Resilient Municipal Infrastructure Investment & Urban Greening

The objective of this component is to build resilient municipal infrastructure and services at neighborhood and city-levels. Financing will be provided to activities that have positive social and economic impacts as well as contributing to disaster risk reduction and prevention. This objective will be achieved through three sub-components: –

1. Neighborhood upgrading and greening in Freetown
2. Solid Waste Management Upgrading in Freetown and Secondary Cities, and
3. Market Upgrading in select Secondary Cities.

Sub-component 2a: Neighborhood upgrading and Greening in Freetown

The objective of this sub-component is to upgrade and mitigate the risk of flooding in underserved neighborhoods.  This sub-component will finance the provision of basic services to areas of extreme poverty and to reduce flooding in these areas. Contingent upon further engagement with the communities and feasibility studies, Coconut Farm, Moyieba, and Rokupa are proposed to be supported under this sub-component. Specifically, the following upgrading investments (works) will be financed:

(a) Construction of:

1. Drainage ways,
2. Access roads,
3. Walkways,
4. Foot bridges,
5. Water supply and sanitation facilities,
6. Public spaces,
7. Local markets, and
8. Light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting.

(b) Integrated Flood Risk Reduction of Drainage Catchment areas. Activities to be financed will be determined using a catchment-based approach. Designing and implementation of activities will be done in a participatory manner involving the beneficiary areas/communities. The support will leverage existing programs and services as well as maximize local livelihood opportunities.

(c) Finance will be provided under this sub-component for the following consulting services:

1. Preparation of technical designs
2. Construction supervision
3. Preparation of safeguard instrument.

(d) All infrastructure investments shall be designed to climate- and disaster-resilient standards, while low-impact investments (such as energy efficient street lightening and use of locally sourced materials) and low-construction carbon designs will be given priority.

(e) Urban Greening through a large-scale tree planting: The objective of this sub-component is to contribute to the FCC’s goal of increasing tree and vegetation cover by 50 percent of the 2018 levels by 2022. GEF resources will be used to finance activities under this sub-component such as:

1. Conducting sustainable spatial planning for expanding tree and vegetation cover
2. Tree planting and management
3. Setting up & implementation of a remote (satellite-imagery-based) canopy monitoring system
4. Field-based asset management tracking system for tree planting progress
5. Recruitment of local stewards for providing regular monitoring updates
6. Community Engagement activities
7. Preparation of a comprehensive forest inventory of Freetown Peninsula 13 catchment area
8. Research activities towards improving forest performance
9. Activities to encourage adaptive community-based management
10. Communication and advocacy.

Sub-component 2b: Solid Waste Management Upgrading in Freetown and Secondary Cities

The objective of this sub-component is to contribute to the reduction of flooding and address waste related health issues in Freetown and secondary cities. Key activities to be financed includes:

1. Conducting a comprehensive sector review in each city. This will inform the areas of support to be provided. Initial assessments suggest that finance will be provided to:
2. Kenema and Makeni City Councils to finance and undertake the following activities:

1. Improve SWM operational performance
2. Training for staff and targeted capacity building for private sector
3. Preparation of SWM plans.

1. Bo City Council will be financed to upgrade:

1. Existing landfill and operational system
2. Current vehicle maintenance facility
3. Transport and disposal equipment and to provide
4. Training for staff and targeted capacity building for private sector

1. Selected Secondary Cities will be financed to:

1. Improve SWM system and provide
2. Training for staff and targeted capacity building for private sector.

1. Freetown City Council will be provided finance for: –

1. Comprehensive SWM system investment across waste collection, transfer, and disposal
2. Construction of a modern engineered land fill to service residents of Freetown and the WARDC
3. Construction and rehabilitation of Waste Sorting and recycling facilities (waste transfer stations)
4. Procurement of transport and disposal equipment
5. Consulting Services to design a sustainable model incorporating the entire SWM vale chain, including financial scheme (such as tariff, structure and cost recovery strategy)
6. Support the informal waste management to stimulate recycling and provide livelihood alternatives for existing dump sites dependents, and
7. Training for staff and targeted capacity building for private sector.

Sub-component 2c: Market Upgrading in select Secondary Cities

The funds will finance the comprehensive upgrading of Central Markets in select secondary cities with focus on improving working conditions for traders. The purpose of financing activities under this sub-component is to stimulate local economies, and to provide City Councils with increased revenues through increased collection of market dues. Central markets in three cities are being considered for financial support – Bo, Kenema and Makeni. Key activities to be financed in each city will include the following:

1. Feasibility studies of the central markets
2. Preparation of detailed designs
3. Construction of market stalls
4. Roofing of central market buildings
5. Provision of water and sanitation facilities
6. Construction of drainage
7. Provision of electricity
8. Construction of Child Care Centers
9. Universal access including disability friendly access.