World Food Program Donates Logistical Items to Ministry of Education
Like many other development partners, the relationship between the World Food Program (WFP) and the people of Sierra Leone has lasted over a long period of time dating back to the days when the current Minister of Education was attending primary school. Today, that same relationship still exists and in a much more coordinated fashion. However; and as stated by Dr. Minkailu Bah during the presentation of logistical items by WFP to the Ministry of Education in his office; Within the last few years, the relationship between the Ministry and WFP became bumpy due to some bureaucratic disconnection. At this present moment, and thanks to Mr. Gon Myers, the new WFP Country Director, the said relationship has been smoothened again through his clear demonstration of leadership and understanding of the importance of a stable partnership between the two entities. (Photo: Hon Minister Minkailu Bah; Dir. Gon Myeers (WFP Director) & Dr. Kamara (Chief Edu officer)
The items donated included 13 Honda Motor Bikes; 13 Desktop Computers; 13 HP Laserjet Printers; 13 Photocopiers; and 13 650 Watts UPS. According to the Country Director, the main objective of this donation is to assist the Ministry of Education in its effort to strengthen the National School Feeding Programme so as to help build government’s capacity to take ownership of the programme; thereby enhancing quality improvement and ensuring accountability.
In addition to this, WFP has also maintained one staff from the Ministry of Education for a 2 year work period to serve in the National School Feeding Coordination Unit with a plan to recruit 13 other Monitors for the School Feeding Units in the 13 Districts for the same 2 year work period. In response to the government’s “Agenda for Prosperity”, WFP also plans to support the government through the United Nations Transitional Joint Vision 2013 – 2014 with a $39.5 Million funding; part of which will help to purchase 29,000 metric tons of food from the country’s local farmers through the P4P programme for a 2 year period; thereby boosting the capacity and earning power of our local farmers. Through all of this, WFP hopes to provide meals to 260,000 primary school pupils out of an estimated target population of 1.3 Million pupils in need of such assistance. This will help to improve education and enhance girls’ attendance; thereby lending credence to WFP’s commitment to positively impact the Girl-child education in the country.
Responding to this, the Chief Education Officer, Dr. Alhaji Kamara, expressed his appreciation of WFP and the role that the organization has played and continues to play in enhancing the education of children, especially girls, at the primary school level in the country. The Minister of Education, Dr. Minkailu Bah, thanked the country Director for such remarkable gesture of goodwill and emphasized on the need for continued coordination between the two entities to foster common understanding and strengthen the relationship between his Ministry and the World Food Programme for the betterment of this nation. He pledged his unwavering commitment to furthering the atmosphere of camaraderie between his Ministry’s staff and that of the World Food Programme. The event was chaired by the Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Zainab Buya-Kamara and attended by both staff of the World Food Program and the Ministry of Education. The handing over documents were signed by both the Minister and the WFP Country director, Mr. Gon Myers.
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