December 10, 2021
The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) has commenced the construction of three Regional Community Managed Resource Centers in the cities of Moyamba, Port-Loko and Kenema.
This intervention is part of the Sierra Leone Community Driven Development SLCDD II (GIETRENK) Project implemented by the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) through NaCSA with funding from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). The aim is to reduce poverty and attain sustainable improvement in the well-being of the population of the rural poor by providing them with access to socio-economic opportunities and capacity building. This will be achieved by providing communities access to demand driven social and productive assets and services, access to a package of business development services including microfinance, and building local level institutions and governance structures.
Host Paramount Chief, Foday Momoh Guloma of Kaiyamba Chiefdom, Moyamba District commended NaCSA for various development interventions and that the Commission is a ‘house whole name’ in Moyamba District. According to the Project Engineer, Cyril Jusu, the respective centers will include Auditorium, Committee Rooms, Executive offices, Pipe borne water etc. He further assured that with the cooperation of all stakeholders and the NaCSA Technical Staff, the project will be satisfactorily completed and handed over within a short period of time.
In Giving the overview of the SLCDD II Project, the Program Manager; Momoh Juanah; maintained that among a series of other projects implemented in five districts, Moyamba District will enjoy major facilities including bore holes, health centers and 80 modern toilet facilities. Mr. Juana discoursed that upon completion, the Resource Centre is to be managed by the district, the community and NaCSA but it is the primary responsibility of the community to ensure sustainability because if efficiently managed, it will transform business and facilitate agriculture and agro- processing. ‘’I urged the stakeholders to fast track the establishment of a Project Management Committee to ensure effective management of the Center.’’ He ended.
Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of NaCSA, the Director of Field Operations, Madam Catherine Sillah officially launched the construction of the Regional Community Managed Resource Centers in Moyamba and Kenema Districts. “This Resource Center is Co-funded by the government of Sierra Leone and the Islamic Development Bank and is owned by the community and hence the name’ Community Managed Resource Center” whiles reiterating the fact that the center is not managed by government or NaCSA but “by the communities themselves” Madam Sillah therefore admonished the community stakeholders to take full ownership of the project from the inception through the construction process and even after the completion to ensure sustainability. “Be part of the work, monitor the process, make meaningful gestures as part of community contributions and avoid conniving with the contractor to undermine the project” She ended.
The District Officer, Moyamba Haround Keh Turay and Deputy Chairman, Moyamba District Council, Alfred Banya extended their appreciation and gratitude to the donor, NaCSA and the President of Sierra Leone for considering such development. ‘’we are happy to be part of history and together we will be greater.”