By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of their efforts towards supporting the economic recovery of Youth and Women Led Businesses Affected by Covid-19 in the country, the Ministry of Youth Affairs with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Institute of Development and Humanitarian Assistance (IDHA), as implementing partner, has on Thursday 6th October, 2022 awarded stimulus grant package of Two Thousand Five Hundred New Leones (Le2,500) to 140 youth-led businesses within the Western District Urban during a ceremony that was held at the Sierra Bay Hotel on Aberdeen in Freetown.
Executive Director of the Institute of Development And Humanitarian Assistance , Simon, expressed gratitude to the Government of Sierra Leone under the leadership of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio for the initiative adding that the project is meant to support youth and women led businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He maintained that the award of the stimulus grant package to these 140 youth-led businesses is not the first time, stating that last year they supported up to 258 grand beneficiaries who benefited through the UNDP and the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
The Executive Director revealed that the project had a set criteria which includes that beneficiaries should be Sierra Leoneans, residing in the Western Urban and they should own businesses. He pointed out that applications were sent out and after receiving applications they instituted a panel which consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Anti-Corruption Commission, Civil Society Organization etc. who interviewed the applicants.
On her part, the Team Leader of the Sustainable and Local Economic Development Cluster at the UNDP, Tanzila Watta Sankoh, stated that according to the United Nations, in 2019 the global youth population of 15 to 24 years was 1.2 billion, representing 16 percent of the total population.
She said the population was projected to increase to 1.4 billion by 2065 and that, in Sierra Leone the youth age, between 15 to 35 years constitute 39.4 percent of the country’s population.
Tanzila Watta Sankoh stated that in that vein, UNDP through its rapid financing provided funding to support the recovery of youth-led businesses affected by COVID-19, continuing that the said intervention contributes to the implementation of the Government’s response plan and quick action economic recovery programme.
She maintained that UNDP engaged with the Institute of Development And Humanitarian Assistance as a responsible party while working with the Ministry of Youth Affairs to implement the intervention.
She said it’s in that vein that the UNDP was part of the journey of empowering the young people of Sierra Leone, adding that it was clear tha, they have no option but rather to collaborate and urgently support the youth development agenda by harnessing the demographic dividend which is critical for economic growth.
Tanzila Watta Sankoh said COVID-19 affected everyone in all aspects since the virus struck over two years ago and that the world has witnessed severe shocks due to the pandemic
She continued that according to the International Growth Center, in June 2020, 68 percent of business owners in Sierra Leone mainly in urban areas reported a drop in weekly income immediately after the pandemic struck in March 2020, and that the effects have been felt through to date with business operations disrupted, with the youth and women businesses, especially those in the informal sector, hit hardest.
Tanzila Watta Sankoh encouraged and urged the youth to use the grants for the intended objectives as they are there to support youth and move with them in their economic recovery journey.
She commended the Ministry for its leadership in supporting the young people of Sierra Leone.
In his keynote address, the Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura, expressed appreciation to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the support given to his Ministry over the years, stating that the disbursement of cash to affected youth led businesses in the country will help to improve their businesses, skills and ethics.
He said before the money was disbursed to the youths they went through series of interviews with their partners including the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), adding that, as Minister, he was pleased with the selection of the 140 beneficiaries for the grant.
The Minister said the support to the youths is part of Government’s efforts towards supporting the economic recovery of Youth and Women Led Businesses Affected by COVID-19 in the country.
He urged the 140 beneficiaries to make good use of the money given to them for the right purpose as opportunity comes but once, adding that it is only when they make good use of it that they will stand a chance of getting more funds in order to improve their businesses.
He used the opportunity to inform the gathering that at the ongoing budget hearing his Ministry has asked for Eighty Billion Leones in order to support the activities of the Ministry that are geared towards the empowerment of youths across the country.
He said: “I am very proud to announce that through this project the Ministry is providing grant to twenty-five young men, one hundred and fifteen women, and eight young people with disabilities which brings it to a total of 140 beneficiaries.”
One of the beneficiaries, Bilkish Bangura, expressed her warmest gratitude to the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Institute of Development And Humanitarian Assistance IDHA for providing the stimulus grant package to them. She assured all that the money will be used for the right purpose.
