APPLE - Association of People for Practical Life Education (Accountable Grant £42,571.05)

The Association of People for Practical Life Education was incorporated in1977 in Accra, Ghana as a Company limited by guarantee with its head office in Accra and a field office at Atebubu in the Brong Ahafo Region. APPLE is a non-governmental, non-political, private organization serving English speaking West Africa. The association researches regional and community development needs and mounts responsive Programs in rural community development that includes such components as non formal education, production of learning materials, rural extension, cottage industry and water resources development.

APPLE currently employs 12 field workers and two part time administrators. They have an in-depth inventory of qualified and experienced field and administrative personnel. The organisation’s main areas of interest include: Adolescent Reproductive Health; Training for women and income generating; Water and sanitation (environment); Advocacy; Family planning and Population related issues; Child labour and Trafficking; Youth development; Child and human rights; HIV/AIDS; and micro Credit for women

The Past and present sponsors of APPLE include
1. USAID - Ghana
2. UNIFEM - UNDP
3. PIACT/PATH - USA
4. IFAD - Ministry of Agriculture
5. German Agro - Germany
6. Advocate for Youth - USA
7. Save the Children’s Fund - UK
8. FAWE/Alliance Girls’ Education - Ghana
9. CEDPA - USA
10. Free the Slaves - USA
11. Global fund for children - USA
11. Geneva Global - USA
12. RAVI - Ghana

APPLE is partnering with RAVI directly to undertake citizen government engagement for the prevention of Child Trafficking with the aim of contributing to the enforcement of the Human Trafficking Act (694), Children’s Act (560) and the1992 constitution of Ghana “CHILDREN’S RIGHTS” Chapter 5 section 28(1,2,3,4 & 5) by empowering parents, guardians, traditional authority and other key stakeholders to engage Government (to demand their rights) on the right to rescue, rehabilitation, re-integration and compensation of victims as enshrined in the Act. The specific Objectives of the project are:
1. To appraise the level of enforcement of the Human Trafficking Act in the three targeted Regions
2. To create awareness on the need to enforce the law in the targeted Communities and institutions
3. To strengthen the law-enforcing capacity of selected duty bearers in the four targeted Districts
4. To promote sustained advocacy for the enforcement of the law at the District, Regional and National levels

The geographical locations of the project are the endemic sending areas in the Volta and Central Regions and the endemic receiving areas in the Brong Ahafo Region.

CAD - Centre for Active Development (Accountable Grant £41,780.97)

A group of Ghanaians interested in combating urban and rural poverty founded Centre for Active Development in 1999 as a voluntary organization. It was registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee in 2001. Its headquarters is in Sunyani with branch offices in Kenyase (Asutifi District), Bolgatanga (Bolgatanga Municipality) and New Edubiase (Adansi East District). CAD operates in a national framework within which it promotes plans and implements development interventions in poor and deprived communities of Ghana. It collaborates with different development actors especially, grassroots associations, NGOs, public and private institutions. Its current partners include ActionAid International Ghana, Ghana AIDS Commission, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Community Water and Sanitation and several Ghanaian NGOs and CBOs.

The focus of CAD’s interventions is on poverty reduction and rights promotion with special interest in agriculture and food security, good governance, women empowerment, HIV/AIDS and micro-financing. CAD has a well-structured governance system with good internal control systems typified by the presence of a Strategic Plan and Human Resource Manual.
The Centre has Grain Banks in the Asutifi District and Tano North Districts; Micro-project projects in Asutifi, Tano South, Bolgatanga and Adansi East Districts. It has almost concluded an agreement with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to implement a ¢1.3 billion Youth-In-Agriculture Project in 3 Districts in the Brong Ahafo Region. It is a member of the Brong Ahafo Network of NGOs (BANGO).

The CAD/RAVI District Accountability Project (DAP) seeks to improve citizen engagement with the state in 20 communities selected from four districts namely: Asutifi and Tano South in the Brong Ahafo Region, and Garu-Tempane and Bawku West in the Upper East Region of Ghana, where CAD will directly implement the project.
The goal of the project is to contribute to citizens’ participation in effective local revenue mobilisation and utilization for development. With the specific objectives of the project being:
i. To study the system on how local revenue is mobilized and utilised for development and the level of involvement of community members in the four districts by the end of the first quarter of the project period.
ii. To build the capacity of 60 District Accountability Volunteers (DAV) to enable them to engage with government throughout the life of the project period.
iii. DAs in the target districts will establish systems to regularly account to the people concerning the mobilisation and utilisation of local revenue.
iv. DAs in the target districts to erect and manage accountability bill boards on locally revenue mobilization and utilization
v. DAs will establish effective revenue mobilisation systems in the target districts

