This collaborative research workshop as part of a wider Swedish Research Council-funded network in East and West Africa, brings together local stakeholders, the University of Gothenburg, University College London, and the Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC). It focuses on Freetown, where sand is sourced from beaches and rivers. The session harnesses local knowledge and explore the specific dynamics of sand extraction in the region, build a research agenda, and discusses sustainable policy futures. The insights gathered contribute to both local action and the global knowledge to avert the sand crisis.