The Department of Social Welfare and Community Development is responsible for promoting social protection, community empowerment, and the overall well-being of individuals, families, and vulnerable groups within the Municipality.

The Department was originally established in 1946 as the Department of Social Welfare and Housing, with responsibility for social services including health, housing, education, and agriculture. Over time, its mandate evolved under various ministries. Currently, the Department operates under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

Following the promulgation of Local Instrument (L.I.) 1961, the Department of Social Welfare and the Department of Community Development were merged at the local level to form a unified department under the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), now known as the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development.

Mandate and Core Functions

In accordance with L.I. 1961, the Department performs the following core functions:

  • Assists the Assembly in the formulation and implementation of social welfare and community development policies within the framework of national policy
  • Facilitates community-based rehabilitation of persons with disabilities (PWDs)
  • Supports the provision of community care services, including:
  • Registration of persons with disabilities
  • Assistance to the aged
  • Personal social welfare services
  • Hospital welfare services
  • Support for street children and child development
  • Promotion of socio-economic and emotional stability in families
  • Facilitates the registration and supervision of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating within the Municipality
  • Organises community development programmes to improve and enrich rural life, particularly income-generating activities for women
  • Provides vocational and skills training for the poor, vulnerable, and persons with disabilities

Vision and Mission

Vision

To take the lead in integrating disadvantaged, vulnerable, and excluded persons into the mainstream of development.

Mission

To work in partnership with individuals, families, groups, and communities to improve social well-being through active participation and equitable development.

Departmental Structure

The Department is made up of two main sections:

  • Social Welfare Section
  • Community Development Section

Each section performs distinct but complementary functions to support social protection and community empowerment.

Functions of the Social Welfare Section

The Social Welfare Section focuses on protection, care, justice, and rehabilitation services, including:

  • Support for families and individuals in child maintenance, custody, paternity, abuse, and reconciliation cases
  • Implementation of Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programmes
  • Supervision and monitoring of residential homes, day care centres, and children’s homes
  • Handling domestic violence, spousal abuse, and child protection cases
  • Intervention in worst forms of child labour
  • Rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of street children and victims of human trafficking
  • Provision of alternative care such as foster care and adoption
  • Identification, registration, and needs assessment of persons with disabilities
  • Facilitation of livelihood empowerment programmes for PWDs
  • Provision of psycho-social counselling, hospital welfare services, and social education
  • Probation services, prison after-care, and representation at juvenile and family courts
  • Preparation and submission of social enquiry and investigation reports
  • Advocacy for social inclusion of children, women, the elderly, PWDs, and persons living with HIV/AIDS

Functions of the Community Development Section

The Community Development Section focuses on empowerment, education, and grassroots development, including:

  • Promotion of alternative livelihood and vocational skills for deprived communities
  • Entrepreneurial skills development and linkage to financial institutions
  • Mobilisation and training of community-based organisations and voluntary leaders
  • Conduct of community entry processes, needs assessments, and surveys
  • Organisation of adult education and community sensitisation programmes
  • Support for communal labour and self-help projects
  • Teaching home management, child care, and income-generating skills, especially for women
  • Support for preparation of budgets and Medium-Term Development Plans
  • Provision of technical support to development partners
  • Compilation of quarterly and annual reports

Service Delivery Areas

Community Development

  • Adult education
  • Support to women’s groups
  • Local economic development initiatives
  • Extension services
  • Sensitisation and mass education

Community Care

  • Partnership with non-profit organisations
  • LEAP services for orphans, the aged, and severely disabled persons
  • Support for the less privileged
  • Disbursement and monitoring of the Disability Common Fund

Child and Family Welfare

  • Supervision of day care centres
  • Inspection of children’s homes and orphanages
  • Child welfare and maintenance services
  • Child rescue and protection

Hospital Welfare

  • Counselling and social education
  • Disability advice
  • Assistance to needy patients
  • Support for pauper burials

Justice Administration

  • Court work and probation services
  • Preparation of social enquiry reports

Role in Accountability and Service Delivery

Through targeted social interventions, community empowerment programmes, and protection of vulnerable groups, the Department promotes social inclusion, accountability, and improved quality of life across the Municipality.