By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) with support from World Bank has held a regional consultative engagement Kenema with local council heads, paramount chiefs and other development partners on a new project known as Productive Social Net and Youth Empowerment.
The Chairman Kenema district council Mohamed Amodu Sesay described the engagement as a bottom up approach which will enhance the full participation by the people in the implementation of the project. He said NaCSA has been one of the strong components set up by government to execute its development agenda to the people and saw consulting the people before the implementation of the project as a move in the right direction.
Sesay pointed out that the involvement of the stakeholders will make the people to take ownership of the project as it will create impact in their lives since it is community- driven.
He said that most institutions fail in their mandate because their projects are not people- centered and welcomed NaCSA’s approach in taking to the people various projects irrespective of tribe, region or political affiliation. He believed the engagement would help the people ascertain the significance of the project.
‘’We are here to represent our people therefore any discussion or recommendations made should be in the best interest of the greater majority,” he said.
He commended NaCSA for working with the agenda of government by providing infrastructural development, social safety nets, among other interventions.
In his statement, the Senior Director of Programmes Development and Quality Assurance NaCSA, Dr. Susan Robert highlighted NaCSA’s interventions in improving the living conditions of the people through infrastructural projects and cash transfers under the social safety net, monies she said that were made available by the World Bank for vulnerable people during this covid-19 pandemic.
She said that because the world bank was pleased with the implementation of the cash transfer project after monitoring the process, the bank has approved another fund for NaCSA, the process of which has started with the presentation of documents to the stakeholders which they could study and discuss areas they think will be good for the people and areas that needs amendment before they begin implementation of the project.
’’World Bank has disbursed 40 million dollars to NaCSA for this productive social net and youth’s empowerment,” said Dr. Robert.
Dr. Robert reiterated that the project has environmental component, infrastructure, agriculture and water supply, with 10% of the project to be handled by the Youth Commission.
On behalf of the local councils in the east, the Chairman Kono district council Solomon Sahr Gbondo said for any development meant for the people, they as councils in the eastern region should not associate that with politics.
He encouraged the gathering to make positive input to the documentation so that development will reach the doorsteps of their people and assured the council’s full support and commitment to the project.
Paramount chief of Gamanga -Gorama chiefdom Kono district, Sarous Kono-Bundor urged NaCSA to consider them in the implementation of the project in their chiefdom as it stands to benefit their subjects.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (27/09/21)
