By Husainatou M Jallow
The National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) is set to disburse cash worth over one hundred million Dalasi to sixteen thousand nine, hundred and sixty-six households in Foni, CRR and URR. The disbursement is part of the implementation of Nafa cash transfer component of the Gambia Resilience Inclusive Skills and Equity project (RISE), funded by the World Bank. The main objective of the project is to enhance behavioral change and eradicate poverty by empowering vulnerable households. Speaking to this reporter at one of the cash transfer cantres, the Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Sambasy Mballow, affirmed that NaNA, an institution under the Office of the Vice President, implements the Nafa component of the RISE, a project that took over from the Social Safety Net Project (SSNP). He explained that the initiative is a 36-month programme that seeks to support extremely vulnerable households in parts of West Coast, Upper River and Central River Regions through cash transfer and capacity building.
He hailed NaNA for its excellent record of accomplishment in major World Bank-funded projects in the country over the years. Mr Mballow also advised the beneficiaries to invest the cash in income generating ventures. Madame Catherine Kutu Gibba, Programme Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation and Research at NaNA, explained that the project is not only about cash transfer but also capacity building and attitudinal change. This, she added, would ensure that even if the project phases out the beneficiaries will be able to utilise the skills they acquired to engage in other productive activities.
She noted that the main challenges they are facing is the fact that some household heads are no longer in existence while some have misplaced their beneficiary card, among others. Mr Filli Nyassi of the Directorate of Social Welfare said they are key partners in the RISE Project and work closely with partners to ensure that the welfares of vulnerable families are addressed. He added that their officers play key role in addressing cross-cutting issue in communities through their grievance redress mechanism. Madame Fatou Gibba, Director Department of Community Development expressed satisfaction with the partnership with NaNA in the implementation of SSNP and now the new project - Gambia RISE. She expressed hope that the cash transfer component of RISE project would be implemented satisfactorily while affirming her unwavering commitment to the success of the project. Nyima Sey, a beneficiary from Baja Kunda in Upper Region expressed delight for the initiative, and thanked the Government of The Gambia and the World Bank for the project. The main implementing partners of the Nafa component are: National Nutritional Agency, Department of Community Development and Directorate of Social Welfare.
