Delta Govt To Launch Alternative To SEEFOR Projects

Delta State Government has disclosed its plans to establish Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economics Stimulus (CARES), in response to the demands of stakeholders to replace the State Employment and Expenditure For Results (SEEFOR) projects, which ended on September 30.

The SEEFOR projects were sponsored by the World Bank, European Union and Delta State Government.

Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) Programme would, however, maintain similar nomenclature and structures as the SEEFOR project.

The Delta State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Dr. Barry Gbe, told newsmen in Asaba yesterday, during a formal closeout programme of the SEEFOR project in the State, that the new programme, CARES would be formally rolled out during the first quarter of 2021.

While saying that the proposed new programme was conceived, following the plethora of successes recorded through the now defunct SEEFOR project, the Commissioner further explained that several presentations and appeals made to the World Bank by both the Federal and State Govern­ments for the extension of the SEEFOR project in the state and country, had constantly met a brick wall.

He said, “You might have been aware that as at September 30, 2020, the pilot phase of the SEEFOR project officially came to a close after seven years of ac­tive interventions.

“For a good number of us who came into the Steering Com­mittee in 2019 by virtue of our political appointments, the journey albeit short, had been an exciting one.

“For me, I would say that the wealth of experience I have gathered from my exposure to the SEEFOR project imple­mentation activities during this short period of time has greatly influenced my understanding and approach to the implementation of socio-economic activities in the State.

“Evidently, with the successes we recorded from the SEEFOR interven­tions in the State, we can confidently say that the project has been an all-round success.

“It was thus in view of these success­es that the State Governor, sanctioned a request to the World Bank for a second phase of the project. In response, the Bank informed us of its intentions to introduce some new portfolios that would have similar nomenclature and structures as the SEEFOR project.

“One of such being the Nigeria CO­VID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (Cares) programme which has made rapid progress in its concep­tualization stage. I am thus optimistic that with the CARES programme, some aspects of the SEEFOR initiative would be sustained,” Gbe said.