AYV News, June 26, 2024

The American Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Bryan David Hunt has expressed deep interest in Idris Elba’s project for the people of Bonthe Island. The Project, Amb. Hunt said, would earn Sierra Leone the needed visibility.

Amb. Hunt was speaking to Sierra Leone’s Speaker of Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas at his Office in Freetown, where he said the Project would earn Sierra Leone the needed visibility. He expressed hopes to visit the Island as soon as the rain are over, showing his active engagement with local initiatives.

Hollywood actor Idris Elba has a ‘big dream’ for Sierra Leone to regenerate a beautiful island off its coast and turn it into an eco-friendly ‘smart city’. The project also intends to bring wind-powered renewable electricity for the first time to Sierra Leone.

Sherbro Island aims to be the world’s first afro-dynamic eco-city. At the heart of this project is Afrocentricity. SAP is working with the Government of Sierra Leone and the local people to develop a city based on African cultural values and principles, prioritising community, collaboration, and respect for nature.

Sherbro Alliance Partners (SAP), the development company committed to building an eco-city on Sherbro Island, Sierra Leone in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, initiated the first phase of feasibility studies for the Sherbro Island City project.

Sherbro Alliance Partners (SAP) has assembled a world-class team of experts in the fields of urban planning, urban design, landscape architecture, architecture, infrastructure, sustainability and resilience, mobility, agriculture, economics, governance, and policy to develop a long-term master plan for Sherbro Island.

The intent is to develop a long-term vision for the island that will form a guide for future investment and development as well as articulate near term strategies to address current needs. The team of experts has been carefully assembled to address various facets that need to be integrated to create a successful master plan and will need to work together from the outset to ensure that the plan is grounded, implementable and visionary.

The process of the master plan and diligence studies outlined are also closely aligned to the requirements of the IFA (Investment Framework Agreement) to ensure that a rigorous and careful analysis of the island and its broader connectivity is conducted to ensure the future vision is in harmony with existing natural systems, multiple accessibility options are available and strategic development unlocks the potential to create an inclusive global destination.

The consultant team recently traveled to Sierra Leone with SAP and undertook a detailed reconnaissance of Freetown and Sherbro Island. The team visited different parts of the island across its length documenting existing conditions, meeting with the local community, and engaging with community leaders.

The team also met with various ministries and stakeholders in Freetown to get a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities for developing Sherbro Island. The visit highlighted the incredible richness and diversity of the islands varied eco-systems, habitats, edge conditions, resiliency aspects and its different communities. The team also identified a series of data gathering and survey initiatives to be conducted to create an integrated base for design exploration.

The team has also developed a comprehensive and inclusive process to ensure a rigorous analysis and understanding of all existing conditions of the island, participation of existing island residents in the design process and the revitalization of existing community assets.

The overarching goal is to develop a forward-thinking vision that is rooted in best practices of sustainability, resiliency and in harmony with the incredible natural features of Sherbro Island while creating multiple opportunities for investment and urban development. The process established includes 4 phases of work over a 10-month period leading to the development of an integrated concept master plan and a bold vision for the island:

“We all dream of a better Sierra Leone. The goal of the Sherbro Island City project is to bring sustained, long-term economic growth to the region which will in turn to benefit the residents of Sherbro Island and all Sierra Leoneans,” said Siaka Stevens, co-founder of SAP.

This team of experts comprises of the following firms who will work together to develop an integrated and visionary master plan for the island.

Sasaki Associates – with over 70 years of global experience in master planning and designing for cities around the world, Sasaki will lead the team of experts and be responsible for the overall master plan, urban design, landscape architecture and project coordination.

Buro Happold – is a global leader in infrastructure design and will lead the development of infrastructure, ecology and sustainability systems. They will also conduct ecology, bio-diversity, habitat and environmental studies of existing conditions throughout the island to inform the design process and demarcation of developable zones.

Foster & Partners – is a world renowned architecture and design firm that will collaborate in the visioning process and development of compelling visuals and storytelling to communicate the vision.

Pegasys – will lead the formation of governance and development policies for the island that are aligned to the IFA agreement and discussions with the government.

Frost & Sullivan – will develop a thorough economic analysis and feasibility study for the island including suggestions for potential future programs and strategies to attract future investors.

MIC-Hub – will design a series of strategies to connect the island to the mainland and other parts of the world and also develop multi-modal mobility and transportation systems for connectivity within the island.

PRDW – will leverage their experience of designing waterfronts and coastal cities around the world to develop sustainable and resilient approaches to address future sea-level rise and coastal impacts throughout the island.

Agritecture – will lead the feasibility studies for the development of agriculture and aquaculture systems within the island and articulate opportunities for future investors to develop sustainable farming on the island.

About Sherbro Alliance Partners (SAP) Founded in 2019 by Idris Elba and Siaka Stevens, Sherbro Alliance Partners is an infrastructure development firm spearheading the Sherbro Island City project in Sierra Leone. With a mission to establish the world’s first African Dynamic Eco-City, where history, culture, art and internationally accepted standards of sustainability blend in harmony.

The organisation aims to create a secure, diverse, sustainable, and pioneering hub for business, education, energy, agriculture, entertainment and tourism. This visionary project will serve as a home for islanders, Sierra Leoneans, the African Caribbean diaspora and all global expatriates.