National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) has completed payment of Le2, 762, 73, 480 to the second batch of 5,182 youths in Falaba, Kono and Kailahun districts.
The payment, done under the Employment Promotion Programme (EPP-III)/Cash for work project is part of government commitment to reduce poverty in Sierra Leone.
The project involves supporting 2,300 farmers, mainly youths, in the rehabilitation of, at least, one hectare of cocoa and coffee plantations in the aforementioned districts.
It also supports 3,400 youth farmers in the rehabilitation of approximately 50 wet rice areas which including Inland Valley Swamps covering an area of 250 hectares in Kono and Falaba districts as well as 3,400 youths in Garbage Collection and Disposal in Koidu City, Kono district.
The EPP-III project is funded by the German government through GIZ to provide temporary employment for over 9,100 youths within the age bracket of 18-35 years in the aforementioned districts.
This payment is for the second batch after payment of the last batch in August, 2019.
Each beneficiary worked for 23 working days, and was paid Le. 533,140.
During the actual cash-for-work activity, the time keeper, a member of the Community Oversight Committee, verifies the presence of each beneficiary through the use of an adopted timesheet.
The timesheet is used to calculate the number of days during which the beneficiaries work, a process from which they receive payment.
Mr Leonard Moseray is the programme Manager of EPP-III at NaCSA.
Moseray, with a NaCSA payment team, visited the three districts to supervise and oversee the payment process.
Speaking to beneficiaries and stakeholders during the tour, Mr Moseray entreated the beneficiaries to use the money wisely.
He also admonished them to engage in “meaningful” community services.
“NaCSA is a government agency responsible for providing support to deprived and hard-to-reach communities across the country,” Moseray said.
The EPP-III project, Moseray said, was meant for the youths of Falaba, Kono and Kailahun districts.
He, however, encouraged the remaining youths to be patient, noting that government through NaCSA was working hard for an “additional funding” and “expansion” of the project.
“Youths should be seen engaging in violent activities in their communities, but to stay united and engage in development activities,” The NaCSA programme Manager urged. Kono district has 3, 4000 beneficiaries the highest from the three sub-components of the project.
Madam Catherine Sillah is the Director of Field Operations at NaCSA.
She witnessed the payment exercise, and told the audience that the cash-for-work was a “pilot project.”
“The cash-for-work is a pilot project and that the outcome of which will help determine whether the donors and NaCSA would continue with the project,” she said.
Young people across the three districts of Falaba, Kono and Kailahun express their thanks and appreciation to the government of Sierra Leone through NaCSA and the donor partner GIZ for their help in reducing the “untold” hardship they face.
The youths call on donors to continue to support NaCSA, an agency they are confident in.
The youths believe that NaCSA is one of the government agencies that has been assisting them throughout the years.
The agency has been helping in areas of road construction, shelter, water and sanitation, bridges and culverts, farming tools among others.
Market facilities, schools, health centers and many other social facilities have been provided by NaCSA through community- driven.
NaCSA in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health and local district councils have provided trainings for beneficiaries in Inland Valley Rehabilitation and Cocoa/Coffee rehabilitation.
The youths were divided into smaller groups with a six-man Community Oversight Committee leading them.
They were provided with tools worth over Le300M to carry out the cash-for-work activities.
NaCSA Pays Over Le2.7Bn. To Provincial Youths
