Luanda - The Angolan Executive asked this Monday for the support of the World Bank (WB) to expand the network of Community and Health Development Agents (CHDA) throughout the country, for their role in fighting poverty and promoting community welfare.
ANGOP has learnt that CHDA are selected local citizens, trained and endowed with the knowledge to work under the supervision of the Social Initiative Support Fund (SISF), in identifying and supporting the resolution of difficulties in the areas of education, health and basic sanitation in the community, with particular emphasis on the more remote and deprived areas.
Available data indicate that the SISF currently has 1,183 CHDA, framed in 54 teams, engaged in the Kwenda implementation process.
Within the framework of the implementation of the Social Protection Strengthening Programme "Kwenda", CHDA works in the process of raising awareness and registering beneficiaries, as well as in the distribution of support.
According to the minister of State for Social Matters, Carolina Cerqueira, who was speaking during an audience with the regional director of the World Bank for Angola, Jean Christople Carret, the increase in CHDA is part of the Executive's strategy to strengthen the social programmes in implementation, taking into account the positive experience gained through the execution of the Kwenda programme.
Carolina Cerqueira highlighted the action of CHDAs, as they constitute the bridge between the Executive and the communities, in the implementation of projects for the benefit of the most vulnerable families.
Regarding the Angolan Executive's request, Jean Christople Carret expressed the WB's willingness to support the government, taking into account the results achieved with Kwenda and the role of CHDA in this field, a reference that the international financial institution considers to be very positive.
The senior World Bank official considered the Kwenda's transparent manner and level of execution commendable, mentioning it as an example of good practices in the implementation of social transfer programmes, a factor that increases the credibility of the Angolan Executive in the international arena, as well as the trust of the beneficiaries.
Jean Christople Carret said that he had also received information from minister Carolina Cerqueira on the actions of the Executive in combating the drought in the south of the country, on the programme for the inclusion of young girls in the formal learning process, with a view to combating school desistance, in addition to information on ongoing programmes to reduce poverty and the Executive's efforts to vaccinate and fight against Covid-19.
The goal of the Kwenda Programme for the current year is to register 700.000 beneficiaries, with 407.814 beneficiaries on the list as recorded until June, a process that should cover a total of 15.000 households.
The Executive intends to reach 300.000 households by the end of the current year, through this vast project, which includes, in addition to financial social transfers, the municipalisation (decentralization) of social action programmes, a single social registry and the productive inclusion of families.
At the initiative of the Government of Angola, the Kwenda aims to support families in poverty and vulnerability throughout the country’s eighteen provinces.
Valued at $420 million, KWENDA is financed with $320 million by the World Bank and the remaining $100 million by the National Treasury.
