NaCSA Capacitates Local Councils

By Marilyn King
The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th January 2024 organised a workshop on building the capacity of Local Councils on the implementation of Social Protection Programmes at the Port Loko District Council Office.

Speaking at the event, the Information, Education and Communication Specialist, (IEC) Umaru Damon Samai, gave a brief background of the project and stated that NACSA has successfully implemented the Social Safety Net (SSN) project.
He furthered that the project targeted thirty-five thousand (35,000) beneficiaries and continued that the World Bank rated the completion of the project as satisfactory.

He explained that the SSN started in 2014 and close down in 2023, and they have engaged Local Council across all implementation stage, adding that the Local Council Representatives are also important.

The commissioner of NaCSA, Ambassador Ernest, Mbaimba Ndomahina, said that the government of Sierra Leone with support from donor development partners including the World Bank, UNICEF, the German Development Bank, and other donor partners, have over the years continue to provide support in addressing poverty and other vulnerabilities affecting the people of Sierra Leone.

“As delivered by His Excellency Retired, Brigadier Julius Maada Bio in his New Year message to the country recognizing the gravity of the current economic situation, our government has taken decisive actions to mitigate its effects; no doubt, in the 2024 budget as emphasized by His Excellency. Our government has displayed dedication to providing resources to ensure a ‘robust Social Protection’ consistent with the goals of the National Development Plan, emphasizing the firm commitment to build resilience and move our people out of poverty,” Ambassador Ndomahina Noted.

He informed the Local Council representatives that the Commission through the National Social Protection Secretariat (NSPS) conducted the implementation of Social Protection (SP) programs for core staff of the Local Council.
The Chairman of Port Loko District Council, Sheku Tejan Saccoh, said the SP is one of the key strategies to reduce poverty.

He said capacity building for Local Council helps them to have the required knowledge for them to be on the right footing to implement Social Services.

He noted that it will enhance their ability and capacity to be able to ensure efficient service delivery, as they will be able to reach out to their people with the main aim and goal, with the target of reducing poverty.
He furthered that the intervention by NaCSA is a blessing for them as a district, and also a blessing for staff of the Local Council and that they will ensure to involve staff of other sectors.

Presentation of the National Social Protection Strategy climaxed the workshop.