The Abia State Community And Social Development Agency, CSDA Wednesday commenced the implementation and disbursement of Livelihood Grants in Abia State.
Speaking during the occasion, the General Manager, Abia CSDP Dr. Chinatu Njoku said the objective of the Livelihood Grants component of the NG-CARES “is to provide short Livelihoods, soft skills training and one-off payment to economically active and self-employed youths and women following agreed processes and procedures”.
This intervention, Dr. Njoku said is a Program for Results, P4R operation to support the State in her effort to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihood of poor and vulnerable households and micro enterprises in the State”.
This program is in partnership with Federal Government and the World Bank, he said adding that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu quickly keyed into the program utilizing six Delivery Platforms (DPs).
“Today we are here to flag off the disbursement of the grants to the first batch of one hundred and twenty (120) beneficiaries from six (6) Local Governments Areas, namely, Umunneochi, Ohafia, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Ugwunagbo and Ukwa East.
“These beneficiaries were selected from the State Social Register (SSR). The processes of targeting, enumeration, verification, facilitation, preparation and review of micro business plans cumulating in the approval of the beneficiaries were strictly followed. It is expected that another batch of 150 beneficiaries will be funded soon.
“The beneficiaries were trained by the National Directorate for Employment (NDE) on small business management to prepare them to manage their businesses better.
“The injection of these funds of between N70, 000 – N120, 000 into their businesses will definitely have direct impact on the business revival, success and improvement of livelihood of beneficiaries and a multiplier effect on the Abia economy in the long run.
This is in line with the Program Development Objective (PDO) of NG-CARES which is “to expand access to livelihood support and food security services, grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms”.
While thanking the state government, federal government and the World Bank over the Grants, he expressed his optimistism that the one hundred and twenty (120) persons that constitute the first batch of the beneficiaries will be able to conduct their businesses better and have improved livelihood.
He charged the beneficiaries to ensure that these funds are channeled to their businesses in line with the agreement signed with the Abia CSDA and Abia CARES program.
Responding on behalf of others, a beneficiary, Madam Uloma Nwachukwu thanked the CSDA over the gesture, assuring that they would use the grant judiciously.
