NAYCOM Updates Media on PSSNYE

BY DAUDA KOROMA

Sierra Leone National Youth Commission (NAYCOM) and its Partners, which includes the World Bank, National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), on Friday 30th August 2024, engaged the Media on Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) Project: Component 3A-Youth-Led Household Enterprises.

The engagement, which took place at the New Connection Hotel hall, Magburaka Highway, Makeni, has its theme: “Empowering Youths, Amplifying Voices: Media as a Catalyst for Youth–Led Enterprises in Sierra Leone”. The project will not only be implemented in Freetown, but in the provinces as well (Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Port Loko).

NAYCOM Deputy Commissioner, Emerson Kamara, in his opening address said, “the employment of the youths is very high, and  can lead to a brink not having a peaceful development of the country.”

He said, President Julius Maada Bio has already addressed the employment rate of young people, as this particular project’s component 3 is to make sure young people have a platform. The Commission and the government, including its partners, will train young people in business to see that their business grow, after they have been provided funds.

The project, he disclosed, will cover 8000 youths across the country, adding that NaCSA and ACC will monitor the project to see that they implement it without corruption. He ended up saying that the media should popularize the projects to see the young people benefit.

NaCSA Senior Development Social Safety Network officer, Isata M. Blake, disclosed that the project is open and fair, adding that component 3 of the Project speaks to this issue, hence the stakeholder engagement. She said that they at NaCSA need the sustainability of the Project, furthering that the project is to provide micro social training for their livelihood, and will especially cover women.

Governance Redress Mechanism (GRM)/ACC Project Coordinator, Patrick Monrovia, in his statement said, World Bank is supporting the projects, but they need the ACC to be part of the Project for its implementation. He said the Project, for them at ACC, will embrace Project Grievance Redress Mechanism i.e. they are ready to listen to complaints that might come from the projects.

He disclosed that if something goes wrong deliberately and they listen to any complaint, they will look at both sides to address the issue. But if it’s a corruption complaint, they will handle it.

NAYCOM Programme Manager, Momodu Woodie, in his presentation, said that in Sierra Leone where youth unemployment remains a pressing national challenge, innovative solutions are essential to foster economic stability and social equity.

He said, media outlets can amplify their project reach and increase visibility to attract potential stakeholders, partners and young people. He furthered that media collaboration fosters transparency, building trust with the community and stakeholders, by keeping them informed about progress and challenges, and also the media professionals bring expertise in storytelling, helping to effectively communicate their project activities and impact.

He furthered that the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment stands at the forefront of these solutions, aiming to empower young individuals, while enhancing community resilience.

He disclosed that the PSSNYE is designed to provide financial support and social services to vulnerable populations, enabling them to invest in their futures by integrating youth employment strategies, and the project not only addresses immediate economic needs, but also equips young people with the skills and opportunities necessary for sustainable livelihood.

He said PSSNYE is anchored at NaCSA and implemented by a host of partners, including ACC, NAYCOM and the Freetown City Council. He disclosed that the project costs US$40.0 million equivalent, with an expected project implementation period extending over five years, closing June 30 2027.

The Project is providing the much needed technical and financial support to the GoSL to advance the agenda of social protection and jobs, according to the P.M.  He also said that the Project Development Objective is to improve access to social safety nets and income generating opportunities for targeted beneficiaries.

NAYCOM Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Yusuf Kamara, in his presentation, said the priority sectors in the medium term national development plan that are earmarked, are large scale machinery equipment, microfinance, large vehicles, activities related to weapons/arms, medicines and drugs, and chemicals, including pesticides, deforestation and sand mining.