In light of the continued low scale spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and its unavoidable socio-economic consequences, the European Union has taken the decision to extend the successful Building Resilience through Social Transfers- BReST project being implemented by UNICEF, the National Nutrition Agency NaNA and the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare until end of August 2020, according to a statement by the EU.
BReST is a successful nutrition, social protection and cash transfer project funded by the European Union in the tune of 3 million Euro and implemented by UNICEF that has been benefitting pregnant and lactating mothers with children under the age of two and has been under implementation since 2017.
The statement by EU on Thursday said: “This 3 months extension will allow for a second wave of emergency COVID-19 cash transfers to the most vulnerable households in the project implementing regions of CRR, URR and NBR. In the last few weeks, the EU BReST project already provided a first COVID-19 cash transfers of 1,500 GMD per mother and child pair.
“This second transfer intends to continue supporting the purchase of essential food and hygiene items to combat the spread of COVID-19 using funds from the final remaining financial balance under the project. It shows the commitment of the European Union to ensure EU funds directly reach the people, wherever possible.”
The European Union Ambassador to the Republic of The Gambia, H.E. Attila LAJOS: ”The European Union continues to stand in support of the Gambian people in their efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 and overcome its consequences. In this case, the EU is once again using BReST as the main conduit for cash transfers directly to the people. This project is indeed a working example that could be built on for future social protection systems in The Gambia once the COVID crisis is over.”
