastructure, secure land tenure and inclusive urban development.
Sierra Leone showcased several landmark reforms implemented under the leadership of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio to strengthen land governance and urban planning.
Among the key reforms highlighted were the enactment of the Customary Land Rights Act, 2022, which promotes equitable access to land while protecting the rights of women and local communities and the National Land Commission Act, 2022, which established decentralized land administration and laid the foundation for biometric land title registration.
The Government also emphasized the significance of the National Country Planning Act, 2025, which provides a modern legal framework for integrated spatial planning, climate resilience, stronger development control and decentralized planning nationwide.
Additionally, Sierra Leone highlighted progress under the Resilient Urban Sierra Leone Project, including the preparation of the Western Area Regional Spatial Plan, the development of spatial plans for six secondary cities, the expansion of municipal geospatial systems and continued strengthening of planning institutions.
The Government further informed the General Assembly that it is advancing a comprehensive National Housing Policy aimed at expanding affordable housing, promoting secure land tenure, supporting community-led upgrading initiatives, encouraging the use of local building materials and increasing access to essential urban services.
During the statement, Sierra Leone announced four strategic national commitments designed to accelerate implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
The first commitment focuses on translating existing policies and legislation into practical delivery of serviced land, affordable housing, secure tenure and basic services, particularly for low-income and vulnerable households.
Secondly, the Government pledged to strengthen local councils, improve municipal finance, reinforce development control systems and encourage greater citizen participation to enhance urban governance, especially in rapidly growing secondary cities.
The third commitment prioritizes integrating climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, nature-based solutions and digital geospatial technologies into land-use planning, housing development and urban infrastructure.
The fourth commitment centers on operationalizing Sierra Leone’s partnership with UN-Habitat and other development partners through technical cooperation, capacity building, knowledge exchange, project preparation and resource mobilization.
The Government stressed that achieving the objectives of the New Urban Agenda will require stronger collaboration among national Governments, local authorities, development banks, Civil Society Organizations, academic institutions and responsible private-sector investors.
Sierra Leone also called on the international community to increase support for Least Developed Countries through expanded access to concessional and blended financing, greater climate adaptation funding, stronger project preparation facilities, innovative risk-sharing mechanisms for affordable housing and resilient infrastructure, increased investment in secondary cities and enhanced support for community-led upgrading of informal settlements.
The statement further advocated for increased and predictable funding for UN-Habitat, alongside stronger coordination across the United Nations system and international financial institutions to accelerate sustainable urban development worldwide.
On the sidelines of the High-Level Meeting, Sierra Leone reaffirmed its strategic partnership with UN-Habitat, building on an existing Memorandum of Understanding covering urban planning, housing, land administration, sustainable human settlements and institutional capacity development. Both parties expressed their commitment to translating the partnership into practical technical assistance, investment opportunities and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Held under the theme, “Delivering Sustainable Urbanization for All: Accelerating and Scaling Implementation of the New Urban Agenda to 2036 Together,” the High-Level Meeting reviewed global progress since the adoption of the New Urban Agenda in Quito, Ecuador, in 2016. Participants also considered the findings of the United Nations Secretary-General’s 2026 Progress Report and discussed a political declaration aimed at renewing international commitment to sustainable urban development.
Concluding Sierra Leone’s national statement, Dr. Alphajoh Cham reaffirmed the country’s readiness to work closely with the international community to ensure that the years leading to 2036 become “a decade of implementation,” delivering secure land rights, affordable housing, resilient settlements, reliable urban services and inclusive opportunities for all citizens while ensuring that no one and no place is left behind.
