Inter-Agency Meeting on Social Protection: ACC Reaffirms Commitment to Fighting Corruption in Pro-Poor Projects
By: Sylvanus Blake, PRO-ACC
The third “Inter-Agency Meeting on Social Protection” kicked off at the Kenema District Council Hall along Nyandeyama Road in Kenema, Eastern Sierra Leone, on the 9th and 10th of August 2024. The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, international partners, and representatives from various institutions involved in Social Safety Net (SSN) programs. The event was chaired by the Hon. Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.
In his opening remarks, the Deputy Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Augustine Foday Ngobie, delivered a powerful message reaffirming the ACC’s unwavering commitment to combating corruption in all SSN-related programs and projects. He assured the Government of Sierra Leone, international partners, and all stakeholders that the ACC would remain vigilant and proactive in addressing any suspected corruption that might arise in these critical pro-poor development initiatives.
The ACC plays a crucial role in overseeing the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) component of the ongoing Government of Sierra Leone, World Bank, and UNICEF-funded $42 million Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) project. The Deputy Commissioner emphasized that the ACC would continue to raise awareness about the importance of a corruption-free rollout of these projects. He encouraged the public to report any suspected instances of corruption to the ACC and reassured them of the robust protections available for witnesses, informants, and whistleblowers under the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008, as amended.
Ngobie highlighted that the ACC’s involvement in the SSN process is to ensure that the funds and resources provided are used judiciously and for their intended purposes. “Wherever resources are provided, there will always be the risk of misuse. We shall resist such at all times. We have done it before in other SSN projects, and we shall continue to do so,” he asserted.
The Hon. Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, in his capacity as Chair of the Inter-Agency Forum Meeting for Social Protection, stressed the importance of these meetings in coordinating the rollout of SSN projects to maximize their impact and avoid resource duplication. He linked the discussions to the Government’s “Big Five Game Changers” manifesto promises, emphasizing that the agenda aims to transition from merely supporting consumption to fostering production, with SSN projects aligned to these goals.
“Social Protection is a pro-poor vehicle, and it is a good vehicle. But transitioning people out of vulnerabilities requires far more than social protection cash handouts. We must continue to coordinate our efforts to include transitioning our vulnerable people into sustainable livelihood opportunities,” the Vice President noted. He urged participants to use the two-day forum to generate ideas that would enhance coordination and success in social protection efforts.
The forum will continue with detailed and technical deliberations aimed at producing a comprehensive and well-coordinated approach to social protection in Sierra Leone. Key stakeholders at this year’s meeting include teams from international partners such as the World Bank, UNICEF, and the World Food Program; Ministers of Employment, Labour, and Social Security, Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Basic Education, and Finance; the Statistician General; Director General of NASSIT; Commissioner of NaCSA; Deputy Commissioner of ACC; Mayors from cities and municipalities across Sierra Leone; Paramount Chiefs; media representatives; and civil society organizations.
This meeting marks a significant step towards ensuring that social protection projects in Sierra Leone are not only effectively implemented but also safeguarded from the risks of corruption, thereby maximizing their potential to uplift the most vulnerable members of society.
