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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Sierra Leone has intensified its on-the-ground monitoring of the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) Project, one of the country’s key poverty reduction and youth empowerment initiatives.
From August 1 to 3, 2025, ACC Deputy Commissioner Augustine Foday Ngobie visited project training hubs in Kenema and Pujehun Districts. The visits were aimed at verifying that the enrollment of beneficiaries is conducted in a transparent, accountable, and corruption-free manner.
During the tour, Mr. Ngobie reiterated the Commission’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, stressing that all project resources must reach their intended beneficiaries.
“Integrity is not optional; it is essential. This project is about lifting people out of poverty, not enriching a few at the expense of many,” he stated.
The oversight mission focused on Sub-Component 1B of the PSSNYE, the Economic Inclusion (EI) program which provides cash transfers, business training, mentoring, and market linkages to extremely poor households.
According to official figures, 5,883 individuals across five districts will benefit from the program:
Kenema: 1,283
Pujehun: 1,219
Karene: 1,322
Falaba: 990
Western Rural: 1,069
Beneficiaries fall into three main categories:
- Unconditional Social Safety Net (SSN) – Receives $45 every quarter.
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EI Plus Cash – Receives the quarterly $45 and a $250 business grant.
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EI Only – Receives the $250 grant and training without the quarterly cash transfer.
Launched in March 2022, the PSSNYE Project is a five-year, $42 million initiative co-financed by the Government of Sierra Leone and the World Bank. It is designed to strengthen social safety nets and expand youth employment opportunities, with a scheduled completion date of June 30, 2027.
The program’s wider objectives include reducing poverty, encouraging entrepreneurship, and creating sustainable income streams for vulnerable communities.
Mr. Ngobie called on project staff and community monitors to ensure the accuracy of beneficiary lists and warned that the ACC would act swiftly against any fraudulent practices.
By participating directly in field monitoring, the ACC leadership aims to reinforce public confidence and safeguard the integrity of development investments.
