With support from Trócaire, Caritas Freetown, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Freetown City Council (FCC), government institutions and community stakeholders, has provided Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) to 80 vulnerable beneficiaries in Bottom-Oku, Moa-Wharf and Moyiba.
The cash assistance was distributed on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen the resilience of disaster-vulnerable households, support livelihood recovery and help families meet essential needs following their exposure to disaster risks.
The intervention forms part of Caritas Freetown’s ongoing efforts to support vulnerable communities to prepare for, cope with and recover from the impacts of disasters.
Through the intervention, each of the 80 selected beneficiaries received NLe 3,480 in cash assistance. The support is intended to enable beneficiaries to address priority household needs while also investing in small-scale livelihood activities that can contribute to improved household income and economic resilience.
The beneficiaries were identified through a vulnerability-based selection process, with priority given to households considered particularly vulnerable to the impacts of disasters. A registration and verification exercise was conducted to ensure that beneficiaries were properly identified and met the eligibility criteria for the assistance.
Prior to the cash distribution, beneficiaries participated in a financial literacy session designed to help them understand how to manage and use the assistance responsibly. The session encouraged beneficiaries to prioritise essential household needs, productive livelihood activities and investments that could contribute to their economic stability and preparedness for future emergencies.
Speaking during the distribution, the Acting Programme Manager, Madam Eliza G. O. C. Sillah, explained the purpose of the Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance and the wider project intervention.
Madam Sillah said the MPCA is intended to provide vulnerable households with the flexibility to respond to their most pressing needs while supporting their recovery and resilience. She encouraged beneficiaries to use the assistance responsibly and in ways that would contribute to improving their livelihoods and strengthening their ability to cope with future shocks.
She also provided an overview of the project and highlighted the importance of collaboration among Caritas Freetown, Trócaire, NDMA, FCC, government institutions and community stakeholders in ensuring that vulnerable households receive timely and appropriate support.
The cash distribution took place at Rokel Commercial Bank in Wellington, where beneficiaries arrived from approximately 8:30 a.m. with their coupons, which served as authorisation for them to access the assistance.
The distribution process was organised to ensure transparency, accountability and orderly access to the cash assistance.
Also speaking during the activity, the Safeguarding Focal Person for Caritas Freetown, Madam Grace Jones, provided beneficiaries with important information on Caritas Freetown’s safeguarding policy.
Madam Jones explained that safeguarding is an important part of the organisation’s work and encouraged beneficiaries to report any form of misconduct, abuse, exploitation, harassment or other safeguarding concerns involving staff, volunteers or other individuals associated with the intervention.
She further explained that beneficiaries should not remain silent if they experience or witness any safeguarding violation. She provided the appropriate contact numbers and channels through which complaints and concerns could be reported, assuring beneficiaries that the available reporting mechanisms are intended to help protect them and ensure that concerns are properly addressed.
The safeguarding session also encouraged beneficiaries to use the established feedback and complaints mechanisms to report challenges, ask questions and provide suggestions regarding the project and the assistance they received.
Representatives from Trócaire and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) were also present during the distribution to observe the process, interact with beneficiaries and support the documentation of the intervention.
As part of the activity, selected beneficiaries were interviewed to understand their experiences, immediate needs and plans for using the cash assistance. The interviews provided beneficiaries with an opportunity to share how the support would contribute to meeting their household needs and supporting livelihood activities.
For many of the beneficiaries, the assistance provides an opportunity to respond to immediate household priorities while taking steps towards rebuilding their livelihoods and strengthening their preparedness for future emergencies.
The successful distribution of MPCA to 80 vulnerable beneficiaries represents an important step in supporting disaster-affected and vulnerable households across Bottom-Oku, Moa-Wharf and Moyiba.
Through continued collaboration with Trócaire, NDMA, FCC, government institutions and community stakeholders, Caritas Freetown remains committed to strengthening community resilience, supporting livelihood recovery and ensuring that vulnerable families are better prepared to withstand future disasters.
