The government through the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) on Wednesday 18th November, 2020 with support through World Bank from the European Union commenced the process of Second Phase of COVID-19 Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) in Freetown.

The benefit size which is one million, three hundred and nine thousand Leones (Le1,309,000) per potential beneficiary will target thirty six thousand (36,000) beneficiaries which is more than the total number of beneficiaries in the ECT Pilot Programme in June this year supported by World Bank.

The disclosure was made in a press release from NaCSA’s Information Education and Communication Unit (IEC) on Tuesday 17th November, 2020.

The release states that the Commission through the World Bank has received the sum of four million, six hundred and fifty thousand Euros (EUR 4,650,000) from the European Union to commence implementation of the Phase II of the COVID-19 ECT Programme.

“In consultation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Freetown City Council and Traders’ Council, the following quota is allocated to stakeholders which include: Petty Traders – 23,000; Low paid workers in the service industry – 5,200 and workers in hotel and tourism industry – 7,400 making a total of 36,000 beneficiaries” the release averred.

In June this year, the COVID-19 ECT Programme (Pilot) implemented by NaCSA in collaboration with Statistics Sierra Leone (SSL) and Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) covered twenty nine thousand (29,000) households with vulnerable in formal sector workers including those working in micro and small enterprises and low paid workers in the services sector in the five Regional Districts Headquarters cities of Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Port Loko respectively.

The COVID-19 ECT in June followed with targeting and enrollment of thirty six thousand (36,000) extremely poor household countrywide which payment package expected to be effected at the end of November or early December this year.

All these activities by government are geared towards cushioning the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on vulnerable households in the country.The disbursement of the pay package to each verified and registered beneficiaries will be done through a Payment Service Provider.