The Imo state government through the office of his Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals and Humanitarian Services, Princess Christina Ude who is the Focal Person NSIPs Imo State, will on Monday the 11th of October, 2021, launch the United Nations Development Economic Revitalization Support Programme.
The UNDP’s Economic Revitalization Support Programme was created to support selected vulnerable communities affected by the socio-economic impact of COVID-19. The
intervention will support the reduction of risk and enhance the resilience of poor and vulnerable population who are at risk.
Uzodimma’s Aide made this affirmation while briefing Announcer newspaper Correspondent Peter Dibia in her SDGs Office located at Akanchawa road New Owerri, Beside NTA office.
The event which will take place on Monday 11th, October, 2021 at Concorde hotel New Owerri Imo state, will be attended by top Government officials from both Imo and Abia States respectively, High-level representatives from States and Local governments, civil society groups, traditional institutions, women, young stakeholders, development experts, innovators, and other relevant government agencies.
According to her, the impact of COVID-19 in Nigeria is multi-sectoral and has imposed sudden and radical shifts in the lives
of Nigerians and as such has further caused infections, deaths, and untold hardships to the most vulnerable particularly the urban poor in hotspot locations across the nation.
Therefore, the aim of this project is to
support selected vulnerable communities affected by the socio-economic impact of COVID-19.
The project, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
will last for a period of 3months (October 2021 to December 2021), and will entail quick implementation, transparent and trackable interventions to address the developmental impacts of COVID-19 in Abia and Imo a State.
Notably, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveal Imo State has the highest unemployment rate in the country. Therefore, to safeguard national progress towards the SDGs. UNDP’s economic
revitalisation programme in Imo and Abia states will ensure the continuation of livelihoods, employment and businesses, as the project programme seeks to address the socio-economic challenges posed by the pandemic in affected communities.
Ude, further stated that, this program will strengthen capacities of communities affected by the pandemic, to maintain livelihoods and business continuity, prevent loss of employment and falling into poverty, improve food security and social cohesion among vulnerable households in the affected communities and provide support to MSMEs/start-ups, enhance the capacities of the affected communities to access social protection and economic emancipation.
In addition, the growing insecurity concerns in the south east, is currently aggravating the loss of economic and livelihood opportunities for the most vulnerable people, especially the youth and women.
This project will be implemented at target locations in Abia state which is Abia North, Abia South and Abia Central while Imo State three out of the 27 local government areas in Imo State have been identified as the epicenters of the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. They are Owerri Municipal, Owerri North, and Owerri West.
It was further gathered that, the project is funded by UNDP and will be carried out through a collective partnership between the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the State Governments of Abia and Imo states. UNDP will work closely with the State Sustainable Development Goals Office (SDGs). As they serve as the focal coordinating office for the project. They will verify, consolidate, and approve all database
provided by the state.
The implementation will entail the following:
• Identification of Vulnerable Household beneficiaries and payment methods: Target
beneficiaries to receive cash transfers within carefully selected urban and rural
communities. The data for the Vulnerable Household (VHH) beneficiaries will be mined
from the National Social Register (NSR) and State Government’s database, with
coordination from the State Coordinating Operating Unit (SOCU) and verified by the State SGDs Office. An independent monitoring partner (IP) from UNDP will also ensure the
credibility of the beneficiary list. Vulnerable Household (VHH) beneficiaries will receive
four rounds of unconditional cash transfers of NGN 5,000 paid as one lump sum of
NGN20,000 per household.
• Identification of MSMEs/Start-Ups and Informal Businesses: The list of the most
vulnerable MSMEs in selected communities will be collected from existing state
government registers, NGO databases and selection of vulnerable micro and informal
businesses coordinated by the State SDG office. One-round of cash transfer grants will
be provided to selected MSMEs and monitored by an independent IP. A stipulated amount of $300 per MSME/start-up and $100 per informal businesses.
The launch will be carried out with key donors, stakeholders, and partners relevant to the project including State Government, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs (MOHA), local CSOs and Implementing Partners. UNDP will develop a strategy to facilitate the visibility of the programme throughout the
phase of the project, via its various communication channels – website, social media, and other communication outputs. Signposts, logos, and other branding strategies will also be deployed.
