PROFILE OF SELF RELIANCE SCHEME, CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF BO, SOUTHERN REGION, SIERRA LEONE, WEST AFRICA.
Catholic Diocese of Bo Self-Reliance Scheme was established in 2005 by the mandates of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Sierra Leone, as a development institution of the former Catholic Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo. It now operates under the supervision of the new Bishop, Most Rev. Dr. Charles A. M. Campbell, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bo, as its Episcopal mandate and legal authority. The Bishop is represented by a technical Management Board comprising eight members, who function as an advisory body and an oversight to the day-to-day management of the Diocese. The Management Board meets three times in the year to plan, evaluate and take informed decisions on the operations of the Catholic Diocese of Bo Self-Reliance Scheme, and reports progress to the Bishops Conference at Episcopal meetings.
The Catholic Diocese of Bo covers a geographical area of 12,325 square km, (7660 square miles) of the Southern Region (four rural districts: Bo, Bonthe, Moyamba and Pujehun), and serves 15 parishes with a population of 1,092,657. The City of Bo which is the second Capital City in the country and the headquarters of the Southern Region is the seat of the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bo. Bo is located 235 km from Freetown, the national capital city. The Catholic Diocese of Bo has a Catholic population of approximately 50,000, and 163 Catholic Primary Schools, 16 Catholic Secondary Schools and 2 post-secondary Catholic Institutions.
Most of the populations in the stated coverage area (90%) are disadvantaged, unemployed,war-affected and socially excluded people from poor families/communities. Nevertheless, they have the potential to grow within their locality, if assisted with project implementation requirements demanded by the need to work towards enhancing their livelihood.
Needs expressed by the target beneficiaries are technically prioritized and articulated into a strategic outline. This is later consumed as working document for project implementation.
Generally, the Catholic Diocese of Bo Self-Reliance Scheme through the activities of her development team supports relief and development projects in:
- Agriculture/food security;
- Relief and rehabilitation;
- Water and sanitation activities;
- Training in livelihood skills/marketable skills
- Rural infrastructural development;
- Evangelization;
- Transport and communication; and
- Welfare of Priest of the Catholic Diocese of Bo
The Self-Reliance Scheme supports people based on needs and not race, creed, tribe, gender, religion, nationality etc.
The Self-Reliance Scheme of the Catholic Diocese of Bo is headed by a Director, who works with a team that includes Project Manager, a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Administrative and Financial Officer and various auxiliary staff such as secretary and a driver etc.
The Catholic Diocese of Bo Self-Reliance Scheme since its inception has enjoyed a favorable working relationship with Government departments, sometimes implementing projects in close collaboration with the relevant International NGOs, Line Ministries and departments/CBOs/community leaders, etc.
The Self-reliance Scheme of the Catholic Diocese of Bo has a strong technical member of the inter-agency and Diocesan forum in the southern districts of operation and the country at large, which are coordinated by the Church and Government Institutions.
This body also serves as oversight to the operations of all Local and international NGOs in the country and vets the technical ability of implementing agencies under their jurisdiction. Catholic Diocese of Bo benefits from technical support rendered by the Church, Government and collaborating agencies as the need may be.
To enhance sound financial management and accountability, Self Reliance Scheme of the Catholic Diocese of Bo operates a computerized accounting system for recording and reporting on all financial transactions. The accounting system includes the production of monthly reports and quarterly variance reports based on management accounting that shows planned, actual expenditure and balance.
The personnel of Self Reliance Scheme of the Catholic Diocese of Bo works under a structured ORGANOGRAM and the STANDARD OF ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE COMMUNITY AND BENEFICIARIES FOR ALL HUMANITARIAN AND DEVELOPMENT WORKERS IN THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF BO AND SIERRA LEONE.