The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), on Tuesday 18th June 2024, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) geared towards collaboration and partnership in implementing the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) project. The signing ceremony took place at the Conference Room of the ACC Integrity House, Tower Hill, in Freetown.
The National Youth Commission, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, and Municipal Councils are also significant implementing partners of the project.
In his statement, the Deputy Commissioner of ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie, welcomed the team from NaCSA on behalf of the Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala Esq, and the Management of the ACC. He underscored that the ACC and NaCSA have been implementing partners of the World Bank poverty alleviation projects for a long time, and the ACC respects that partnership. He added that because of this partnership the previous project, which was the Social Safety Net (SSN), ended successfully. He thanked the leadership of NaCSA for the support that they had rendered to them, adding that the signing of the MoU would help both parties to maintain their separate missions and mandates. Mr. Ngobie assured NaCSA that ACC will ensure the incorporation of other mobile companies (Orange and Qcell) into the 8515 toll-free line.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Deputy Commissioner of NaCSA, Jimmy Batilo Songa, expressed sincere gratitude to the ACC for their support in the project implementation process. He commended the Deputy Commissioner of the ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie, and the Management of the Commission, for holding the fort while the Commissioner was away on study leave, furthering that the presence of the ACC in the project over the years has brought confidence to other implementing partners, especially the World Bank, adding that the MoU will ensure a good partnership and set forth the understanding and intentions of the Parties towards the goals of the PSSNYE.
He added that NaCSA will render support to the ACC to ensure better implementation of the project. Mr. Songa encouraged the ACC to work with other mobile companies for the toll-free line to be accessible by beneficiaries and citizens on the Orange and Qcell networks.
Director of Public Education and External Outreach Department, ACC, Patrick Sandi, in his remarks as Chairman of the ceremony, said the partnership between the two institutions will lead to achieving one goal, which is to ensure that there is transparency in the implementation of the PSSNYE.
According to the MoU, the roles and responsibilities of the ACC are to coordinate the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) which will allow the receipt and recording of all complaints relating to issues of corruption in the project. This will be handled by the district and community monitors, who have been recruited and deployed by the ACC to facilitate the GRM of the project.
The Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment is a poverty alleviation Scheme by the World Bank through the Government of Sierra Leone, to provide cash transfers to extremely poor households and other youth-led activities aimed at creating jobs.
The signing of the MoU by the Deputy Commissioner ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie, and the Deputy Commissioner NaCSA, Jimmy Batilo Songa, climaxed the event.
