The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) have on the Wednesday 17th May, 2023, commenced training of Data Enumerators (DEs) in Banka Bouthy, Portloko Town.

The training focused on Implementation Strategy for Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC) of the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP).

This intervention is funded by the Government of Sierra Leone and the World Bank, and it makes provision for unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) to food-insecure households in the Social Safety Nets selected communities/districts, and other non-SSN communities.

A total of 12,000 (Twelve Thousand) households (72,000 persons) will receive a one-off UCT of *NLE 2,660 (Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Sixty News Leones) over a period of three-quarters.

The targeted communities are in food-insecure, and flood affected districts of Falaba, Karene, Kambia, Koinadugu, Moyamba, Pujehun, Kenema, Tonkolili, Bo, Kailahun, Bonthe and Port Loko respectively.

It could be noted that the global agenda 2030 and the regional agenda 2063 are very thoughtful about poverty reduction. Beyond these agenda, the country’s Medium Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) adopted radical steps towards poverty reduction.

The Deputy Commissioner of NaCSA, Sir Jimmy Batilo Songa reemphasized the demonstrated commitment and political will towards poverty reduction.

“As one of the leading agencies in implementing government policies and development programs, NaCSA has collaborated with many other Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). This is consistent with the President’s Human Capital Development Initiative (HCDI) and other national aspirations as outlined in the country’s development framework,” he said.

He further urged the DEs to pay attention to details and ensure that they followed the implementation strategy to the latter.

“This is significant because it involves people we represent; our people,’’ he ended.

Idris Turay is NaCSA’s Senior Director and National Coordinator for the National Social Protection Secretariat. He cautioned DEs and implementing partners to religiously follow the standard and agreed targeting and enrolment procedures. (skillnet.net)

“It is important for us to note that we have no room for faulty data. All incoming data must be clean because we are very particular about data accuracy and integrity. The assurance to achieve this goal is for the DEs and partners to be diligent in discharging their respective functions.’’ He concluded, noting that the principle to respect beneficiaries cannot be overemphasized; “the beneficiaries are at the centre of our interventions,’’ he said.

Dr. Susan Robert the Senior Director, Programme Development and Quality Assurance, narrated the importance of the training to the DEs, NaCSA and the potential beneficiaries.

‘’There are many facets to this, first it will add value to your knowledge base and improve the outlook of your resume, for us as a Commission, we are very interested in the quality of data and for the potential beneficiaries, it is about survival,’’ she Concluded.

The three-day training will end on Tuesday, 21st May 2023, subsequently, targeting and enrolment of potential beneficiaries will immediately commence, as was communicated by the IEC unit of NaCSA for the public consumption.