Following a stakeholders’ engagement on the Pro Poor Growth for Peace Consolidation (GPC) program, the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) and its partners have agreed to extend the project coverage to Kambia District.
In January 2019, GoSL and the Federal Republic of Germany through the German Development Bank (KfW) signed a Financial Cooperation Agreement of €2 million for the extension of the GPC program to a third phase (GPC III), for a further four years (2019-2023). This phase of the program is known as GPC III, which succeeded the GPC I & II programs which ran from 2006-2018.
In his welcome address while deputising the host, Paramount Chief Dr. Nabieu Yayah Yillah thanked the government of Sierra Leone for the quick response to the needs of the people of Kambia. He said since the New Direction government came to power, they have responded swiftly to some of their demands such as water, light, cash transfer support to youths and vulnerable people through NaCSA.
The Resident Minister, North-West, Haja Isata Abdulai Kamara, called on NaCSA’s Commissioner and team to continue to provide more support to the people of Kambia and the region as a whole.
In her submission, NaCSA’s Director of Field Operations, Catherine Sillah, noted that the project is to improve the people’s livelihood by providing employment and income situations, especially for youths in rural communities by providing enhanced economic infrastructure such as feeder roads, bridges, grain stores with ancillary, cattle paddock and water wells along selected agriculture value chain, constructed by using a labour-intensive approach.
The Project Coordinator for the Government Regional Rice Value Chain Program, Mr. Bun-Wai, expressed his satisfaction and thanked NaCSA and the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Germany for their good initiatives and intentions for coming to Kambia district at this particular point in time that the government of Sierra Leone is fighting hard to see its staple food multiply and be able to not only feed its people but at the same time be able to export to other countries.
“Rice shall be the support value chain. Thus, the investment will be focused on the rehabilitation of feeder roads to facilitate the access to market and the construction of grain stores to minimise postharvest losses and community development in the rice belt area of Kambia district.”
In his statement, NaCSA Deputy Commissioner, Sahr Jimmy Batilo Songa admonished young people to be part of development initiatives as “the future is youth.”
“I am here to support the Commissioner and communities where NaCSA is implementing projects so that the gains of the commission and the government as a whole will not go unnoticed by the people of this country.”
The Commissioner of NaCSA, Dr. Sao-Kapto Hannah Isata Max-Kyne, was pleased with the turn out of the people of Kambia district.
“We are here today to consult on the commencement of the GPC project in Kambia district. The extension of this project to the district demonstrates the readiness of the Bio led government in revamping agriculture across all districts devoid of political affiliation.”
She further encouraged the people of Kambia to come up with ideas and solutions as the workshop is an interactive one. Whatever the outcomes might be in their deliberations, her team and the other partners involved will look at them keenly and try to adopt them for a win-win situation for all.
NaCSA is working with councils and will continue working with all councils, MDAs, civil society, the grassroots and donor partners, she concluded.
AT/15/02/2021
By austin.thomas@awokonewspaper.sl