August 18, 2023511
REPORT ON DLIC AND CFP ENGAGEMENT
On Monday 6th January, 2025, the six (6) Reassessment Team (RT) members comprising the District Coordinating director (DCD), Two social welfare officers, district planner, statistician, and information officers met at the district assembly’s hall to draw a road map towards the execution of DLIC meeting and CFP training in the district.
The Team’s first meeting ended with all agreeing on the time and venue for the DLIC meeting and training of community focal persons on 10th & 14th January, 2025 respectively.
Mr. Kofi Kwakye, the head of social welfare and community development emphasized on the need to remain committed to timelines set for the exercise as it’s the only means to ensuring a successful program.
Below are excerpts of subsequent scheduled meetings;
DLIC MEETING
Following the first meeting, the RT, on Friday 10th January, 2025 held a meeting with DLIC on reassessment of the LEAP programme.
In his opening remarks, the District Coordinating Director, Mr. Awal A.M Suhuyini informed the committee that the LEAP Secretariat organized a training on the implementation strategies for the LEAP reassessment. It was after the training that RT was formed to sensitize all stakeholders at the sub-national levels on the programme. He postulated that at the end of the Presentation, stakeholders will be equipped with procedural strategies towards the reassessment.
The Team presented on re-assessment strategy of the LEAP programme.
In terms of highlight, participants were informed that when LEAP started, there were grants given in support of the activity. Over the years, the grant has increased from what it used to be sixteen cedis (GHS 16) per one member household to two hundred and fifty-six cedis (GHS 256) per one member household. Also, from thirty cedis (GHS 30) per four member or more households to four hundred and twenty-four (GHS 424) in same household.
LEAP households were supposed to be re-assessed in every four years. However, no reassessment has been done since 2008 due to several considerations including funding.
In recent time, commitment towards the reassessment has been high. A pilot reassessment has been concluded and a national Roll-out exercise commenced.
As at now, five hundred and forty-two (542) households within the district are benefitting from the programme. It is therefore expedient for a reassessment to be conducted.
In the process of reassessment, data collection coverage will be done by a private data collection team which will eventually, produce data and results on eligible persons.
A statistical analysis tool named the Proxy Mean Test (PMT) is used in identifying beneficiaries from the potential beneficiaries.
Stakeholders shared delight, recounting that this has been the first time they have been majorly engaged in a LEAP activity as this.
CFP TRAINING
On Tuesday 14th January, 2025, RT members engaged with Community Focal Persons (CFP’s) on the need for a reassessment and their role in ensuring a successful Reassessment of the LEAP programme.
Focal persons across the district were engaged by RT members. Participant were informed that before the LEAP took place, communities were sensitized after which focal persons were selected.
Per LEAP arrangements, reassessment should be made in every four (4) years, however since its inception in 2008, nothing of such has been carried out. This is due to certain challenges.
A reassessment is therefore necessary due to concerns that were raised by the media, makers of law and financial standing of the programme.
Community focal persons were made aware of the various eligibility criteria towards the LEAP reassessment from extreme poor who may remain or become new entrant households, poor who may be graduating households, and non-poor who may be exiting households (GSS poverty classification).
In the area of who stands to benefit from the program, orphans and the vulnerable, the aged who are above 65 years and persons with severe disabilities who cannot work stand to benefit.
As support was given by communities during the Ghana National Household Registry exercise, the CFPs were encouraged to collaborate with persons who will be discharged by Esoko to LEAP beneficiary communities.
Opportunity was given for participants to ask questions in relation to the reassessment.
FINAL RT MEETING
On Wednesday 15th January, 2025, the RT met to ascertain the level of impact of the LEAP reassessment engagement with DLIC and Community Focal Persons (CFP’s).
Mr. Kofi Kwakye, the team leader for the committee assured the members that the privately contracted group “Esoko”, are on standby with trained field enumerators to begin the reassessment exercise.
In his final remarks, he said the committee will be called upon anytime the need arises.
SIGNED
KOFI KWAKYE
(DSWO)
Add Comment