The project uses the rights-based approach to development that will help to promote dialogue between rights holders and duty bearers to enable the latter meet their obligations, respect, protect and fulfil rights. Central to the idea of human rights will be the improvement of relationship between right holders and duty bearers in terms of revenue collection and utilisation. It is hoped that duty bearers will fulfil their responsibilities towards right holders whilst at the same time right holders will be empowered to claim their rights from duty bearers. Care will be taken to ensure that there will be mutual respect for each other in demanding rights or fulfilling responsibilities. This approach is expected to increase the impact and sustainability of development interventions by addressing the root causes and by changing power relations.

CIVFO - The Civic Foundation (Accountable Grant £61,905.33)

Following the finding by a National Governance Workshop survey in 1997 that public awareness of Governance Institutions by rural communities and marginalized Ghanaians was exceptionally low, a team of communication experts and social scientists was commissioned by the then National Institutional Renewal Programme [NIRP] to develop and implement a Communication and Publicity Campaign to redress the defect. The campaign which was sponsored by the UNDP under its first Country Cooperation Framework [CCF 1] was implemented in two phases in twenty-two districts.

Significant among the positive outcomes of the campaign was that the poor and marginalized people, when given equal opportunity, can be amazingly resourceful, build strong and sustainable organizations, are capable of enormous generosity and solidarity, and can be successful in improving the quality of life in their communities. They are also able to generate participation and accountability mechanisms, and help safeguard the emergence of democratic leadership.

Hence, some members of the implementation team, led by Dr. Kwesi Appiah, a social scientist, resolved to advance the course of this finding by committing themselves to activities that promote and develop programmes that seek to organize and build capacities of rural communities to participate effectively in local democracy and good governance. It was through these noble concerns that Civic Foundation came into being.

The Civic Foundation (CIVFO) is an independent, non-profit organization based in Accra, with a network of Civil Society Organizations in 31 administrative districts in the country. The Foundation has been supported by the UNDP under the Consolidating Democratic Governance Programme.

The mission of the Foundation is to promote informed, responsible participation in civic life by citizens committed to values and principles fundamental to democracy. Its vision is to be a unique international network delivering innovative communication for effective democratic culture.

It has implemented a number of programmes that seek to empower community members and grassroots institutions to be committed to democratic governance and strengthen their interactions with governance institutions. The programme engages CBOs in promoting and protecting civil rights, and ensures that citizens have the means to express their preferences, engage in dialogue with policy-makers, and affect decisions in the public realm. These programmes, which employed Theatre for Extension Communication (TEC) have gained popularity in all the project areas and have been highly commended by the chiefs and people in these communities.

The Foundation administers a wide range of community-based programs, the principal goals of which are to help civil society groups develop:

• An increased understanding of the institutions of democracy and the fundamental principles and values upon which they are founded.
• The skills necessary to participate as effective and responsible citizens.
• The willingness to use democratic procedures for making decisions and managing conflict.

CIVFO has collaborated with key Governance Institutions like CHRAJ, NCCE, the Judiciary, and NMC, in establishing platforms for the institutions to inform the communities about their roles and functions, using their Civic School programme. One of the many significant outcomes from this initiative has been the institution of the Judiciary Outreach Programme.

Under the CIVFO/RAVI Judicial Watchman Project, the ultimate aim/goal of the Foundation is to help improve the quality of the country’s justice system by ensuring that the system is just and fair to the interests of citizens. The programme will build the capacity of NGOs and the Media, to enable them engage the Judiciary to effectively use open record laws, International Code of Ethics for judiciary (and possibly the Freedom of Information Act, when passed) to achieve goals of accountability and openness in the Judiciary. The programme, which will be implemented directly by CIVFO will seek to ensure high ethical standards in the judiciary through monitoring activities and the use of the judicial ethics process to hold judges accountable.

Activities of the programme will provide the basis for strong educational outreach to Ghanaians. Public education programs will include public fora, opinion editorials (op-eds), publications, media outreach, radio and news television appearances, and Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues Sessions with the Judiciary.

