ANCSDA disburses over N95million to ten beneficiary communities/group under AN-CARES programme

The Anambra State Community and Social Development Agency (ANCSDA), has commenced the disbursement of over N95m to ten benefitting focal poor communities & group in the State for the implementation of  Anambra COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus, (AN-CARES) programme  to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on poor and vulnerable in the communities. The ten communities and group include Atani, Awa, Enugwu-Otu Aguleri, Mputu, Nzam, Igbariam, Abacha, Omasi, Amaokpala Communities and Isulo Ga-adi Mma Vulnerable Group Isulo.

The General Manager ANCSDA, Mr Chudi Mojekwu, in his remarks welcomed the new Honourable Commissioner (HC) for Economic Planning and Budget/Chairman State CARES Steering Committee, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, and all the other dignitaries and stakeholders at the occasion of Community Development Plans/Group Development Plans implementation launch for the ten communities/group under the Community and Vulnerable Groups Basic Service Delivery component of the World Bank assisted AN-CARES Programme.

According to the GM ANCSDA, the AN-CARES Programme whose Project Development Objectives (PDO) is to expand access to livelihood support and food security services, and grants to poor and vulnerable households and firms, complements Gov. Soludo administration vision of a Greater Anambra, a liveable and prosperous homeland for all including the poor and vulnerable. Mr Mojekwu thanked this first batch of Project Management Committees set-up by the Communities and Group for their resilience in coping with our hectic work pace, and stated that more communities would be supported under AN-CARES Programme by the Agency.

In her remarks, the Technical head State CARES Coordinating Unit (SCCU), Mrs Ogochukwu Orji, stated that the AN-CARES Programme is designed to restore livelihood of the poor and vulnerable, maintain food security, and facilitate the recovery of micro & small enterprises (MSEs) from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic over the next 18months to 2years. Mrs Orji informed that among the obligations of Anambra CSDA under AN-CARES Programme, is implementation of Community and Vulnerable Groups Basic Services Infrastructure which aims to provide basic services in the sectors of health, education, nutrition, water and sanitation at the community level.

In her official remarks at the event, the HC Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, in bringing felicitations from the Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to the dignatories and stakeholders at the launch, reminded that the Soludo manifesto for a Greater Anambra revolves around a liveable and prosperous homeland that is a preferred destination to live, invest, learn, work, relax and enjoy. She stated that an important part of the manifesto is a Social Agenda that places emphasis on the welfare of the poor and vulnerable in our midst. The Honourable Commissioner also informed that the State Government has disbursed the sum of One Billion Three Hundred Million Naira (N1,300,000,000) for the take-off of the AN-CARES Programme in Anambra State which is being implemented by four program results Delivery platforms and the Coordinating Unit. She thereafter on-behalf of the State Governor commended and congratulated all the benefitting Communities and Group who will be kick-starting their CDPs/GrDP implementation, and enjoined them to manage the resources they’re receiving for the project implementation judiciously.

The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of Cheques worth over N95million by HC, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, to the respective Communities and Group Project Management Committees representing the first tranche (50%) of the Agency’s total funds support to beneficiaries for the project implementation. Also, there was the signing of the Project Financing Agreement between the Agency represented by the GM and Communities/Group Project Management Committees represented by their respective Chairpersons.

In a vote of thanks, the President General Isulo Community, Hon. Sam Oguagbaka, while thanking the Agency, the Governments, and the World Bank on behalf of other beneficiaries, promised judicious execution of the approved projects for the betterment of the poor and vulnerable. And for the CPMC Chairman Nzam community, Mr Martins Nwambu, their community received the sum of N6,131,252.50 first tranche payment for the construction and rectification of water borehole across the community and also renovation of the nurses’ quarters in their Nzam community. 

The event has since ended and the dignataries and guests returned to their communities and various offices.

Nnamdi Onuzulike

Project Officer- Information, Education, Communication, and Training ANCSDA