The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) through the Sierra Leone Community Driven Development Project Phase Two (SLCDDll-Gietrenk) in Partnership with its Value-Chain and Livelihood Development Service Provider, Partners in Relief and Development Sierra Leone (PaRD) has concluded a 9 days Training of Trainer (TOT) workshop on Micro Enterprise Group Formation.

The training which was held in Kenema City from 11th – 19th March, 2019 targeted NaCSA field staff and other partners implementing the Livelihood and Small, Medium Enterprise Development component of the Project.

In his key note address, while declaring the session open the NaCSA Senior Director Programmes, Mohamed Rashid Bah disclosed that the GIETRENK project is one of the biggest projects in the Commission which encompasses all eight policy clusters in the new Medium Term National Development Plan of the New Direction Government.

The importance of the training he noted, is to equip participants with the relevant skills to ensure effective targeting/selection of Micro Enterprise Groups (MEGs).He assured participants that with the current leadership of NaCSA and the overarching policy environment created by the New Direction National Development Plan lunched by H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, NaCSA has the appropriate political will and environment to perform in the upcoming years. Senior Director Bah reiterated the need for staff to be committed and attentive throughout the session and encouraged them to demonstrate high level of diligence during the training.

Speaking on the purpose of the training, the Director Field Operations, SainkuFofanahdisclosed that the training is geared towards giving NaCSA field staff the requisite skills in the formation of Micro Enterprise Groups in communities across the country as well as to engage Stakeholders in community sensitization. Director Fofanah highlighted the key criteria involved in forming MEGs and implored all to take cognizance of these in the training.

In his address, the Resident Minister East, Andrew Fatorma commended NaCSA, describing it as one of the few institutions in the country working in line with theNew Direction Policy of the Government. He speciallycited the area of youth capacity building and development in agriculture through theprovision of direct support in the form of finance, market information, technology and technical advice to youth to engage in commercial agriculture and agro-processing activities, which are all centralto the Government`s recently launched Mid Term Development Plan.

Making the opening remarks, the Chairman Kenema District Council Mohamed O'level Sesay registered his appreciation for being part of the event, especially at the opening session of the training. He implored participants to take the training seriously and to replicate it in the various communities. NaCSA, he said is a credible institution that delivers on its mandate and expectations. He furthered wished all well in the deliberations.

In his statement, the Honorable Member of Parliament Mohamed Festus Lansana of constituency 015 gave a brief overview of the SLCDD project, noting that it is geared towards reducing poverty in Sierra Leone. Hon. Lansana commended NaCSA for complimenting the work of Local Councils with specific reference to Lower Bambara Chiefdom, which he represents in Parliament.

Civil Society members at the occasion expressed satisfaction over the rationale for the training and commended NaCSA for involving them, and encouraged other development agencies to do same. Civil Society activist, Augustine Sannoh assured NaCSA of their commitment in monitoring as well as in providing follow-up on the various NaCSA projects and activities within the Kenema District.

Women's Leader Doris Lansana expressed similar sentiments about NaCSA, especially in the area of female representation in its projects. She commended NaCSA and expressed the need for NaCSA management to empower more women.