Through the publication of special reports the public will be educated on abuses and misconduct by judicial officials and will advocate for the need for an ethical, law abiding and moral civic culture within the institution. This educational effort will also be pursued through an Internet site where many of the open records documents, legal filings, and other educational materials would be made available to the public and media.

The effort will include direct mailings to several Ghanaians and will educate the public on the operations of the judiciary and increase public awareness if corruption and misconduct exists.

Primarily, the programme would focus on the district (lower) courts since they are the first point of call for most people who would be coming into contact with the courts. Judicial Service Performance Records also indicate a significant case load at this level. Although the broader programme ultimately aims at covering all the 138 districts of the country, five regions have been selected for this particular phase of collaboration with RAVI. In each region, two districts have been chosen for the implementation of the project as shown on the table below:

CENTRAL REGION: Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem District (Elmina) & Agona dist (Swedru) GREATER ACCRA REGION: Ga West District (Amasaman) & Dangme West (Dodowa)
VOLTA REGION: North Tongu District (Adidome) & Sogakope District (Sogakope)
EASTERN REGION: Suhum Craboa Koaltar (Suhum) & West Akim (Asamankese)
WESTERN REGION: Ahanta West District (Agona Ahanta) & Nzema East (Axim)

CODAC - Community Development and Advocacy Centre (Accountable Grant £64,941.84

The Community Development and Advocacy Centre (CODAC) ) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in 2001 as a community development and advocacy organization working to eradicate poverty, and make substantial improvements to the knowledge, attitude and practice of accountability in governance at all levels of society. Its key aims and objectives are to empower the poor, promote policy advocacy that removes obstacles that stand in the way of the poor thereby preventing them from participating in issues that affect them.

The Vision of the organization is an enabling environment that provides equal opportunities for all people in society. Their mission is organize communities and equip them with the necessary information, skills and technical know how essential for empowering them to access opportunities and improve their human rights.

CODAC has 10 workers comprising of 5 permanent staff and 5 volunteers, an office space of four rooms/offices, 3 desk top computers, one computer one printer , 4 motor bikes, telephone and one vehicle ( Toyota Pick up).
CODAC has worked in partnership with other NGOs/CSOs at the local, regional and national levels to implement projects that are related to what they have proposed to use RAVI funding for.
The projects include;
• Children’s Rights: This project was aimed at promoting the rights of children through rights-based activities for the implementation of policies and frameworks to promote and protect the rights of children, and campaigns on children’s’ issues.
• Community Development: promotes networking and capacity building through the sharing of resources between community groups and individuals.
• Women and Governance Programme: The Women and Governance programme strengthens local democracy by promoting, sustaining and enhancing women’s role in the District Assembly structures in the Upper East Region (UER), through a multi-disciplinary programmes implementation. The Project works in partnership with DAs, traditional leaders, a network of women’s organizations and community-based organisations, to support women’s claim to gender equality and enhance women’s role in local democracy through training, capacity building of community based organizations, and child support.
• Facilitate capacity building training for community based organizations on advocacy, lobbying and influencing the involvement of women and other vulnerable groups in decision making processes.
• Giving and monitoring of grants to CBOs. E.g. PACODEP a CBO based in the Kassena Nankana District.

The goal of the CODAC “Giving Voice to the Voiceless Project” is to give voice to the voiceless and help increase accountability, transparency, inclusion and participation at the community, district and regional levels. The specific objectives include:
1. To provide financial support to 8 CBOs to enable them undertake their CGE projects
2. To establish rapport with duty bearers and other key stakeholders as a way of creating an enabling environment for CBOs to engage
3. To train 8 CBOs on rights based and people centre advocacy to development to enable them engage with duty bearers.
4. Facilitate the formation of a rights based CBOs network
5. To hand- hold , nurture and support 8 CBOs for effective implementation of the project

Geographically, the scope of the project will include the Bongo, Talensi/Nabdam, Builsa and Bawku west Districts all in the Upper East Region, where CODAC as an intermediary grant partner is working in partnership with CBOs/LNGOs to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.

Drama Network (Accountable Grant £65,000.00)

Drama Network is a non-governmental organization with its office located on the 3rd Floor of the GCB Building in Akosombo in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region. The organization which was legally registered in February 2002 has adopted the educational strategy of “Theatre for Development” as a means of educating society on topical issues. In addition to “Theatre for Development”, Drama Network also lobbies both with individual policy makers and caucuses of local leaders/politicians and uses seminars, sensitization workshops, media programs, film shows, documentaries, talks and BCC and IE&C materials to drive home information on such topical issues. Drama Network also encourages greater involvement of beneficiaries in project identification, designing, implementation and evaluation.

