December 14, 2021
By: MORISON M KOROMA (kenema)
The National commission for social action and development partners through the office of the vice president of the republic of Sierra Leone has ended a two-day inter agency forum on social protection. It is an annual event and this session saw the composition of relevant ministries, department and agencies, NASSIT, SLANGO UNICEF, WFP, UN AIDS, European Union Delegation, World Bank, Traditional Authorities, CSOs and the Press.
The meeting is to evaluate progress, identify opportunities and ensure effective coordination amongst key social protection agencies.
Paramount chief representative who doubles as the chiefdom speaker for the host chiefdom, (NONGOWA) Chief Senesie Daniel Neka in his description said that the move is significant and timely.
In her vivid explanation, the commissioner for NaCSA Dr. Jao Kpalo Max Kyne when addressing participants said, that the forum serves as the most strategic decision making body when social security is mentioned in the country.
“This is where opportunities are given to key players at different levels of governance to critically look at issues surrounding social protection in the country, give ideas and render rightful decisions in moving forward’’, she said.
Dr. Kyne manifested gladness for being part of a developed process culminating into social protection strategy, disclosing to have formed part of the initial concept of social protection framework some years ago.
While expressing high appreciation to organizers, the Hon. Minister Of Social Welfare Manty Tarrawally pleaded with all to leave no gap between words and actions in the implementation of social protection related programs.
She made a clarion call on IAF members to respect the statutory mandate of the respective MDAs for effective service delivery in addressing the numerous challenges faced by vulnerable groups.
Mohamed O’level Sesay, the Kenema District Council Chairman who was ambushed to talk on behalf of the ministry of local governance said it is Prudent to meet and synergize issues of social safety net to avoid duplications and depletions of resources.
The National Social Security and Insurance Trust which believes to have immensely provided social protections for its customers through various contingencies in its existence, says it had set up strategic actions to pay pensioners their right amounts and in time, sets an annual customer service mobile clinic and the 24hrs.
NaSSIT telephone hotlines amongst other things. Mohamed Gondoe, NaSSIT Deputy Director General said that all these are exhibition of contributing to social protection related matters.
“International evidence demonstrates that cash transfers have a positive effect on children’s school attendance and it can support children in making safe transitions to adults”,Liv Elin Indreinten, representative OLC, Deputy Representative-UNICEF said.
The keynote speaker of the day was the Hon. Minister of Labour and Social Security.
Updating the gathering on the successes of government, Hon. Alpha Osman Timbo considering the posing threats of the CoViD-19 pandemic on global economy and other challenges, lavishes a bunch of praises on the Bio led administration citing the enhancement of social protection interventions.
He pledged his government’s continued placement of strategic priorities in the pursuant of supports provision to extremely poor households. Minister Timbo also registered his government’s unremitting embracement for international development associations’ supports in designing projects targeting economic equation of poor households with accompanying measures.