African Urban heat summit
African Urban
Heat
Extreme heat threatens the health and economic stability of Africa’s hottest urban areas. The summit will address these challenges by highlighting the health and economic impacts of extreme heat, showcasing evidence-based solutions and promoting actionable, scalable strategies while prioritizing solutions developed with and for women and vulnerable communities ensuring those most at risk are central to the response
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Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel, 17 Lumley Beach Road, Freetown
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Reception of Guests 5th February 2025
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Urban Heat Summit 6th February 2025
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Site Visit
7th February 2025
African Urban
Heat
Breakfast
9:00am -9:50am
Call to
Order
9:50 am – 9:55 am
Welcome and
Introduction
10:00am – 10:05am
Opening Prayers
9:55 am – 10:00 am
Opening Address
10:05am – 10:10am
Statements
- Cassie Sutherland, C40 Cities
- Emma Howard Boyd, CBE Chair, Climate Resilience for All
Keynote Address:
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H.E. Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jaloh
Vice President of Sierra Leone
- Paul McDermont, Country Representative, USAID
- Rachel Barza (MDB), EBRD
- Ashley Faddy Jude Philoe, AfDB
- Abdu Muwonge, World Bank
- Amjad Abbashar, Chief of UNDRR Regional Office for Africa
- Rachel Kyte, UK Climate Envoy
- Gerald Hatler, Chargé d’affaires, EU
- H.E Josephine Gauld, British High Commission
- Chairman Ahmed Keke Sahr, President of LoCASL
- Mr. Jiwoh Abdulai, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
- Amb. Tamba Lamina, Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs
Session 1
11am - 12:10pm
- Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, Mayor of Freetown – Presentation on Transform Freetown Transform Lives: Broader view on Freetown Climate agenda
- Kathy Baughman McLeod, CEO CRA – Presentation on the Silent & Invisible Global Threat of Heat – What is at stake? The danger, the urgency, the solutions, and the scale
Panel Event: Feeling the Burn, Building Leaders’ Heat Awareness
Moderated by – Josh Amponso Co-Founder, Green Africa
Youth Organisation
- Jess Ayers, PhD, CEO of Quadrature Climate Foundation
& Senior Felow, Grantham Institute for Climate Change
and the Environment, London School of Economics - Gabriel Kpaka, SL Metrological Agency
- Dr. Doris Bah, Ministry of Health
- Salieu Kanu, C40 Cities
- Leeann Rizk, Mama Pekin Foundation
- Ya Alimamy, Chair Lady Congo Market
Session 2
12:10pm - 1:05pm
Launch of the First Freetown Heat Action Plan
- Eugenia Kargbo, Chief Heat Officer, Freetown
- Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE
Panel Discussion: The Power of Heat Action Planning and
Solutions to Address the Heat Crisis.
Moderated by: Ing. Trudy Morgan, UN-Habitat
- Sahr Mark Kanawa, Ministry of Lands and Planning
- Lovetta Juanah, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Modupe Williams, Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers
(SLIE) - Francis Reffell, CODOHSAPA
- Foday Kamara, Youth Climate Council
- Mary McBryde, Climate Resilience for All
LUNCH 1:30 - 2:30
Session 3
Concurrent Break-out Sessions (Pre-assigned)
1. High-Level Roundtable Discussion
Facilitator – Emma Howard Boyd, CBE Chair, Climate Resilience for All
2. Technical Session
Facilitator – Pius Nishimwe, C40 Cities
Facilitator – TBD
3. Building Resilience to Heat and Disaster Risk: Strategies for Sustainable Urban Adaptation
Francis Reffell, CODOHSAPA
Idrissa Turay, Skill Pool
Leeann Rizk, Mama Pekin Foundation
Session 4
4pm - 4:10pm
Panel Discussion: The One Big Thing
Moderated by – Manja Kargbo, FCC
- Alex MaClean, Development Director, FCDO
- Maria G. Harrison, Ambassador, former Secretary
General, Mano River Union - Raman Tom Farmar, Chief Administrator, Freetown City
Council - Cassie Sutherland, C40 Cities
- Kathy Baughman McLeod, CRA
Hackathon Finalists Announcement, Wrap-up & Heat Announcement
Kathy Baughman McLeod, CEO of Climate Resilience for All
Closing Remarks
- Kweku Melvin S. Lisk, Deputy Mayor of Freetown
"Welcome to Sierra Leone: Where Work, Adventure Meets Hospitality!"

Hospital
Hospitals and emergency telephone numbers are listed below:
Choithram Memorial Hospital
Hill Station, Freetown
+232 76 980 000
Life Care Hospital
198 Wilkinson Road, Freetown
+232 80 220 220

Business & Shoping
Banks are open from 8:30am to 3:30pm from Monday to Friday. Most shops are open from 8:30am up to 18:00hrs Working hours for both Government and the Private Sector are between 08:30hrs to 17:00hrs Mondays to Fridays.

Social Programme
DAY 1: Wednesday 5th February, 2025
19:00hrs – Welcome Reception and Networking (delegates only)
DAY 2: Thursday 6th February, 2025
17:00hrs – Cocktail (delegates only)
DAY 3: Friday 9th February, 2025
9:00am – Site Visit

Climate & Local time
The average temperature in Sierra Leone during the month of February ranges from 30 degree
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Time in Sierra Leone is GMT+ 0