Drama Network works with grass root communities, vulnerable groups such as women, children and persons living with HIV/AIDS and artisans. In this respect, the organisation collaborates with District Assemblies, other governmental agencies, private organizations, international and local NGOs, educational institutions, community and faith based organizations in the execution of its work.

Drama Network is a member of the following Networks: Ghana Association of Private Voluntary Organisations in Development; Exclusive Women’s Affairs Network-Ghana; Society for Women & AIDS in Africa-Ghana Chapter; Global Environmental Facility/NGO Network; and Pan-African Commonwealth Civil Society Network on HIV/AIDS.

Drama Network activities are mainly sponsored by organizations and donor agencies that have the common objective with the organization. To ensure financial sustainability, Drama Network currently provides consultancy services, operates a secretarial service facility in its office, hires out office equipment as well as operates a very vibrant micro-credit scheme to generate funds to support administrative work, including payment of staff.

Drama Network is working as an Intermediary RAVI Grant Partner (RGP) by supporting ten (10) Partner organisations in five (5) selected districts in the Eastern Region to exercise voice and to undertake citizen-government engagement focusing on empowerment, advocacy and other actions to help realize the rights of the poor, vulnerable and excluded. The partner organisations shall either be grass root community based organisations (CBOs) or local non-governmental organisations (LNGOs).

The project has been titled “Exercising Voice for Change” (EVOC) with the goal of giving voice to the voiceless and help increase accountability, transparency, inclusion and participation at the grassroots level. The objectives to be achieved by the end of the EVOC Project are:

i. To liaise with duty bearers and other stakeholders to sensitize them on the project to ensure effective collaboration and coordination during implementation.
ii. To organise training programs for ten (10) Partner Organisations to enhance their knowledge in the implementation of rights-based approach, people centred advocacy and citizen-government engagement work on a sustainable basis.
iii. To nurture, support and hand-hold Partner Organisations in implementing the EVOC Project.
iv. To provide financial support to ten (10) Partner Organisations to undertake citizen government engagement as well as empower excluded and vulnerable groups to claim their rights.
v. To promote partnerships among Partner Organisations to build a strong, effective and a sustainable network for rights-based approach and people centred advocacy work in the Eastern Region.

FFP - Foundation for Female Photojournalists (Accountable Grant £78,658.27)

The Foundation for Female Photojournalists (FFP) started working in 1998 as an initiative to create opportunities for female photojournalists, photographers and to provide accessible development information to women as well as pursue women’s development issues through visual communication. This quest was motivated by the Beijing Platform for Action adopted in 1995.

They are a non-profit, multifaceted, information, news media and research organization using Information Communication Technology (ICT). They are a source of training, information and support for women and they also explore new forms of art as a way of promoting economic self-reliance and self esteem among women. Their slogan is Do Your Movement; Make a Better World

FFP’s projects are fundamental recipes in development endeavours. They constantly tap into the power of audio visual in reaching vulnerable and minority groups with information that will empower them to assert their rights as well as become conscious of their roles and responsibilities to function effectively in the governance structure. The Foundation’s work- placing Development Photojournalism (audio visual and visual communication) within communities in Ghana is indeed worth pursuing to bring about positive change among peoples.

FFP works to ensure a world in which the most vulnerable are empowered with information for holistic development. The organisation’s mission is to develop and communicate information that empowers women, seek the welfare of children and build the capacity of women audiovisual communicators.

As a women’s media organization using information as a tool for development, they are using the RAVI funding to directly initiate an engagement process that will empower people to articulate issues affecting the political process at the local governance level. In line with their Information for Development program and women’s political participation as their key focus areas, they have chosen the issues because it largely affects women and limits them from contributing effectively to local governance as well as enjoying their share of the national resources at the local level. It is envisaged that this intervention will address the interest of local communities of which women form a large majority. The objectives of the project are to ensure that: 40% of Assembly Members in the project areas start meeting electorates, to make inputs into assembly deliberations at least once, before and after Assembly meetings as enshrined in the Local Government Act 462, session 16 a, b, d and e.; and 40% of electorates within the project areas will be given the opportunity to indirectly contribute to deliberations of the General Assembly through their Assembly Members by articulating community problems and the best solutions at meetings before and after General Assembly Meetings with their Assembly Members.

