By: Alieu Amara Suwu
Ministry of Youth Affairs whose mission is to create an enabling environment with positive intervention strategies that will inspire and transform the lives of youths of Sierra Leone, has presented their budget proposal for the Financial Year 2023 on Wednesday, 5th October 2022.
Making the presentation on behalf of the Ministry, Mariatu Browne, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said as one of their deliverables for 2022, was to provide 1,000 motor bikes to bike riders has not been achieved due to lack of funding.
However, she said, with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 126 motorbikes are procured and distributed to district youth councils and chiefdom youth councils. This she described as one of the numerous achievements in 2022.
Besides, she said, with support from UNDP, three Youth Connekt Hubs were established in Matru Jong, Kailahun and Mongor in Falaba District. Other achievements she mentioned are, the procurement process for Agro-processing machines ongoing, construction of 28 car wash at an advanced stage, construction of three fish ponds in Falaba, Tonkolili and Koinadugu -UNDP support – and 100 beneficiaries trained on Innovative Fish Farming Techniques with support from UNDP.
Challenges, she said are a contributing factor of not achieving some key deliverables which are inadequate funds, untimely disbursement of funds, poor coordination with line ministries. She added that currently, they are constrained with office space but said they bought a building at King Street where they would be permanently relocating.
For next year, to achieve key deliverables like election non-violence and substance abuse campaign, operationalisation of youth Empowerment Fund, construction of 22 car wash centres and 100 fishing boats and support to 192 chiefdom Youth Farms, NLe 9,834.9 is presented as budget for Financial Year 2023.
