A Milestone First: LCOY Sierra Leone 2024
The inaugural Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Sierra Leone was a groundbreaking event that united Sierra Leonean youth voices and connected local climate activism with regional and global efforts. Organized in October 2024, by the Center for Community Impact and Sustainability (CCIS) and supported by Youth Opportunity and Transformation in Africa, in partnership with the Ford Foundation through the Africa Youth Partnership for Climate Action, and YOUNGO, this milestone conference provided Sierra Leonean youth their first coordinated platform to contribute to national climate policies and shape climate action.
Under the theme “Empowering Youth: Innovating for Climate Resilience and Global Peace,” the conference brought together passionate young leaders, government officials, policymakers, and climate stakeholders, providing a platform for youth voices in crucial climate discussions.
Advancing the Sierra Leonean Youth Climate Agenda: From Grassroots to Global Participation
In August and September, consultations were held, with youth joining virtually across provinces, from Freetown through Kenema, to Port Loko, ensuring grassroots participation in LCOY 2024. These consultations gathered diverse perspectives, culminating in the launch of the National Youth Statement, a policy document positioning youth as critical stakeholders in climate decision-making.
This landmark initiative underscored the power of youth advocacy. As Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Chair of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change (PI-CREF), emphasized in his keynote speech:
“We must empower young people with the tools and opportunities to lead the fight against climate change. Their voices are essential in shaping sustainable policies.”
Key figures, including Hon. Patrick Michaelson Gibrilla, and Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, Mayor of Freetown, echoed similar sentiments. Their support confirmed the competencies of youth while challenging them to seize opportunities to lead in climate governance. The event’s extensive media coverage also amplified its impact, ensuring national recognition for its efforts.
LCOY Sierra Leone 2024 successfully iterated youth priorities, bringing together nearly 200 in-person participants to engage in dialogues on climate resilience, green jobs, and a tailored national climate agenda. The conference featured breakout sessions, creative youth-led workshops, and discussions on advocacy tools and policy influence.
Leading up to the event, the LCOY Sierra Leone organizing team completed the online African Youth Climate Negotiators course by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). This training equipped them with crucial skills for climate negotiations at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, where five young leaders secured sponsorship to represent Sierra Leone.
At COP29, LCOY Sierra Leone co-organized a high-impact side event focused on bridging intergenerational gaps in climate action. This participation reinforced the conference’s role in linking grassroots activism to national, regional, and global climate agendas. By fostering direct engagement between young advocates and policymakers, LCOY enabled grassroots perspectives to be embedded in high-level policy discussions.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Despite its success, LCOY Sierra Leone 2024 faced challenges, including difficulties in securing stakeholder attention, funding limitations, and logistical constraints. Moving forward, organizers aim to:
- Strengthen partnerships through early stakeholder engagement.
- Expand grassroots youth participation in consultations.
- Improve volunteer training and logistical planning for smoother event execution.
As Sierra Leone’s first LCOY, the conference showcased the powerful potential of youth-led advocacy and demonstrated how connecting grassroots youth movements to national and global discussions lays the foundation for meaningful youth involvement in climate policy. Against this backdrop, Sierra Leonean youth have put forward these key demands to the government and stakeholders:
- Increase funding and support for climate-smart agriculture practices and resilient infrastructure projects.
- Actively involve youth in adaptation efforts and support youth-led projects.
- Support youth-led initiatives that address climate-related conflicts, particularly in communities most affected
- Secure increased funding for adaptation, ensuring transparency and accountability.
LCOY Sierra Leone 2024 highlighted the critical role of young activists in shaping climate policies and driving sustainable change. Continued investment in youth leadership will be instrumental in advancing climate justice efforts in the years to come.
