Story by Isaac Asare
A World Bank support
project spearheaded by the Government of Ghana and the Japanese Social
Development Fund, JSDF, has ensured the provision of grants and start tools for
beneficiaries under LEAP and the Labour Intensive Public Works, LIPW in the
Bongo District.
The project which is
being piloted under the GSOP is intended to provide beneficiaries with
alternative livelihood support activities to supplement their income levels.
Over 5,000 beneficiaries have so far undergone some vocational training and received
cash grants through an E-Zwich platform to empower them expand their existing
businesses.
At a durbar to kick start the implementation of the first phase of
the project, the National Capacity
Building Specialist of GSOP, Desmond Duametu, said the effective outcome
of the pilot project will determine the need for a national scale up and
challenged the assembly to assist in that regard by monitoring the activities
of beneficiaries.
Report
The implementation
of the JSDF project under GSOP is in furtherance of government's desire to
ensure sustainable poverty reduction among the rural poor.
This idea was mooted
in 2012 at a forum by the World Bank Implementation Support Mission, where
stakeholders agreed on the need for some complimentary source of income for
vulnerable communities
. To this end, government through the Local Government
Ministry felt the need to provide additional support for LIPW beneficiaries
under the GSOP by equipping them with
livelihood skills and funding to sustain their income levels.
Last year, the
JSDF pilot project was officially launched with LEAP and LIPW communities
chosen as eligible beneficiaries in a two tier selection process.
However, the
provision of tools and startup capital was the second league of the JSDF
implementation process after taking them through various vocations.
The project
will be executed in two phases with Bongo being selected among 8 districts of
the Upper East Region.
Beneficiaries who are already into various trading activities
including malt and Shea butter processing were provided with startup kits and
grants through an electronic E-Zwich payment system.
Speaking to Radio
Ghana, the National Capacity Building Specialist at GSOP, Desmond Duametu was
enthused about the interest level of beneficiaries.
He said what was left was
for the assembly to ensure the grant generates good returns by monitoring their activities.
Under the JSDF Pilot
project, 13 communities in the Bongo District are benefiting with over, 900,000
Ghana Cedis to be disbursed to eligible beneficiaries.
They are drawn from
various communities including Bongo Soe, Kansoe, Feo, Dua and Goo.
This disbursement
will be done in two tranches.
The second tranche is to help beneficiaries
purchase medicine, animal feed and other materials to enhance their existing
business activities.
One of the beneficiaries who spoke to Radio Ghana on
condition of anonymity said the grant will go a long way to expand his guinea
fowl business.
The Regional
Coordinator of GSOP, Adwoah Asotia Boakye, said GSOP was at a threshold of a significant
development with the implementation of the JSDF programme.
She said with this
sustainability component in place, beneficiaries will be empowered enough to
expand their businesses.
The project, she hinted was the first of its kind and
is expected to redeem poor households out of poverty. Mrs Boakye however
appealed to stakeholders involved to work towards the sustainability of the
project.
Key personalities including the Consultant on JSDF Implementation, Dr
Willy Kagarura, the Bongo DCE, Alexis Ayamdor and the District Director at the
Department of Social Welfare, John Azam were present at the function.
GBC
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