By: Alex A. Bah, Public Relations Assistant, ACC
In a bid to enhance the effective implementation of the ongoing Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) Project, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday 22nd August, 2024, engaged key stakeholders in its Conference Room, Integrity House, Tower Hill, Freetown.
The round-table engagement, focused on the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) component exclusively managed by the ACC, which is aimed at improving systems that ensure transparency, accountability, and a seamless roll-out of this vital Government of Sierra Leone and World Bank and UNICEF funded initiative, free from any anomaly whatsoever.
Making his statement as the Chairman, Deputy Commissioner of the ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie apprised the stakeholders that the Commission has a responsibility to serve as gatekeepers of public resources and enhance transparency and accountability in their usage.
This he furthered, is what informs the creation of an Independent GRM Component to ensure that project resources reach the intended beneficiaries in an unhindered manner.
He continued that the Commission remains committed to its duty and its transitioning from over-the-counter payment which poses high corruption risk, to electronic payment.
DC, however noted the difficulty this transition has posed and said, the GRM should be subject to constant scrutiny and improvement in the interest of the poor compatriots. "We want to ensure we maximize transparency in the payment delivery process by ensuring that there is both proof of payment and cashout. We also desire to see that the access to these monies by beneficiaries in far locations is made simple considering the distance and mobile connectivity challenges", Mr. Ngobie noted.
Project Coordinator, ACC, Patrick Morovia commenced his address by informing the need to end the trial phase and to have a well-defined definite and consistent system to maximize delivery as well as transparency and accountability.
"We know Orange-SL is a business venture, but we must find a way of being humanitarian. The beneficiaries should not be considered as usual customers. They deserve this support cost free as they never even opted to receive their monies through Orange" Mr. Morovia endeared the Mobile Company not to subject the beneficiaries to their customer service rigidities. He further stated the importance of having the payment process in a transparent, simplistic and secured manner.
Kana Matsuno, representative from UNICEF, noted her delight to be part of the meeting and equally her interest to follow up on the conversation.
She added that the concerns and deliberations are critical and at the heart of the Government's program to provide support to the most vulnerable population in the country.
Mohamed Orman Bangura, Minister of Youth Affairs in his statement also spoke on the concerns raised, but resounded that the program's motive is to cushion the hardship of the people, hence the entirety it should make such impacts.
He urged for the finding of a Common ground with the Payment company - Orange-SL.
Abibatu Batta, representative, Orange Money addressed the numerous concerns raised by the Commission and made relevant clarifications. She however stated that, they are poised to comply accordingly and that they are equally at liberty to always review their processes and renegotiate as required.
_"We need to also come to terms with the fact that they are not only dealing with our beneficiaries, but also their customers"_Idriss Turay, Senior Director of the National Social Protection Secretariat at the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) underscored, whilst speaking on critical issues bordering on the advancement of the project.
He also spoke on the 90 days maximum period for GRM issues to be resolved or reviewed to fit into the new digital Scheme that is fast and efficient.
The engagement also had in attendance representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Freetown City Council, National Youth Commission among other institutions.
The PSSNYE is a broad and expanded version of the Social Safety Net poverty alleviation scheme that provides Cash Support to people living in the most abject forms of poverty; providing life support skills and entrepreneurial opportunities to young people, as well as addressing issues of climate change through afforestation, among others.
The program is a five-year (2023-2027) and 42 Million- Dollar scheme that will benefit over 35,000 direct beneficiaries across 11 Districts in Sierra Leone.
