NaCSA FACILITATES THE SIGNING OF THE GPCYE PROJECT...

As key in the kick-off process of the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA’s) New Pro Poor-Growth for Peace Consolidation and Youth Employment (GPCYE) Project, the Commissioner of NaCSA, Amb. Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina has on Friday, 2nd February, 2024 facilitated the signing of the Financial Cooperation Agreement of 17.5 Million Euro between the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) represented by the Minister of Finance and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany represented by the German Ambassador and the German Development Bank (KfW).

The event took place at the Ministry of Finance, George Street, Freetown. The GPCYE will not only boost the President’s flagship initiative to ‘feed salone’ but will provide empowerment to rural youths for employment and job creation.

The GPCYE Project is funded by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany through the German Development Bank (KfW). The representative of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sierra Leone, the German Ambassador, Amb. Jens Kraus-Masse reiterated the commitments of the Government and people of Germany to the development aspirations of the government and people of Sierra Leone. He noted that, *‘’the collaboration has already stood for more than a decade. And that his government looks forward to a close collaboration’’.*

In her contribution, the KfW Portfolio Manager in Governance - West Africa, Md. Hannah Detmering-Segoin thanked the Finance Minister for hosting them. She maintained that *“Our commitments to the project have come a long way from the first phase of GPC. So we look forward to continuing with the collaboration, ‘’* she noted.

The Ministry of Finance is the government’s principal entity in charge of the responsibility of managing and monitoring the finances and implementing the economic policies of the state, including external funding projects and programmes. Performing the symbolic signing of the Financial Cooperation Agreement on behalf the Government and people of Sierra Leone, the Minister of Finance, Sheku Fantamadi Bangura described NaSCA as a mature institution for delivering the project. Noting that, the commission is well placed to ensure that resources are delivered with probity; and that they reach the intended beneficiaries. The Minister further added that *‘’the Ministry of Finance is well pleased with the Agreement and this is a direct support that is going to free up space in delivering on the programmes set to target the youth. We should therefore ensure that the people in the rural settings are actually part and parcel of it to deliver on the President’s agenda,’’* he emphasized.

NaCSA is the Programme Executing Agency (PEA) for the GPCYE Project in Sierra Leone. In his statement, the Commissioner of NaCSA, Amb. Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina registered his appreciation to the German Government and people through KFW, whom he noted have been very supportive to the government and people of Sierra Leone through NaCSA. These, he affirmed has been seen in the various phases of the programmes in NaCSA (GPC I, II, III) and the GPCYE. Commissioner Ndomahina further reiterated the importance of the new project with special reference to the added youth component. This, he said, is in resonance of His Excellency the President’s agenda on Youth and Feed Salone .

The signing of the Financial Cooperation Agreement between the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) represented by the Minister of Finance and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany represented by the Ambassador and the German Development Bank (KfW) for the new GPCYE Project has come following a series of events to climax the start of project implementation.

Earlier on Monday 29th January, 2024, at the Family Kingdom Resort, the kick-off workshop brought together various stakeholders including NaCSA staff, the donors and relevant consultants to interact and interface for a successful implementation of the new project. On that occasion, the Commissioner of NaCSA, Amb. Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina articulated on the objective of the workshop, noting that *“...the workshop is a platform to enhance for stakeholders including NaCSA staff to understand the project development objectives, implementation processes and procedures and various roles and responsibilities. This shows that the commitment of my team to deliver results cannot be overemphasized,”* he noted.

*’’I encourage constructive discussions on Potential Administrative and Programmatic Issues that could affect efficient and effective completion of the programme. Together we can forge a pathway to successfully achieve our common goals and objectives; thereby attracting more funding from our German counterparts in development,“* He reechoed to NaCSA staff.

The KfW Portfolio Manager, Md. Hannah Detmering - Segoin expressed her delight on the achievements of NaCSA in the implementation of the outgoing GPCIII Project while appreciating the efforts of NaCSA staff and encouraging them to build upon it in the new project .

In Bo, the Stakeholder workshop ended with optimal hope and truism in actualising the aspirations outline in the country's Big five game changers. The New Pro Poor-Growth for Peace Consolidation and Youth Employment (GPCYE) Project is to continue till 2027 and is expected to build on the successes of the previous programmes.

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