Geographical Location of Project
Regions Districts and Electoral Area
Greater Accra
Dangme East – Luhuese, Korluedor, Teimensapany, Kudzragbe and Zongo
Ga West – Samsam, Sapeiman, Medie, Manhean and Achiaman
Ashanti Region
Amansie West – Abodom, Akwasiso, Kensere, Omanadwareye and Dominase
Adansi South – Kotwea, Akrofoum West, Nsata Subriso, Akutreso and Sikaman
Eastern Region
Fanteakwa – Dominase, Feyiase, Odumasi West, Akyease and Ofoase/Nkatsease
Afram Plains – Baadu, Tease Kuronkuron, Abotanso, Trebu and Zikpo
Western Region
Ahanta West – Sankor/Yaako, Aworozo, Princess, Mpanyinasa and Aboadi/Fasin
Wasa Amenfi East – Japa, Saamang, Dawurampong, Wuwuso and old town
National Level Scope
National Accra, seat of government


FoN - Friends of the Nation (Accountable Grant £61,114.06)

Friends of the Nation (FoN) which was established in 1993 is a registered service delivery, non-profit-making, non-governmental development-oriented Organization based in Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana. The Organization has staff strength of 13 comprising 5 administrative staff; 4 managerial and 4 programme staff and a number of volunteer staff.

Friends of the Nation envisage a world where communities manage their environment in a sustainable and healthy manner and where equal opportunities exist for all people in the use of natural resources. By sustainable manner they mean in a manner that gives future generations the opportunity to enjoy an equal measure of utilization of environmental functions whilst contributing to global environmental sustainability

The organization exists to serve as a catalyst towards increased action for sustainable natural resource management and healthy environment, service to coastal/wetland and forest dependant communities as well as poor urban communities through education, training, networking and advocacy.

In past years, FoN has undertaken several activities and has achieved successes in these regards. Significant amongst them is the promotion of girl-child education through provision of micro-credit to single-mothers in New Takoradi, a fishing community in the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan area (SAEMA) of the Western Region of Ghana. This project led to increased incomes for the participating women and resulted in the enrolment of 70 girls in basic and secondary schools, and the formation of a girls’ football team for the community. FoN facilitated the participation of the Ladies Football Team in the Junior Football Cup held in the City of Vellmar, Germany which run parallel to 2006 FIFA World Cup. The girls, aged 14, and mainly playing against boys’ teams, placed third and won the Vellmar Cup.

FoN has also initiated several action days to create public awareness on wetlands values and functions within the Shama Ahanta East Metropolis and the Ahanta West District. Others include the following:
• Protected the Takoradi Monkey Hill Forest reserve from encroachment, degradation and poaching. There are plans to develop the reserve into an urban eco-tourism product
• Promotion of Non-timber forest products through the establishment of a supply chain for Allanblackia nuts in over 200 rural communities with Unilever-Gh. Ltd. In the Western and Central regions.
• Developed a community-based eco-tourism package, “the Domama Rock Shrine” as an economic incentive for the Domama community for conserving their forest.
• Assisted eight communities around the 3km sq Akim Takyimang Sacred Grove in the Kwaebibirim district in the Eastern region to prepare a forest management plan.
• Organized and facilitated two Forest Fora in the Nzema East and Jomoro districts of the Western region.
• Biodiversity Conservation and introduction of sustainable agriculture practices and solar energy at Wuratrem, Congo and Jukwa communities in the Wassa Amenfi district.
• Pioneered the formation of National Networks – FORESTWATCH, Western Regional NGO Network - WERENGO and several thematic coalitions.,

Friends of the Nation is affiliated to the following networks:

1. Ghana Association of Private Voluntary Organizations in Development (GAPVOD)
2. Western Region Development Network of NGOs – WERENGO
3. Western Region Coalition on Natural Resources
4. National Coalition on Mining
5. FORESTWATCH – Ghana
6. Food Security Policy Advocacy Network (FoodSPAN)

The goal of the Community Rights and Voices for Sustainable Fisheries Management
Project that FON is implementing directly with RAVI funding is to promote collaborative fishery resource management thereby contributing to poverty reduction and livelihood improvement in coastal communities in the coastal regions of Western, Central, Greater Accra and Volta. The specific objectives which are twofold are: To advocate for the establishment and institutionalization of Community-Based Fisheries Management Committee structures at the district level; and to advocate for the establishment of a Fisheries Commission as stipulated in the Fisheries Act 625 of 2002.

