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On Friday, October 27, 2023, the Agency for Integrated Development Sierra Leone (AID-SL) successfully distributed project equipment to implementing partners at the organization’s regional office located at 18 Franklyn Kanneh Drive, Off Lamin Kosia Street, IDA Section, Kenema City.
The items include 4 Toyota Hilux, 6 Motorbikes, 10 Laptop Computers, and 2 Digital Cameras. The Implementing partners/ recipients of the equipment include AID-SL itself, the Movement towards Peace and Development Agency (MoPADA-SL), the Bonth District Council, and the Kailahun District Council.
The equipment were received as part of the project package for the smooth and successful implementation of a 30-month European Union grant titled “Promoting Economic and Social Rights and Empowering Women and Youths in the South and Eastern Regions of Sierra Leone”.
It is reported that, the project intends to remove the structural and systematic barriers that prevent CSOs from advocating for economic, social, and political inclusion and represent the interests of youth and women in society, especially at the rural level. It will place key priority on putting women and youth at the heart of policy decision-making, regardless of politics, education, empowerment, human rights, disaster, and/or climate actions. It will be implemented within Kailahun District (East) and Bonthe District (South) accordingly.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Alfred Amadu Gbonda Esq, Executive Director of AID-SL commended all partners for their commitment towards the action and reaffirmed that AID-SL as lead applicants will provide the necessary support to IPs to enhance the successful implementation of the action. He extended that the equipment satisfied all EU procurement standards and that the items procured have the highest quality and are better suitable for the terrain and regions. He encouraged all IPs to ensure that equipment are used in accordance with both the consortium MOU and the EU contractual agreement. He ended by applauding the contribution of the European Union to national development, stating that the project is a big boost for the nation as it will help to foster youth and women empowerment within the country.
The Project Manager for AID-SL, Mr. Maada Koroma provided a brief background to the project as an action geared towards supporting the women and youths in these communities and that, they want to let them access development and continued progress. He further indicated the various approaches undertaken by the project like engaging the stakeholders, capacity building, strengthening the women as well as giving them the maximum support and how they will map out these challenges and sort them out, adding that they are targeting about 500 vulnerable women and about 2,500 Young people, 10 National CSOs, 10 Women-led CBOs, 10 Youth-led CBOs, 2 District Councils, 5 Media Houses, 30 university students, 23 traditional leaders and 4 faith-based organizations within the two implementing districts.
Implementing partners equally expressed their appreciation to the European Union for their contribution to complementing the Government of Sierra Leone in implementing its development priorities. They further thanked the leadership of AID-SL in facilitating the successful procurement and distribution of the project equipment. The Deputy Chief Administration for the Bonthe District Council for instance mentioned that the quality of the items procured exceeds their expectations. Similar comments in this regard were also made by representatives from MoPADA-SL and the Bonth District Council. They all promised to properly manage this equipment for the successful implementation of the project.
Other stakeholders present for the event like the media houses lavished their gratitude to both the donor and the IPs for promoting youth and women empowerment within the country. They all also promised to support the consortium to successfully implement the project as it will benefit the nation as a whole.
