By: Josephine Nyeweah in Kenema District
The Ministry of Social Welfare Post Ebola Recovery Social Investment Fund (PERSIF) has ended two-day training for trade monitors across the nation.
Giving a brief background of the project, David Edward Lahai, Project Coordinator of PERSIF said with funds from the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Social Welfare, is implementing the Post-Ebola Recovery Social Investment Fund (PERSIF) Project with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI). Adding that the project is part of the recovery efforts of the Government of Sierra Leone aimed at restoring social and economic opportunities that were lost in the wake of the Ebola crisis which ravaged the country in 2014 and 2015. He went on that the project specifically aligns with the 2015 post-Ebola recovery plan with the following policy clusters;
- Cluster 1: Human Capital Development-healthcare Improvement through improved access to health information and quality services; effective disease prevention, control, and surveillance, including a robust response to epidemics and emergencies; well-functioning health system, with a highly skilled and motivated workforce at all levels; improved sanitation and hygiene system.
- Cluster 5: Strengthening National Systems for the Protection and Empowerment of Women focusing on access to power and resources, and other privileges.
- Cluster 7- Addressing Vulnerabilities and Building resilience- effective disease prevention, management, and response
The PERSIFproject is geared towards enhancing the recovery and resilience of former Ebola-hotspot communities in the Western Area (Urban and Rural); cross-border communities with Guinea and Liberia and selected districts- Port Loko, Bombali, Kailahun, Kenema, Falaba, Kambia and Kono.
The project was designed to support the long-term recovery efforts in the targeted communities across the Eight (8) Districts that were severely affected by Ebola. This initiative will support targeted economic and social recovery initiatives through the Restoration of Basic Social Services and Revival of Local Economic Opportunities, with a particular focus on EVD Survivors and women through job creation and income-generating activities.
Director of Entrepreneurial and Industrial Development in the Ministry of Trade and Industry Mickail Nilson Turay said similar training has gone on in Makeni for the North and now in Kenema for the east.
He said the training will transfer skills to women in cross-border and other women in the communities to see that they do their business in a good atmosphere under the trade laws. He further explained that the contribution of the local level is very critical to the Country’s GDP and the promotion of local economic development. Women Entrepreneurs make up more than 50% of the small-scale businesses in Sierra Leone but sadly this demographic significance does not translate into meaningful economic benefits for these traders. The scale of women-led businesses and the potential can be better harnessed if the supportive measures are put in place. Due to the informal nature of the local businesses and limited knowledge of the female traders on business advisory services and general support, the growth pole of most of these of women-owned investments have been stagnated. Women led SMEs are now in vogue considering their potentials in promoting local economic development.
The goal of the training he said the Trade Monitors are empowered and better positioned to provide Business Advisory Services that engenders effective information and guidance to rural women entrepreneurs, with the specific objectives
- To Strengthen the knowledge and skills of Trade Monitors on use and manage economic infrastructure at the local level
- To make business information services at the MTFILs very attractive and relevant for better outcomes
- To enhance Monitors knowledge on Domestic and International trade policies, laws, frameworks and agreements and international best practices, standards and processes that can enhance businesses.