GAB - Ghana Association of the Blind (Accountable Grant £61,333.34)

The Ghana Association of the Blind (GAB) which is a membership based organisation is operational in all the ten regions of Ghana with branches in sixty-five districts and still expanding, traces its existence from the establishment of the Mangoase Sheltered Workshop for the Blind at Mangoase by the Ghana Society for the Blind in the late 1950’s. This self-realization and coming together afforded the opportunity for exchange of experience and conceived the idea for the formation of an Association of the Blind in 1963. At the initial stages of its existence, the Association operated purely as a pressure group to advocate for policies that enhanced the welfare of the blind.

The Associations mission over the course of time has changed in response to the needs of its membership. Advocacy however remains its priority area. Its mission statement is to ‘Advocate for the Blind and Partially sighted, and work for their total integration into society through Awareness Raising and the development of services in Education, Rehabilitation, and the Promotion of the Rights of Women, Youth and Children and the Elderly’ and a vision of ‘Expanding the capacity of GAB to grow and develop as an independent self supporting organisation, capable of advocating for a just society where bps persons have equal rights and opportunities to lead decent and productive lives’. Even though its current total membership stands at four thousand, four hundred and thirteen, it however targets all blind and partially sighted persons in all the programmes that it implements as it serves all bps persons in the country.

The Association was basically funded through membership dues, government grants and donations from philanthropists during its early stages. It is still funded through the above mentioned sources and in addition to this the organisation receives project support from donors like the Danish Association of the Blind (the major donors), Action on Disability and Development, AFUB, IDP Hilton Perkins International, through GFD projects supported by VSO, RAVI etc.

The Association is organized through its National Congress, which is the highest decision-making body responsible for elections of National Officers once every four (4) years, and which meets every other year. A National Executive Council which meets three (3) times in a year and implements decisions at the National level; and Regional Executive Councils, which do the same at the Regional levels, and are responsible for setting up and managing District/Zonal Branches at the grassroots. All officers are honorary officers. The Association also has a national secretariat with twenty employees who see to the implementation of the Associations activities.

The goal of the RAVI funded project is to ensure that ‘blind and partially sighted persons have full inclusion within their family, community and districts in consonance with provisions in the Persons with Disability Act (Act 715). The specific objectives of the project are:

 To collect and collate data on the inclusion of bps persons in decision making as well as access to education for bps children at the basic level for evidence based advocacy.
 To sensitize 240 bps persons on the relevant laws and train 120 selected members in advocacy to enable them engage duty bearers for the realization of their rights
 To advocate for increased access to basic education for bps persons
 To advocate for the inclusion of bps persons in the decision making process at the family, community and district levels

The table indicates the number of districts/regions that the Social Inclusion of the Blind and Partially Sighted Persons is expected to cover
Region District
Central Upper Denkyira, Twifo Praso
Volta Hohoe, Jasikan
Eastern Birim South, Kwaebibirim
Upper East Builsa, Kasena Nankani
Upper West Nadowli, Jirapa Lambussie
Western Shama Ahanta East, Mpohor Wassa East

GHANEP - Ghana Network for Peace building (Accountable Grant £69,952.53)

Moved by the desire to prevent, resolve and transform violent conflicts, aware of the fact that only collaborative effort can meet the challenging exigencies and recognizing the need to harness individual initiatives into a collaborative coordinated approach to peacebuilding in Ghana, the Ghana Network for Peacebuilding was formed in December 2002.

Incorporated under the corporate laws of Ghana as a peacebuilding NGO, GHANEP seeks to facilitate the creation of a sustainable culture of non-violence, justice, peace and social reconciliation in Ghanaian communities by ensuring coordination and effectiveness among peace practitioners in order to avoid duplication of efforts and maximize the use of resources for more effective responses to conflict situations.

GHANEP is the Ghana secretariat of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP). With a national secretariat office in Tamale, Northern Region, it comprises 63 member Organizations.
Vision: To create a sustainable culture of non-violence, justice, peace and social reconciliation in Ghanaian communities.

Mission: To contribute in a sustainable way to the establishment of a lasting peace in the country by building the capacity of network members to help communities prevent, resolve and transform conflicts through efficient gathering, processing and use of conflict data for peacebuilding.

The Advocacy on Peacebuilding Project which is funded by RAVI aims at increasing citizens’ government engagement on peacebuilding and general human security issues through platforms of dialogue and enhanced promotion of human rights and good governance.

