Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security (PI-CREF), has intensified his efforts to advance the government’s transformative energy and climate agenda.

Following his return from COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Yumkella spent the weekend visiting Bo, Moyamba, Kenema, and Kailahun districts, where he inspected energy projects and engaged in public outreach.

In Bo today, Yumkella addressed a joint session of the Bo City and District Councils. Highlighting the PI-CREF’s mandate, he detailed the initiative’s role in bolstering climate resilience and supporting local governments in monitoring key projects. Specific efforts include collaboration with UNDP on a climate resilience program, the expansion of the Dodo Hydropower Dam, and the construction of the TRANSCO Bo-Kenema transmission line.

“These projects are part of President Bio’s bold vision for agriculture, energy, and climate resilience,” Yumkella remarked, urging local authorities to take ownership of the initiatives. He also announced plans to establish regional PI-CREF desks to strengthen outreach and oversight at the sub-national level.

The session, chaired by the Mayor of Bo City and the Chairman of the District Council, was part of Yumkella’s broader campaign to ensure rural communities benefit directly from the government’s development programs.

On his visit to Bunumbu, Yumkella praised President Bio’s simultaneous construction of two universities, calling it an unprecedented and audacious move.

The outreach underscores Yumkella’s commitment to bridging national policy objectives with tangible benefits for local communities, as Sierra Leone accelerates its energy transition and climate adaptation efforts.