GHANA
DEVELOPING
COMMUNITIES
ASSOCIATION

Empowerment for Life (E4L) Program

    - Equity and Sustainable Development for All

 

Civil society in Northern Ghana contributes to improved resilience, equity, and more accountable governance in Ghana.

 

The E4L program has four overall interlinked thematic areas: Governance, Education, Youth Empowerment and Climate Change.

 

Governance:

The main elements of the governance intervention are enhancing awareness of the RTI Act among citizens, local government engagement to enforce the implementation of the Public Financial Regulation Act, the support to CSOs and citizen movements in demanding equitable allocation and timely release of approved allocation of the District Assembly Common Fund, and improve the public service delivery mechanism.

Education:

The main elements of the education intervention are advocating for fair and transparent allocation, distribution and utilization of education resources in primary school, and promoting and advocating for the integration of transformative education methodologies in the formal education system. 

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Youth Empowerment  

The main elements of the youth empowerment intervention are the support to youth organizations in promoting active participation of the youth and giving them recognition, the advocacy for the effective implementation of the National Youth Policy, trainings for youths in employability and entrepreneurship, and enhancing awareness of climate change. 

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Climate change  

The main elements of the climate change intervention are supporting communities in making adaptation plans that are based on climate science as well as on local observation and analysis of climate change, developing organizational and technical capacity building of farmers and farmer associations as well as linking them up in networks and alliances, facilitating the farmers in having improved livelihoods and resilience through diversification and market strategies, and climate change advocacy to influence key decision makers.  

 

Background:

Ghana is facing many serious challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian attack on Ukraine led to several negative economic effects, among other increases in public debt, credit rate downgrades, and loss of external market access. The price of living in Ghana has been driven up by currency depreciation, an increase in Value Added Tax, and increased prices on utilities and fuel. Agriculture remains a key sector in Ghana but lack of investments in the sector exacerbates the economic crisis and threatens food security.  

As expressed, Ghana is facing many serious challenges, and the existence of a strong, independent, and locally rooted civil society is as important as ever. Civil society plays a role as a watchdog keeping duty bearers responsible, and it protects and promotes human rights and civic freedoms. It also plays an indispensable role as a partner in development able to mobilize citizens and resources and demonstrate solutions to Ghana’s challenges

 

 

Program objective:

Civil society actors contribute to increased equity and sustainable development in Ghana:

• Civil society engagement improves government transparency, accountability, and performance.

• Civil Society Organizations contribute to improved distribution and use of resources in education.

• Rural communities are climate adaptive and have improved livelihoods and resilience.