To achieve this goal the project has threefold objectives which include: To engage with the national government to increase the allocation and use of District and Regional level budgets for peacebuilding by June 2009; To engage with government on the review and support of the operations of the judiciary committees of regional and national houses of chiefs by June 2009; and To train and support 30 civil society actors in six regions (Upper West, Upper East, Northern, Brong Ahafo, Volta and Ashanti Regions) with skills to engage with state and traditional policy makers for inclusion in public security and peacebuilding issues by June 2009.

An estimated 8,000 men and women will be the direct project principals and they will work with GHANEP and its Regional Peace Advocacy Committee (RPAC) and the National Peace Advocacy Committee (NPAC) to implement the project. The peacebuilding and human rights advocacy outcomes will directly impact on over 1,970, 000 men and 2, 500,000 women in the six operational regions to be covered by the project. Specific expected key outputs of the project will include:
 Increased budget allocations and use for peacebuilding initiatives as against peacekeeping at both Regional coordinating councils and District assembly levels.
 Six RPACs and a NPAC established and engaging with National, Regional and District level duty bearers on peacebuilding
 Increased awareness and skills among the populace especially youth, women and men of the targeted regions on how various local and national policies affect the peace and security of their communities and the need for engagement with policy makers in order to improve upon their longer term livelihood sustainability.
 Well structured and functioning GHANEP regional chapters of CSOs in peacebuilding and human rights promotion in the six operational regions planning and carrying out peacebuilding and human rights advocacy promotional activities in their respective regions.

NNED - Northern Network for Education Development (Accountable Grant £50,000.00)

Northern Network for Education Development (NNED) is an initiative of civil society organisations in collaboration with the Regional Directorates of Education of the Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions of Ghana to address challenges to educational development and to ensure that the Education for All (EFA) commitments are fulfilled in Northern Ghana.

The idea of forming NNED was endorsed at a general meeting held in August 2001, convened by an interim planning committee and hosted by Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC). NNED is registered with the Registrar General Department and Department of Social Welfare as a network.

The aim of the NNED is to harmonise and harness the collective efforts of all people with interest in the North to mobilise their energy and resources to address the problems facing education development in Northern Ghana. The objectives of the Network are:

i. To foster collaboration among partners of education to safeguard the interests, aspirations and expectations of the people of the North in the provision of education for their children.
ii. To mobilise funds and resources to support education programmes in the Northern Ghana.
iii. To provide input into the development of national policy and strategic programmes and operational plans for education development with emphasis on gender equity and vulnerability.
iv. To Identify and to challenge citizens of the three regions to take responsibility for mobilizing resources and funding to support equitable and good quality education of international standard for all children.
v. To serve as a non-partisan, citizen led advocacy group for education and for the broader development of the three regions.
vi. To provide Northern Sector wide objectives, targets and indicators for assessing progress in education development within the framework of the national and international strategies.
There is Sector wide NNED which is the umbrella covering the three northern regions. This meets at General Assembly to set broad policies and strategies. Three Committees; Executive, Technical and Fundraising Committees provide policy and technical oversight as well as day-to-day management and resource mobilization for NNED.

There is a permanent Secretariat based in Tamale Ghana, at Saka Saka within the Christian Council premises Tamale –Bolga road charged with coordinating the activities at all levels.

At the regional levels, NGOs lead the process. These are, ISODEC for Northern, Centre for Sustainable Development Initiative (CENSUDI) for Upper East and Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) for Upper West regions. NNED is being moved to the district and lower levels. So far, District Education for All Committees/Teams (DEFATs) have been formed and are being strengthened.

At the national level, NNED works closely with Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) in all education advocacy activities. NNED is also the pivot for GNECC activities in Northern Ghana.
NNED has over 100 members from five categories but all from Northern Ghana. These categories are NGOs/CBOs, Government Ministries/ Departments/ Agencies, Private education providers/ firms / research institutions, traditional authorities represented by the Regional Houses of Chiefs and Eminent citizens of the three regions including retired educationists.

