1. 1 REPUBLIC OF SIERRA SIERRA LEONE NATIONAL SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMME ( SOCIAL ASSISTANCE ) MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY REGIONAL EXPERTS GROUP MEETING ON SOCIAL PROTECTION DAKAR, SENEGAL 9-11 JUNE 2008 REPUBLIC OF SIERRA SIERRA LEONE NATIONAL SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMME ( SOCIAL ASSISTANCE ) MINISTRY OF EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY REGIONAL EXPERTS GROUP MEETING ON SOCIAL PROTECTION DAKAR, SENEGAL 9-11 JUNE 2008

2. 2 A MAP SIERRA LEONE Location : West Coast of Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean. Area : 71.740 sq k.m (29,925 sq. miles) Regions : North, East, South and West Region. Capital City : Freetown ( Western Region ) Provincial Capitals : Makeni,Northern Region ; Bo,Southern Region; Kenema, Eastern Region Chiefdoms / Communities : 156 Population : 4.8 million ( SIHS, 2004.) Illiteracy Rate : 74% Mortality Rate : 158.27/1000 live births Poverty Rate : 70% (Less than a dollar per day.)

3. 3 OVERVIEW Sierra Leone is now in a transition period from civil conflict to post-war construction. Sierra Leone is in dire need for reconstruction and rehabilitation for resettlement due to 11 years of civil war.

4. 4 BACKGROUND I Why National Social Safety Net ? II What is Social Safety Net ? I Why National Social Safety Net ? A.Provision of social assistance to the vulnerable, viz - Food Security - Medical - Shelter B Access to rehabilitation in the case of the disabled C Vocational training and employment II What is Safety Net ? Safety Net could be defined as a programme which provides social assistance to the poor and needy.

5. 5 OBJECTIVES To provide support to the poorest among the vulnerable groups where they are not being reached by existing interventions Reduce extreme poverty among the vulnerable groups Restore the dignity and cultural values among vulnerable groups Create a sense of belonging within the community Reduce interdependency

6. 6 Eligibility Criteria Persons eligible for Social Assistance should meet the following Minimum Criteria: Have no regular income. Have no regular means of support. Unable to work. For the old and needy must be 60yrs and above.

7. 7 TARGET GROUP: TARGET GROUP: Older people. Orphans and other vulnerable Children (OVC). Widow Disabled Youths.

8. 8 SSN PILOT CASH TRANSFER SCHEME: Current Social Protection Intervention The SSN adopted the Cash Transfer Scheme as an interim measure to reduce the sufferings of the aged population. Cash transfers are often considered as the most efficient way of transferring resources to vulnerable people. They are more flexible than in- kind transfers.

9. 9 OBJECTIVES OF THE PILOT CASH TRANSFER SCHEME Reduce extreme poverty among the chronically poor aged destitute in 65 Chiefdoms/Communities. Obtain practical information on the viability and costs associated with cash transfers.

10. 10 Eligibility Criteria Eligibility Criteria 60 yrs. and above. Have no regular source of income. Have no regular support from family or community. Unable to work.

11. 11 Implementation Strategy Implementation Strategy The pilot scheme targets specifically the extremely needy and incapacitated aged persons. Targeting is done at chiefdom and sectional level. The scheme uses existing Chiefdom Committees including SSN Officers. Based on individual assessment beneficiaries are provided with a regular contribution to their livelihood.

12. 12 RATIONALE RATIONALE Due to economic hardship 95% (16,046 persons) of the aged targeted are extremely poor. These extremely poor aged have never been reached by humanitarian organization. 65% (10,978 persons) of beneficiaries are chronically ill. 35% (5,912 persons) of the aged are disabled and have no self help potential. 70% (11,823 persons) of the them are widows. These aged person needed regular social assistance to enhance their livelihood.

13. 13 Targeting Structure SSNCC Identify Using Form A1 SSN Officers + SSNCC Verify & Register Using For A2 & B PC- Chairman SSNCC Endorsed Form B SSN Management Approves Form B NASSIT TASK FORCE + SSNMGT Make Final APPROVAL PAY POINTS AND TIMELINE Determine by SSNMGT & SSNCC. Abbreviation: PC – Paramount Chief SSNCC - Social Safety Net Chiefdom Committee SSNMGT- Social Safety Net Management NASSIT - National Social Security and Insurance Trust.

14. 14 TYPE & LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE Cash: Based on daily food consumption needs = Le 200,000 (US $ 68) per person for six months. The overall cost of the pilot was Le 3.746b(US $ 1.270m) 16,890 persons were targeted costing = Le 3.396b ( US $ 1.151m) Administrative costs was Le 350m (US $118, 644.07) 65 out of 156 Chiefdoms were covered.

15. 15 Monitoring LESSONS LEARNT A. COMMUNITY PERCEPTION  Wide spectrum of community ownership of the programme.  Community stakeholders feel relieved as the incidence of street begging drastically reduced.  Reunification of family connections.  Community appreciated the scheme. B. ECONOMIC IMPACTS ON COMMUNITIES.  Local business people realize more sales during payment periods.  Marked improvement in the local economies.

16. 16 C. Implementation Strategy Administrative costs were kept at 9.3% while 90.7% funds reached the actual beneficiaries. Registration and pay points at chiefdom and sectional level allows full the participation of target beneficiaries. Social Safety Net Chiefdom Committees were provided with basic training in targeting procedures since the management was inadequate to implement the scheme. Targeting was high and compares well to the SSN Concept Paper 35% of beneficiaries are elderly disabled 18% (1,065 persons) of which are blind. 70% of beneficiaries are elderly widow majority of who have three or more dependant.

17. 17 D. Utilisation of Cash Transfers 55% (9,290 persons) of beneficiaries invested their cash through their caretakers. 33% (5,574 persons) bought food and condiment upon receipt of cash. 2% (338 persons) use their cash to seek medical attention. The sick and the disabled elderly benefited more. Few cases of misuse of funds was reported. 73% hardly go with less than two meals a day.

18. 18 Challenges Sustainability: Beneficiaries needed regular cash transfers. This calls for long- term budget by the government and donor commitment. Awareness: Increasing demand for the extension of the scheme to other chiefdoms (replication) Administration: Increase the number of staff and capacity building at all levels. Logistics: Improve on logistics: - Transportation - Office equipments - equipments

19. 19 WAY FORWARD Donor assistance to empower SSN undertake proposed Community Farming Scheme in 149 Chiefdoms. Government be prepared to increase the present budget to extend the social cash transfer to other chiefdoms this year - 2008 Donors and Government prepared to support SSN Housing scheme for older people and other vulnerable groups in 12 districts in the regions and Western Area. Consultancy on Capacity Building/ Resource mobilization is urgently needed. To establish National Social Safety Net Trust Fund in Sierra Leone. More direct action is required to involve all stakeholders To enhance SSN regional secretariats.

20. 20 THANK YOU CONTACT : Hon. Minkailu Mansaray Minister of Employment and Social Security New England Ville Freetown Mr Abubakar Sadique Kamara,Director National Social Safety Net Programme Tel :232-76-754-473/033-361-373 Email: kamabs40@yahoo.com Foday Conteh, Senior Monitoring and Evaluation officer, Ministry of Employment and Social Security Tel : 232-76-727-224/232-77-966-550 Email: fofy_conteh74@yahoo.com Consultant : Rev. Augustine Lansana Tel: 232-76-237-457