Lamin Jaiteh made this remark on Tuesday 16th September in the ongoing bi-monthly cash transfer program held at Sabach Njaine village in the North Bank Region.
Conducted through Social and Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) activities, the project is under The Gambia RISE and run by the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA), in partnership with the Department of Community Development (DCD) and the Directorate of Social Welfare (DSW). It is designed to offer a foundation for sustainable livelihoods to the poor and vulnerable.
A sub-component of the RISE project, the project is being implemented in 20 poorest districts in The Gambia in which 3 of those districts have already graduated.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Jaiteh noted that the September cash transfer initiative marked the 16th cycle of the payment, recalling that since the project inception, there has been positive impacts on the livelihoods of beneficiaries.
Through the project, he informed that many beneficiaries were able to venture into animal husbandry and other impactful areas.
As community development officer, he said, they are always in the fore-front in community mobilisations to ensure that beneficiaries are gathered at pay points.
Adama Ceesay, a beneficiary and a resident of Sabach Njaine said the project came at a moment when it was needed most, noting that so far, it has moved them to another level.
“We were able to use the cash we received from this project for medical purposes when our kids are sick and help our kids for their education.” she stated.
Elsewhere in Kalagi village, Foni Jarol, Alagie Jawara, Regional community development officer for West Coast Region 1 (Brikama), who spoke on behalf of the Department of Community Development (DCD), noted that part of their responsibilities includes coordination, mobilisation and monitoring of the ongoing project activities.
He remarked that they (at DCD) would always make follow-ups to ensure that all activities go accordingly.
The project targets 36000 households in which 16966 households have been reached so far.
Describing the nature of the project, he said the project targets 16,000 households, as rural poverty is greater looking at the per capita income of the country.
With the support of the Gambia government and the intervention of the World Bank; he said the project has hugely helped in improving the beneficiaries’ living standards with a decent kind of living.
Meanwhile, the September cash transfer program also reached out to other communities including the Kiang Janneh Kunda and Ngaine Sanjal in the North Bank region.