The Network is funded by the Commonwealth Education Fund, Oxfam GB, IBIS West Africa. In addition, it collaborates with Ghana Education Service, SNV, Action Aid Ghana and all District Assemblies in the three Northern regions

The NNED RAVI funded Education Resources Advocacy Project (ERAP) aims at facilitating directly accountable and participatory systems of efficient management of education budgets in 60 school communities in five Districts (West Manprusi, Tolon Kumbungu and Nanumba North in Northern Region as well as Nadowli and Sissala East in Upper West Region ). The specific objectives of the project include:
i. To enhance the capacity of 65 DEFAT members in RBA to lead in the demand for accountability on education resource
ii. To gather evidence on education resource management from 60 communities/ schools
iii. To promote local level accountability & transparency in the management of education resources
iv. To enhance credibility of NNED for effective project implementation


PAMOJA - Ghana REFLECT Practitioners’ Network (Accountable Grant £79,443.33)

The Ghana REFLECT Practitioners’ Network referred to as Pamoja Ghana is an affiliate body of Pamoja Africa and the Circle for International REFLECT Action and Communication (CIRAC). CIRAC is the global Network of REFLECT practitioners. Pamoja Ghana was set up following the establishment of CIRAC in March 2000 as a Global Network to advance the aim of fostering solidarity of REFLECT practitioners at different levels around the world to strengthen international sharing and learning and to build a wider movement of REFLECT practitioners.

The coordination of REFLECT activities in Ghana was facilitated by Action Aid International Ghana (AAIG) at the initial stages of the programme. In August 2005, REFLECT practicing organisations in collaboration with Action Aid International Ghana (AAIG) officially registered Pamoja Network as an NGO with the name ‘‘Ghana Reflect Practitioners Network’’ or ‘‘Pamoja Ghana’’ as it is popularly known. The Pamoja REFLECT Network set up a secretariat in February 2006 to manage all activities in Ghana. Currently the approach is practiced among twenty-eight organisations in eight out of the ten regions in Ghana. The secretariat does not only link up Practitioners within Ghana, it also links up practitioners to their counterparts within and outside the African continent.

Pamoja Ghana’s vision is to see an empowered society in which all persons can take control of their destiny, be able to influence policy makers to listen to their voices and also be able to challenge all dominant power structures in the local as well national level. Pamoja sees this as very crucial to poverty reduction and a necessity to sustainable development. The network hopes to realize this vision through the facilitation of learning, sharing and continuing of Reflect experiences and other innovative participatory approaches to adult functional literacy for sustainable development, in order to build an enlightened mass of women, men, boys and girls empowered to realize their rights, ideas and values for a dignified living.

The Network currently has a membership of twenty eight organizations who are engaged in advocacy and implementation of development projects using REFLECT. Pamoja Ghana in pursuance of its objectives has set up Regional Networks in the eight (8) regions and at district levels to coordinate activities of the REFLECT practitioners and organizations at the grass root level.

Pamoja REFLECT Network holds annual meetings at country, sub regional and Regional levels to bring together its member practitioners and organizations to share ideas and innovations based on experiences tapped from the implementation of REFLECT programme/projects in diverse socio-cultural and environmental settings. At the annual forums, the performances of programmes of member organizations are evaluated and recommendations are made, out of which action plans are drawn. In addition, Pamoja communicates through reporting, publishing of articles especially in the Global Education Forum Magazine and through the Internet. Furthermore, Pamoja conducts research activities that provide the basis for initiating development programmes.

The main aim of the Power to the Poor and Vulnerable Project (PPVP) supported by RAVI is aimed at empowering CBOs/LNGOs to give voice to the poor and voiceless to be able to engage government on issues that infringe on their basic rights.
The specific objectives of the project are:
 To sensitize traditional leaders, and government agencies on the PPV project in order to prepare the grounds for effective CBO/LNGO engagement.
 To disburse funds to 10 CBOs to engage government concerning issues of their rights by the end of the 2-year project.
 To strengthen the capacity of 10 CBOs/LNGOs on what is expected of them in the, Citizen Government Engagement processes, by training them in RBA, Advocacy and Lobbying, PM&E, and any other Rights issues that may be necessary for them to be able to engage citizens to demand their basic rights from traditional leaders, and government machineries and sustain it, by the end of the project.
 To encourage networking and collaboration among implementing CBOs as well as other stakeholders for a sustainable fulfilment of political and social rights in the Greater Accra and Central Regions by the 2-year project period.
 To nurture hand-hold and provide technical support to 10 CBOs/LNGOs throughout the 2-year implementation of the project.

Power to the Poor and Vulnerable Project is being implemented in the Okaikoi North, Tema Municipality and Ga West Districts in the Greater Accra region and Gomoa and Effutu/Ewutu districts of the Central region, where PAMOJA acting as an intermediary partner will support CBOs/LNGOs to implement the scheme.