GANTA, Nimba – Three cities in Nimba are expected to receive US$84,000 worth of supplies from a USAID-funded project to assist with waste management.

The in-kind non-monetary grant is intended for materials, equipment, or services for the beneficiary cities.

DAI Global, Inc., which implements the Liberia Accountability and Voice Initiative project, signed the initial agreement for Sanniquellie and Karnplay with the Nimba County Administration.

Nimba’s Superintendent D. Dorr Cooper, who signed on behalf of the county on April 19, praised the move.

“This is a fine beginning,” Cooper said. He noted that these cities have had challenges over the time with maintaining supplies and equipment related to their waste management operations.

According to Cooper, the grant agreement will last for five months and will allow the cities to generate revenue through the services they provide.

“Over the five months, these cities can raise their revenue and use it for other purposes, maybe to buy a truck for the city,” he added.

He clarified that the cities would not get the money directly, but that DAI would make the purchases on their behalf.

“This is not an agreement that will allow money to come to you for you to decide on what to do with it for your city,” Cooper said. “The donor themselves will do the purchasing of these materials and bring it for the city.”

Cities like Ganta have had issues managing their waste, often resulting in streets that are littered with trash. In the past, Ganta’s city corporation has blamed the poor waste management on the lack of vehicles to transport garbage out of the city. Because the city does not receive subsidies from the national government like its much larger counterparts in Monrovia and Paynesville, its leaders struggle to find ways to fund capital expenses for the waste management operations.

Featured photo by Arrington Ballah