On The Margins Of The Zero Waste Forum In Istanbul, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio Participates In The United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Board Meeting

Hilton Bomonti Hotel, Istanbul, Saturday 18 October, 2025 -* The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, has participated at the High-level discussion of the United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Board Meeting on Zero Waste.

The Global Zero Waste Forum 2025, themed “Zero Waste in Action: People, Places, Progress”, held from Oct 17 to 19, in Istanbul, Türkiye, gathered ministers, city mayors, and sustainability experts from more than 100 countries, alongside representatives from the United Nations, UN-Habitat, UNEP, and UNDP, to promote international collaboration towards waste-free and sustainable cities.

As an Eminent Person on the Advisory Board, Dr. Fitima Bio highlighted Sierra Leone's efforts in promoting zero waste, particularly in working with Kenema and Kono cities to enhance their waste management practices.

She also solicited support and collaboration from the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation, and Climate Change, to adopt a holistic approach, drawing on Türkiye's experiences, which can serve as a model for other provincial cities.

“My office is also working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency to review existing legislation and incorporate provisions that support zero-waste initiatives.

“I look forward to engaging with other stakeholders and offering my support to advance this agenda in Sierra Leone”, she noted.