By Francis H. Murray
Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio, has launched the first phase of the country’s National Social Safety Net Project in Kenema, eastern Sierra Leone.
The project costing US$30 million is funded by the World Bank. And government officials say it is geared towards tackling poverty, fighting inequality and strengthening livelihoods of the beneficiaries through job creation schemes for the poorest, and skills development initiatives and micro-enterprise schemes of for Sierra Leoneans generally.
The launching ceremony on Thursday brought together community people, including chiefs, and government officials, legislators, diplomats and development partners.
President Bio in a statement recognized the support of World Bank and other international partners, whom he noted had guided his government in providing predictable income support for almost 183, 000 beneficiaries, among other supports.
“There is a net allocation to investment in the health, nutrition, and education of children. Government further advocated with the World Bank for an additional US$30 million in order to expand the Social Safety Net Project to 16 districts in the country and to further strengthen the key building blocks of the country’s basic national safety net system,” Bio was quoted in a statement issued by the presidency saying.
He added: “There is also additional funding set aside as an emergency preparedness fund. This additional funding will provide quarterly income support of Le450, 000 per household, targeting 210, 000 persons, including at least 13, 000 persons living with disabilities, for a period of three years. This intervention will increase the access of poor households to basic services such as health, education, and nutrition.”
Alluding to his government’s huge investment in education across the board, Bio noted that he believed such investment in human capital development initiatives would not only mitigate the impact of the risks and vulnerabilities among the poor, but that it would also create the right platform and environment for inclusive development.
Chief Minister, Professor David John Francis, commended the World Bank for the confidence shown by them towards the New Direction Administration and for their strong partnership with the Government in helping the needy.
Commissioner of NaCSA, Bockarie Kokofele, noted that the project which caters for 35, 000 households, would predominantly target women as beneficiaries.
Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa, said that the project was in tandem with the President’s agenda for human capital development, adding that it would seek to empower persons living with disability to be self-reliant.
World Bank Country Manager, Gayle Martin, lauded the President and the Government of Sierra Leone on the launch of the project, which she described as something that could only be done by visionary leaders.
She said that the Bank was providing the fund as part of their efforts to help the Government reduce poverty in the country.
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