How can cities respond to climate risks while making migration and informal settlements part of inclusive urban planning? Freetown, Sierra Leone, faces flooding, landslides, coastal erosion and extreme heat, while rapid urbanisation and rural-to-urban migration place added pressure on vulnerable communities and livelihoods. Rather than resisting these changes, the city is working to improve conditions for migrants and transform informal settlements into assets for shared prosperity. The case study shows how investing in the livelihoods and infrastructure people rely on can advance both climate resilience and social inclusion.