ESTABLISHMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT (SWCDD)
The Social Welfare and Community Development Department (SWCDD) is established at MMDAs as per Second Schedule of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936).
Strategic Overview of Social Welfare and Community Development Department
The guiding principles for functioning of the Social Welfare and Community Development Department has be formulated as follows:
Vision:
To take the lead in integrating the disadvantaged, vulnerable and excluded in mainstream of development
Mission:
The SWCD Department work in partnership with individuals, families, groups and communities to improve their social wellbeing through their active participation in promoting development with equity.
Objectives of the Establishment of Social Welfare and Community Development Department
The Social Welfare and Community Development Department exist to
(a) facilitate the mobilization and use of available human and material resources to improve the living standards of individuals, groups, families and communities within an effectively decentralised system of administration.
(b) Prevent and respond to social exclusion and mal adjustment within the context of national and sub national development efforts Also the Department;
a) Shall assist the Assembly to formulate and implement social welfare and community development policies within the framework of national policy.
b) Shall assist and facilitate provision of community care services
c) Shall assist to maintain specialized residential services in the districts
d) Shall facilitate the registration and supervision of non-governmental organizations and their activities in the district
e) Shall assist to organize community development programmes to improve and enrich the socio – economic lives of the populace Social Welfare and Community Development Department Operational Manual 11
f) Shall train community groups in employable skills to improve their income levels
g) Shall collaborate and network with governmental and non-governmental Institutions
General Functions and Responsibilities of Social Welfare and Community Development Department
a. facilitate community-based rehabilitation of persons with disabilities;
b. assist and facilitate provision of community care services including:
(i) registration of persons with disabilities;
(ii) assistance to the elderly;
(iii) personal social welfare services;
(iv) hospital welfare services;
(v) assistance to street children, child survival and development; and
(vi) socio-economic and emotional stability in families;
c. assist to maintain specialized residential services in the districts;
d. facilitate the registration and supervision of non-governmental organizations and their activities in the district;
e. justice administration – assist children and adults in contact and conflict with the law;
f. register and supervise early childhood development centres;
g. assist to organize community development programmes to improve and enrich standard of living through:
(i) Organise literacy and adult education programme;
(ii) Mobilise voluntary contributions and communal labour for the provision of facilities and services such as water, schools, library, community centres and public places of convenience;
(iii) Teach deprived women in home management, child care
(iv) Offer employable and sustainable skills training for the youth.
(v) Promote and provide alternative livelihood empowerment skills for the deprived in the communities
(vi) Promote entrepreneurial skills, business support services and linkages to financial institutions to beneficiaries of skills training programme
(vii) Mobilise and train voluntary leaders and community-based organisations as change agents in the communities
h. Provide extension services to governmental and non-governmental organisations
i. Facilitate the roll out of the Child Protection tool kits through community engagement and dialogue