The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), through its GIZ Funded Employment Promotion Programme (EPP 111), has under taken a one week sensitization meeting in Falaba, Kono and Kailahun districts respectively on the implementation of its ‘cash for work’ programme which is targeting a total of 8,500 rural and peri-urban youth of which 30 percent shall be female. The main objective of the sensitization is to raise awareness about the project across the communities and its stakeholders in which the project is been implemented.
Welcoming guests and participants to Mongo Bendugu, the District headquarter town of Falaba District, the Regent Chief P.C. Sheku Korio Jawara thanked NaCSA and GIZ for choosing Falaba District for such a project, as Falaba district is a highly agricultural driven district in terms of rice, beans, vegetables, cattle rearing etc.
The Chairman of the Falaba District Council, who also doubles as Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Sajor Bah, praised NaCSA for its intervention in his sister district of Koinadugu, where he noted that if had it not been for NaCSA, Falaba District would have been a hard- to- reach area due to the deplorable roads conditions. He said that NaCSA has constructed and rehabilitated roads, bridges and culverts across Koinadugu District linking to Falaba District, and as such making the two districts accessible.
Giving an overview of the project, the NaCSA District Coordinator Koinadugu/Falaba, Musa Dauda, explains that the project is a pilot phase mainly for the youths, and as a new project, NaCSA is always doing consultation and sensitization before the commencement of its projects. Mr. Dauda informed the gathering that the project will be implemented in seven chiefdoms in Falaba District. Mr. Dauda also informed the gathering that the project will be implemented only in areas where GIZ has not operated in the past.
The District Agriculture Officer for Falaba District, Mr.Philip Moi Rogers thanked NaCSA and GIZ for collaborating with the Ministry, describing it as the right step in the right direction. Mr Rogers further stated that, as a Ministry, they are responsible to provide technical support to all government ministries and agencies implementing agricultural programmes, and that they are ready to provide key skills and the support needed to make the project a success. He encouraged farmers to pay more attention on Inland valley Swamps (IVS), which is one of the components of the project, as it increases more yield than up land farming.
On behalf of farmers in Falaba District, Chief Ansumana Sesay pleaded to the donor to provide fencing for their swamps so as to avoid further threats from stray animals as they are ready to embrace the project.
The Project Officer for the Employment Promotion Programme (EPP 111), Jonta Fatima Moiba said, the project is a GIZ funded grant that is being implemented by NaCSA in three districts which includes Falaba, Kono and Kailahun. Madam Fatima went on to say, that the project is an employment promotion project and is geared towards job creation and youth employment through three cash for work components and a facility for innovation programme.
She explain that among the three district, Kono stand to benefit from all the three cash for work components including, garbage collection and disposal, rehabilitation of cocoa and coffee plantations and rehabilitation of inland valley swamps (IVS) as well as facility for innovation programme, while Falaba she noted, will only benefit from IVS Rehabilitation and Kailahun from Cocoa and Coffee Rehabilitation.
Madam Jonta revealed that the total targeted youth population in Kono District is 6,360, out of which, 3,400 will be working on garbage collection and disposal. 60% which is 2,040 of 3,400 targeted for IVS Rehabilitation comprise youth and 920 youth which is 40% of 2,400 targeted for Cocoa and Coffee will be targeted in Kono. From a gender perspective she said, 35% of the targeted population should be women across the board and the age bracket for youth is within 18 and 35 years she went on to say.
Madam Fatima also informed the gathering that in all three districts that the sensitization meeting is to inform the authorities about the upcoming targeting process which will commence soon, as to know who and who will be working on the swamps. She said there will be a total number of 9,100 beneficiaries for the three districts, 1,360 for Falaba, 2,040 for Kono, 1, 150 for Kailahun all for the IVS Rehabilitation and 3,400 for garbage collection only for Kono District.
In Kono the team was welcomed by the District Council Chairman Mr Solomon Sahr Gbondo, who praised NaCSA for its intervention in Kono District through its GPC and SSN Projects. Chairman Gbondo said that the people of Kono are more of farmers than miners in recent years now as they will welcome the project with open hands. Speaking on behalf of the farmers in Kono, PC Duramany Solouku the fifth of Toli Chiefdom thanked NaCSA and GIZ and called on all Kono People to join hands together for the success of the project. Chief Solouku further went on to say that Government will not be able to employ everyone but call on the youths to use this opportunity to make the people of Kono once more be proud as they are the only district to implement all three components of the projects.
On behalf of the youths in Kono, the Chairman Kono Development Youth Coalition, Melvin Konguwa said, the youths of Kono today are development oriented young people and that they are ready to join hands together to see this project come out as a success as they will be competing with the other two districts.
The team was welcomed in Kailahun by the Town Chief, Chief Moiwo B. Kogie, who expressed his greatest admiration for NaCSA and GIZ. The Chief called on the donor to continue its support to the Kailahun people not only with the rehabilitation of their swamps but also in the area of Tree Crop rehabilitation.
On behalf of the Kailahun District Council, the Development Committee Chairman, Councilor Nasiru Deen Cole expressed his concern for the sustainability of the project as it is key for the overall achievement of the goals and objectives of the project as a whole. Councilor Nasiru Deen said, as a youth, he will be a watch dog and promised that council will provide oversight in monitoring the project.
Similar sentiments were expressed in Falaba, by the District Agricultural Officer for Kono, Mr. Lamin A.B. Mbogba and Kailahun, Mr. Daniel G.B. Kamara who both said when the time comes they will cascade to their people the agronomic practices, which is the different ways of growing crops, as they are the expert in charge of agriculture in the country.
Speaking at the end of each district sensitization, the Project Officer Madam Jonta Fatima Moiba said, the project will be providing Le 22, 000 per day for each worker and that they will be working for 23 working days and a total of 78,200 man days, and that the following chiefdoms will be benefiting from the project: Falaba District: Dembelia Musaia, Barawa Woray, Niya, Mongo, Morfindugu, Kamadugu Yiraia and Dembelia Sekunia Chiefdom.
And for Kono District: Lei, Mofindor, Gbane, Nimiyama, Siama, Gbense, Tankoro, Gorama Kono and Nimikoro Chiefdom.
Kailahum District: Jawei, Malema, Upper Banbara, Mandu, Njaluahun, Kpejeh Bongre, Kpejeh West, Yawei and Kissi Teng Chiefdom.
