NGOs representing communities in and near Bartica and Lusignan on Friday inked separate agreements with the UNDP to implement various projects to support families affected by the murder of 23 persons in their areas.
The initiative was put in place after calls from various stakeholders for a rapid response to support the victims and members of the affected communities at Lusignan and including Buxton, Annandale and other depressed areas and Bartica. The $48M initiative is intended to help rebuild the lives and livelihoods of residents and “strengthen local resi-lience, bridge the entrepreneurial skills gap and provide resources,” a press release from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said.
To date seven projects have been funded focusing on a number of activities such as income generating grants, educational grants, a computer centre and short, turnaround skills programmes for target beneficiaries. The signing ceremony paved the way for the projects to start.
UNDP said a project supporting capacity building targets 50 youth and their families from Bartica and its environs. This project, being implemented by the Hope Foundation will conduct skills training programmes and establish an Information Technology Lab/Youth Friendly Space. The African Cultural and Development Association will facilitate another project in Buxton. It will involve rearing 4,000 chickens by 40 farmers and the construction of 40 10’X10’ coops. The Ethnic Relations Commission will implement a third project focusing on community dialogue along the East Coast and at Bartica.
UNDP said the Rural Women’s Network will also conduct a project to provide assistance skills training to 13 female family members from victim’s families in Bartica and maintain and sustain the educational needs of 10 surviving children and five other dependants.
Also, the Guyana Small business Association will implement a project to support small business owners along the Coast, particularly at Lusignan. The Association will conduct basic training for 27 farmers and small business owners.
UNDP Resident Represen-tative Aboubacry Tall said the arrangements to support the families at the community level are short-term responses intended to provide a footpath to long-term sustainable livelihoods. He highlighted the government’s and DfID’s collaboration in the effort. Tall also noted the response for the partnerships with communities and NGOs in the rebuilding process. He exhorted the partner organisations to ensure that the benefits are delivered quickly and effectively to the intended people. The projects are expected to be completed over a four-month period but no later than September.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Didier Trebucq, Programme Analyst Trevor L Benn, representatives from the UK DfID, from the NGOs facilitating the projects and some beneficiaries attended the signing ceremony.
