By Abubakarr Kamara
The project aims to empower eight thousand young people across the country. The Memorandum of Understanding signed validates the independent service providers who will be implementing the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Empowerment project.
The forty-million US Dollar World Bank-funded project aims to provide employment and entrepreneurship support to youth-led household enterprises in Bo, Kenema, Makeni, as well as Port Loko and Freetown.
The project will provide skills training and grants to the eight thousand youths selected to help them succeed in their businesses.
Deputy Commissioner of the National Commission for Social Action, Jimmy Batilo Songa, pleaded with the selected service providers to work in the best interest of the country. He said that they would be monitoring every step of the project’s implementation.
Commissioner of the National Youth Commission, Ahmed Atata Mansaray, also said that “this signing fulfills President Bio’s promise of creating half a million jobs for young people.” Mr. Mansaray mentioned that the commission would be working with the service providers and contributing manpower. He expressed confidence in the selected service providers based on documents and a background check.
The Commissioner urged the service providers to cover at least one thousand youths from now until March 31st, as World Bank representatives would be in the country to grade their performance. The project will focus on areas such as food and hospitality, fisheries, agriculture, garbage collection, and recycling.
The selected service providers, CAC Holding SL Ltd. and Community Empowerment and Development Agency, pledged their commitment to making the project a success.
The Anti-Corruption Commission will serve as the grievance address body in the implementation of the project and signed as a witness to the agreement. Deputy Commissioner Augustine Foday N’gobie assured implementing partners of the commission’s strict supervision.
