Every child has the right to a clean, healthy, sustainable and abundant environment.

Sierra Leone is no stranger to environmental shocks. Frequent flooding, rising sea levels, and erratic weather are disrupting farming cycles, deepening poverty and food insecurity. With over 60% of the population relying on subsistence agriculture, these shocks threaten children’s health, education and well-being.

Deforestation, driven by slash-and-burn farming, charcoal production, and unregulated mining, is worsening ecological risks and accelerating biodiversity loss. As arable land becomes scarcer, tensions over resources like water and fertile soil rise, particularly in rural areas where youth unemployment and poverty are high, leading to localized conflicts that disproportionately affect children, girls and women.

Our sustainability programs focus on building resilience by equipping families and communities with the tools to anticipate and recover from environmental shocks through sustainable agriculture, early warning systems, and community-based disaster risk management.

Our Impact

1,602+

participants supported to undertake environmental protection activities

2,421

fruit trees were planted across 5 schools in Koinadugu, Kailahun and Bombali Districts, promoting sustainability and providing a long-term food source.

4,500+

children that have participated in environmental protection activities

1,000

children participated in tree planting activities, learning the importance of environmental care and sustainability.

45

communities were educated on environmental protection and the impacts of environmental shocks on health and livelihoods.

100

community members received training in sustainable practices like waste management, water conservation, and afforestation.

Facts and figures from 2024 data.

Centering Children in Building Sustainability

Sierra Leone is no stranger to environmental shocks. The devastating mudslide of 2017, which claimed over 1,000 lives in Freetown, is a painful reminder of the vulnerabilities communities face. In the communities where we work, we see firsthand the toll that floods, deforestation, and erratic weather patterns take on children and youth. These disasters not only endanger lives but also reverse hard-won gains in education, health, protection, and livelihoods.

Addressing this challenge calls for a holistic and community-centered response that prioritizes both adaptation and environmental stewardship. Only by working across all levels of society, from household to school, and from community to local and national government, can we safeguard development gains and ensure children in Sierra Leone grow up healthy, educated and resilient.

At ChildFund, we believe in equipping children and youth to lead the charge in tackling environmental challenges. By providing them with opportunities, resources, and safe spaces to engage in environmental advocacy, we help them become influential voices in shaping policies at local, national, and global levels. Their voices are essential in building a sustainable future.
One inspiring example is Philipa, a ChildFund Sustainability Ambassador and youth advocate, who has been a prominent voice for children and youth in global environmental discussions. At both COP 28 and COP 29, Philipa represented the youth perspective, and at the Inaugural Africa Climate Summit, she delivered a powerful statement to the continent’s leaders, including heads of states, on behalf of all of Africa’s children, urging the inclusion of children in environmental decision-making to protect their future.

Learn More:

In partnership with local organizations, ChildFund works alongside communities to help them adapt to environmental changes. Our approach focuses on child-centered solutions that safeguard the future of children and their communities.
We promote sustainable agricultural practices, including drought-resistant crops and responsible land management to ensure food security. To improve access to water, we support rainwater harvesting and efficient water resource management systems, helping communities conserve this vital resource.
Recognizing the vulnerability of weather-dependent farming, we assist in diversifying household income sources, creating resilience against environmental shocks. Additionally, we strengthen disaster preparedness through training to ensure families are better equipped to respond to emergencies.

Featured Project: Promoting Agroforestry and Sustainable Livelihoods in Kailahun, Kenema and Kono districts

ChildFund, in partnership with the European Union and Tradin Organic, is implementing an innovative agro-tech project in the Kailahun, Kenema, and Kono districts to promote agroforestry and sustainable livelihoods. The project strengthens financial literacy and inclusion through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), while promoting climate-smart agricultural practices. By engaging cocoa and coffee farmers, the initiative addresses both environmental and socio-economic challenges, boosting household incomes, improving food security, and supporting child protection, ensuring that children are in school, not working on cocoa and coffee farms.

ChildFund strengthens the capacity of communities to prepare for and respond to environmental shocks. We equip communities with the necessary skills and resources to engage in alternative livelihoods and bolster resilience. By focusing on preparedness and proactive adaptation strategies, we help families to survive and thrive despite the challenges posed by changing weather patterns.

ChildFund is promoting Smart Agriculture — an integrated approach guiding farmers toward sustainable and resilient farming techniques. We support communities in adopting practices that enhance agricultural productivity, improve adaptability to environmental changes, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes introducing resilient crops, encouraging soil conservation, and training communities on water management practices like water for production and watershed reclamation.

Our commitment to environmental sustainability starts with us. We're proud that our office is now fully powered by solar energy. This is a tangible step toward reducing our carbon footprint and promoting clean, renewable energy.
Guided by ChildFund’s global environmental policy and standards, we’re also cutting back on plastic use, reducing paper printing, sourcing materials responsibly, and embracing energy-efficient practices. Because building a resilient future for children begins with our own actions today.

ChildFund has constructed and equipped 401 solar-powered water supply systems in schools, communities, and health centers across 28 counties in Kenya.

Featured Project

How One Girl Is Powering Youth-Led Environmental Action Across Africa

At 16 years old, Philipa is emerging as a strong youth voice for environmental justice in Africa. As President of Sierra Leone’s Children’s Forum Network and ChildFund’s Environmental Sustainability Ambassador, she is showing that young people can lead. She has spoken at the Africa Climate Summit and leads tree-planting efforts in her community, encouraging others to take action for the environment.
Philipa is also challenging how decisions about environmental sustainability are made. She believes children should be part of these conversations, not left out. Whether she is speaking to global leaders or students at local schools, her message is simple: include young people.