NaCSA to Commence Implementation of the Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW) Component of the PSSNYE Project...

*Tuesday 16th July 2024, Makeni City Council* - The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) has engaged Mayors of the Koidu New Sembehun City, PortLoko City and Makeni City Councils on the prerequisite for commencing the Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPWs) component of the Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) project.

LIPWs support a community-driven participatory program of activities to engage youth in rural and urban areas in productive public works and life skills training. It will provide vulnerable youth (ages 18–35) in rural and urban areas with short-term employment opportunities through productive public works and life skills training.

It will also provide life skills support to participating youth, aimed at conflict resolution and peer community awareness on sanitation, hygiene, health promotion, behaviour modification around self-esteem, sexual and reproductive health, communication strategies, work readiness, teamwork, community relations, and basic business and money management practices, including for persons with disabilities who participate in the program.

The Labour-Intensive Public Works (LIPW) Program will be implemented in selected provinces, districts and chiefdoms based on poverty maps in the country. It involves three subcomponents; Sustainable Cash for Work (SCfW), Green Public Works (GPW) and Digital Public Works. The Freetown City Council is leading the pilot of the Green Public Works (GPW) sub-component targeting 1000 youth in the Western Area Urban (WAU).

Speaking during the consultative meeting with the Mayors from Makeni, Koidu New Sembehun and Portloko City Councils and key subject matter experts, the Commissioner of NaCSA Ambassador Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina on behalf of His *Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio* thanked the various Mayors for their cooperation since the inception meeting and during multiple engagements. *‘’… we have worked together to achieve the big five game changers of His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio. Regardless of our differences, the national call to accelerate economic growth and build resilience through the Feed Salone agenda, Human Capital Development, Youth Employment, Revamping the Public Service Architecture and Tech and Infrastructure should catalyze our unity.’’*

The Commissioner further noted that the LIPWs component of the PSSNYE project is focusing on young people in both urban and rural areas. He called on institutions with implementation responsibilities to hasten the implementation of various sub-components.

The Mayor of Makeni City Council, His Worship Abubakarr Kamara expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the Commissioner of NaCSA – *Amb Ernest Mbaimba Ndomahina, the President – *His Excellency Dr Julius Maada Bio and the World Bank* for putting together such an excellent project. *‘’…as mayors, we will work together to ensure that the objectives of the LIPWs are achieved. And I know that the Commissioner will give us the support needed for implementation.’’* He further noted.

In the coming months, NaCSA will hold technical sessions with all relevant municipalities to develop Implementation Manuals and subprojects, identify subproject sites, targeting, and enrolment strategies and timelines; Conduct Environmental and Social Risk Screening of GPW subproject sites in compliance with PSSNYE Project Environmental and social frameworks (ESFs), Select beneficiaries for GPW subprojects through self-targeting, enrollment and registration with Orange Money and trained beneficiaries on subproject specific activities and labour management issues, Gender Based Violence and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

*For further information on this and other matters, don't hesitate to get in touch with* *The Information, Education and Communication Unit:* *+23277022709/+23230518539* www.nacsa.gov.sl