By Dadson A. Musa
The National Commission for Social Action (NACSA) has on the 12th March 2025 held a meeting in Moyamba on a project that seeks to improve vulnerable rural communities in the district. This meeting came after a validation meeting was held earlier in Bo to select the chiefdoms that are eligible to benefit from the project. It aims to target communities with challenged transportation networks and to help improve on agricultural value chains to support the government’s feed Salone project.
The 17.5 million Euros project which is provided by tax payers in Germany aims to boost economic development and consolidate the peace. Chaired by the Senior Director of Programs, NACSA the event got ahead with MPs, Paramount Chiefs, representative from GIZ, chairman Moyamba District Council, representative from Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant stakeholders. In his welcome address, the host paramount chief, P. C. Gulama of Kayamba chiefdom in Moyamba district that he’s ” very excited about the development that the project will bring to his chiefdom in particular and the district in general.” That as chiefs, they are going to embrace the project ” to improve on feeder roads in the district.” That farmers in the district have always found it difficult to take agricultural goods to the market due to bad and challenging road networks.
Giving an overview of the project life cycle, the manager of project at NACSA said that “the project started in 2006 in the north of Sierra Leone targeting fragile states that are just coming from war. And it is meant to consolidate the peace.” He went on that the project has four components which included, infrastructure investment, management and improvement of income generation, improvement of trainings along construction works and capacity building of NACSA staff. And that the project “aims to target 20% of youthful female population in affected communities.” The second phase of the project which started in 2017will be spread in Bo, Bonthe and Moyamba. And the project cannot be implemented without partnering with local councils. A representative from the German government who are the sponsors of the project said ” if this one is successfully implemented then Sierra Leone stands to benefit from other funding.” And that whatever help they are giving “is in line with government’s development priorities.” He went on that the project also aims to support the young population in Sierra Leone. And that the project aims to strengthen the economic development of the country. Hon. Edward George of Moyamba district cautioned that they as members of parliament will be ” going round to monitor the project so poor job is not done as they will be making sure the right contractors get the job.” The GIZ representative, Borbor Michael said that since 2005 ” GIZ had always sought to promote youth employment and also help with improving agricultural value chains across the country and in this, women are also targeted to bring about poverty reduction.” P. C. Amy Tattor Kallon Tibbie, paramount chief of Kowa chiefdom in the Moyamba district on behalf of beneficiary chiefdoms welcomed and thanked GIZ for the project. “We are ready to support this project in every form by giving the female representation needed and we will ensure Moyamba district is transformed through this project.” She said that without good roads, there will be no economic development and women are adversely affected and thanked government for ensuring the project becomes a reality. She ended by advocating for other nearby communities.
In his keynote address the commissioner of NACSA, Ernest Ndomahina expressed gratitude and delight that the project is going to get underway and expressed delight in fruitful consultation. ” The criteria for selecting these chiefdoms were based on the need assessment done and mining chiefdoms are excluded.” He went on that due diligence was done before these chiefdoms were selected. He assured that. “Key stakeholders, relevant to the project will be incorporated to ensure timely and successful completion.” He reminded how successful the project has been in other parts of the country and that a phased withdrawal is key in rounding up the projects. Commissioner Ndomahina said that the project intends to support the government’s flagship program which is feed salone. And cautioned that infrastructure requirements are needed for rice stores to be constructed. By 2027 they hope to achieve 300 km. of roads will be achieved in every project chiefdom. He thanked his staff at NACSA for doing a good job. And the vote of thanks was given by Dr. Susan Roberts