By Ebrima Njie
The National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) and partners on Thursday, 17th June, 2022 orientated Multi-Disciplinary Facilitation Teams (MDFTs) and the regional authorities ahead of the Nafa Programme beneficiary enrolment in all the regional administrative capitals, in preparation of the registration.
The Nafa Programme component of The Gambia Social Safety Net Project (a US$ 31 million project) is jointly funded by the World Bank and the Government of The Gambia.
The National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), Directorate of Social Welfare and Department of Community Development are implementing the Nafa Programme, as part of The Gambia Social Safety Net Project (SSNP), which aims to strengthen the coordination of social assistance activities and increase the inclusion of the extreme poor.
The Nafa Programme is a combination of Cash Transfer and Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) that is being implemented in phases.
The first phase involved three districts (Foni Bintang in West Coast Region, Nianija in Central River Region and Wulli West in Upper River Region.) The project is now rolling out to the 17 other districts across the country.
Mr. Abdou Aziz Ceesay, Director of Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) for National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) explained that the project is targeting 15,606 extreme poor households, which equates to approximately 40 percent of the extreme poor households in The Gambia. He informed that the project targets 20 poorest districts in The Gambia.
The objectives of the project, Ceesay highlighted are to improve the coordination of social assistance activities, provide temporary social assistance support to rural households in the wake of COVID-19, and increase inclusion of the extreme poor.
He advised the project team and all the MDFTs that, the enrollment exercise is one of the most important activities; emphasising the need to strictly follow the guidelines and all the procedures required to avoid registering the wrong persons. “In case of any issue regarding the identity of a beneficiary household, do not proceed with the registration of that household until the regional and central level personnel verify who the right beneficiary is,” he advised.
The Director also informed the paper that, shortly before the orientation, the Social Safety Net Project through the National Nutrition Agency handed over 15 motorcycles to MDFTs, 9 for the Directorate of Social Welfare and 6 for the Department of Community Development. Additional four Toyota Pickup vehicles were also purchased for the two institutions for their Regional Officers. This is meant to facilitate the work of both the regional teams and the MDFTs in implementing the Nafa Programme.
The Senior Community Development Officer, Mr. Ansu Fofana expounded on the issues of consistency and team work to avoid doing things differently. He also advised that they consult one another and take the exercise with seriousness to avoid mistakes that might be costly for the project.
