By Kadijatu Bangura, D.S
The Ministry of Youth Affairs, together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), announced on Wednesday, April 22, that it has opened applications for “Sierra Ride,” a pilot program introducing electric vehicles into Sierra Leone’s commercial transport sector to curb emissions and modernize urban mobility.
The initiative forms part of government’s wider push to integrate electric mobility into national transport policy. In August 2025, during International Youth Day, Youth Affairs Minister Ibrahim Sannoh announced a youth empowerment package that included 50 electric vehicles, with women drivers prioritized to advance gender equity in transport. Minister Sannoh has identified climate-smart technology and EV piloting as central to the ministry’s agenda.
Sierra Ride will test large-scale EV adoption through fiscal incentives and targeted recruitment. Women are strongly encouraged to apply, building on UNDP’s recent partnership with the National Youth Commission and the Armed Forces Technical and Educational College, which in February 2026 certified 250 young women in auto mechanics and renewable energy systems.
Traditional gasoline-powered three-wheelers, locally known as “kekes,” consume roughly four litres per 100 kilometres and contribute heavily to urban air pollution — a public health risk linked to hundreds of thousands of premature deaths across Africa annually. Officials say the switch to electric models will reduce local pollutants, lower long-term operating costs, and improve road safety by replacing older gasoline units with quality e-kekes. The Environmental Protection Agency recently launched Sierra Leone’s first electric mobility strategy alongside e-keke trials.
Eligible applicants must be Sierra Leonean citizens aged 21–35 with at least three years’ driving experience, a valid licence, clean record, senior secondary education, and police clearance. Selected drivers will undergo training in EV technology. Women and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.
The project is co-financed by the Government of Sierra Leone in partnership with UNDP, the UN Environment Programme, the Global Environment Facility, and local stakeholders, with funding from the European Union through the SOLUTIONSPlus project. It supports national goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve urban air quality.
Applications — including CV, cover letter, and driver’s licence — should be sent to info@moya.gov.sl or delivered to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, 24 Scan Drive, Wilberforce, Freetown. Deadline: May 8, 2026.
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