Yusupha Manneh, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Janjangbureh Area Council has said that the Community Driven Development Project (CDDP) will start operating in 24 villages within the Janjangbureh Local Government Area in six wards.

 The project is meant to help the communities to initiate their own development priorities that they believe will ease the hardship encountered at grassroots level.  

CEO Manneh made this revelation to the Daily Observer on Wednesday at his office in Janjanbureh. He said allocation of funds will be based on the size of the Village Development Committee (VDC) and Ward Development Committee (WDC) adding that the villages and wards are not equal.

"The projects to be funded at VDC level will not be less than $10,000 and at ward development committee level will not be less than US$20,000," he revealed.
 
He asserted that CDDP aims primarily at empowering communities to express their demands with effect and assume responsibility for their implementation and sustainability.  He urged both the VDCs and WDCs to work as a team for the benefit of their communities.  

CEO Manneh finally stated that his council is ready to support the communities at all times.

The financial controller of Kuntaur Local Government Area Council, Lamin Njie, said local government authorities will be responsible for disbursing the formula-based grants for development activities at village and ward levels.