The initiative for urban cooperation between the City of Zurich and Freetown in Sierra Leone goes back to the cooperation of Mayor Corine Mauch and Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr as part of their membership in the Leadership Board of the Mayors Migration Council. The two mayors reaffirmed their mutual intention to enter into bilateral urban cooperation with the aim of jointly tackling a central challenge for the city of Freetown through the exchange of experience and the development of concrete solutions, while contributing to the achievement of SDG 11.

The focus of the city cooperation is on the regeneration of the Central Business District (CBD). This project is an important part of the overarching development strategy "Transform Freetown". On the one hand, the development of this district in the core of Freetown is of central importance for the city and its population, on the other hand, the national government also has an interest in upgrading this district, which is home to important government agencies.