Sierra Leone’s population is mostly youthful. Youth (persons 15-35 years) account for about 33% of the country’s population and represent about 63% of the economically active population of which 67% are unemployed.
The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) which is the government lead agency in community driven development recognizes the fact that overcoming youth unemployment is key to its fight against poverty.
With GIZ as its donor partner and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, NaCSA through the Employment Promotion Programme (EPP III) has engaged the final batch of youths in Koidu City in Kono District in its cash for work programme on Garbage Collection and Disposal.
In effort to monitor the implementation of the scheme as well as to give morale to the youths in Koidu City, Kono stakeholders in the Maada Bio lead Government have commended NaCSA for undertaking the programme in their district.
Addressing a group of youth during their normal cleaning exercise at the Sierra Leone Correctional Centre vicinity in Koidu City on Saturday, 4th April, 2020; head of delegation, the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Prof. Aiah Gbakima expressed delight over the zeal exhibited by the youths in cleaning their city, noting that no one would help clean Kono better than themselves.
“We are here to see how this programme is being implemented. We were on the community radios last night, it was made known that out of the 85 projects under the NaCSA GIZ funded Facility for Innovation programme, Kono has 25. This signifies government’s commitment to the development of Kono District and in extension, its people. I therefore urge you all to do your best. Because it is your performance in this assignment that will determine the continuation of the programme,” the minister stated.
The Minister of Local Government, Amb. Tamba Lamina registered his appreciation to NaCSA, whom he acknowledged as a wing of the Government that is specialized in handling community development including cash for work. Amb. Lamina further disclosed that this exercise has to a greater extent helped the Council in addressing the health and sanitation problem in Kono.
At the Presidential Lodge in Koidu City, the Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Robert Chakanda thanked the youths and commended NaCSA for ensuring that Kono district is not behind. He echoed the importance of NaCSA letting the people understand that Government is behind all the wonderful works being carried out by the Commission.
Acknowledging the contribution of NaCSA in his City, the Mayor of Koidu Sebehun New City, His Worship Komba Sam, revealed that NaCSA has been a strong pillar to the Council, noting that Kono has always being given priority in all spheres and in every project as to compare with other districts where similar ventures are undertaken.
On behalf of theNaCSA Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner, the NaCSA Senior Director of Programme Development and Quality Assurance, Dr. Susan Robert expressed similar sentiments on the youths and expressed appreciations to the Kono stakeholders for their level of concerns and commitment as demonstrated in the monitoring exercise.
One of the youths, Isata Bawah, registered her appreciation to NaCSA for providing them with temporal employment and commended their stakeholders for monitoring the process. She noted that this would help her to start up little business from which she could take care of her children.
By the end of the project, it is expected that 9,100 rural and peri-urban youth in Kono, Kailahun, Falaba and Koinadugu would have benefited from the implementations of these three sub components of cash for work.
The project during its implementation has targeted youths between the ages of 18 – 35 years among which 30% were female in these districts.
NaCSA Hailed In Kono
