Fatou Cham made this clarification on Thursday in Abuko during ongoing cash disbursement targeting vulnerable households in within the Greater Banjul Area.
She said some of the beneficiaries were initially skeptical about the project, with a few linking it to politics.
“Some have related it to politics when it is not. The Nafa cash transfer is a World Bank project. It is for Gambians and Non-Gambians. So, let nobody associate it with politics. We are here for the people.” She added.
Cham added that such misconception will be addressed through Social and Behavioral Change, Communication (SBCC) sessions.
The programme, she added, targets extremely poor households to alleviate poverty by disbursing D3, 000 to every beneficiary for 18 months alongside SBCC sessions.
According to her, subsequent transfers will be combined with education session on topics including Gender-based Violence, climate change, health and nutrition and positive playful parenting.
The programme now expanded to urban and peri-urban Gambia is targeting more than 4,300 vulnerable households. It is jointly supported by Government of The Gambia and the World Bank and implemented by NaNA under the Gambia Resilience, Inclusion, Skills and Equity (RISE) Project.
This marks the first time the Nafa Cash Transfer Programme is being extended to urban communities as part of efforts to strengthen social protection.
Additionally, the three year programme is funded by World Bank and implemented in collaboration with the Department of Community Development (DCD) and the Directorate of Social Welfare (DSW).
Implementing partners are conducting daily SBCC sessions with beneficiaries across communities, focusing on the objective of the programme and effective ways of utilising the cash support to improve households’ wellbeing.
