The Federal Government says it is requesting the World Bank to support the extension of the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme with an additional financing of $500 million.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Emeka Vitalis Obi, who disclosed this at the opening of the national peer learning and experience sharing event in Abuja yesterday, said the phenomenal results achieved by the programme necessitated the clamour for the continuation of the intervention by the government.
The World Bank had earlier provided $750 million for the first phase of the programme which is to end this year.
So far over $600 million has been disbursed to the 36 states and FCT.
Formally, COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme, the initiative is to expand access to livelihood support and food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms.
Dr. Obi said, “My Ministry has forwarded a request for an extension and expansion of the programme. As i speak, the request is receiving expeditious attention of the World Bank which is processing Additional Financing to the tune of $500 million.”
He said he was pleased with the outcome of the Zonal Peer Learning and Experience Sharing events held in Minna, Niger State, Bauchi, in Bauchi State, Enugu, Enugu State, Sokoto in Sokoto State, Akure, Ondo State and Port Harcourt, Rivers State, describing it as highly successfully.
“These Events provided opportunities for stakeholders to engage constructively, share challenges faced during the cause of implementation and draw lessons from best practices,” he said, adding, “We are convening the National Peer Learning Event to further consolidate discussion on what worked, what did not work and make informed recommendations that will guide the Government and the World Bank on the redesign of the NG-CARES Programme.”
He promised that the programme’s support to the plight of the poor by addressing the challenges of multidimensional poverty will be matched by the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose administration he said, is poised to radically transform the trajectory of national development on a sustainable path of growth and prosperity.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the event, the World Bank Task Team Lead, for NG-Cares, Lire Ersado, said the peer learning and experience sharing event was very innovative because it helps the different states to learn from each other, “by knowing what worked, what did not work, why they did not work, it will be easy to work out how to make it work,” he said.
While restating that the second phase of the programme was still in the works, he said the next phase will be bigger and more impactful.
He said the next phase will focus on climate change issues and will be community driven, “because we want to learn from the people at the grassroots. They are the ones wearing the shoe, so they know where it pinches,” he said.
The World Bank Task Team Lead said that NG-Cares is needed even more now with the growing number of the needy in the country as a result of climate shock, macroeconomic shocks as well as inflation shocks.
“In the next phase, it is not going to be all comers affair, state governments wishing to join the programme must show evidence of real commitment to tackling the problem of poverty. They must show us what they have done, and what policies they have in place to drive poverty eradication,” he said.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of NG-Cares, Dr. Abdulkarim Obaje, said the NG-Cares programme has been embraced by all the states of the federation and the FCT.
He said the results coming from the states clearly show that state governors are in love with the programmes.
He promised that the second phase will be even more impactful as the experiences gained implementing the first phase will be deployed in the implementation of the second phase.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairman of Federal Cares Technical Committee (FCTC), Mrs. Elizabeth Egharevba said the Peer Learning and Experience Sharing Event was put together to provide States and FCT the opportunity to exchange knowledge, ideas, and challenges faced during the cause of implementation.
“This zonal event took place across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria,” she said. “On this note, I would like to appreciate the Governors of Niger, Bauchi, Enugu, Sokoto, Ondo, and Rivers States. Your commitment to hosting the zonal events have been invaluable, providing platforms for knowledge sharing and collaboration in the States and FCT.
“Furthermore, I would like to appreciate the support of the Chairman of the Federal CARES Steering Committee (FCSC), the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the World Bank Task Team Leader for NG-CARES, the Federal Team and the dedicated NG-CARES family across all States and the FCT. Your collective efforts have driven this Programme forward with resilience and professionalism, setting high standards in implementation and service delivery to poor and vulnerable in the country.”
She called on the participants to use the platform to engage fully in the discussions, reflecting on their achievements, exchange best practices, and foster collaboration across the States and FCT.
“It is my hope that the ideas we generate here during the course of this event will contribute meaningfully to the continued success of the NG-CARES Programme going into the Additional Financing and towards sustainable national economic recovery.”
Participants were drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT. Also in attendance were so.e state commissioners of Finance and economic planning.