Blog

Empowering Youths Through Internships

On 8 August 2023, I embarked on a year-long journey internship with the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), aimed at enhancing my research skills while immersing myself in the …

Promoting Good Governance and Democracy: Insights from the West Africa Civil Society Week

The West Africa Civil Society Week which took place from 29 August to 31 August 2023 in Lagos, Nigeria brought together over 80 actors in the civil society ecosystem from …

Empowering Communities through Literacy: A Path to “Shift the Power” in International Development

In a world where knowledge reigns supreme, literacy emerges as the essential vehicle propelling individuals, communities, and entire nations towards progress and prosperity. September 8th, celebrated as International Literacy Day, …

Should Ghana Support ECOWAS’ armed intervention in Niger?

Niger had its fifth instance of a coup d’état on July 26, 2023, marking a recurring pattern of political instability since attaining independence in 1960. This is the fifth coup …

Embracing Indigenous Leadership Models for Africa’s Development Renaissance

Africa’s potential shines brilliantly, fuelled by the resilience and determination of its people. Yet, amidst this promise, a confounding paradox arises: How does a continent so acutely aware of its challenges …

The Accra to London Expedition – A Triumph of Diligent Citizenship and Human Resilience

In a world that often values quick fixes and instant gratification, the remarkable journey taken by the Wanderlust Ghana group serves as a powerful example of careful planning, unwavering determination, and a …

Niger Junta Given One Week to Cede Power – A Scenario Analysis and its Impact on Citizens in Niger and the ECOWAS Region

The recent military uprising in Niger has sparked a regional crisis, leading to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) urging the swift release and reinstatement of the legitimately elected President, …

Unmasking Digital Colonialism: Empowering Civil Society Organisations in the Digital Age

The technological revolution in today’s global village has become an indispensable part of our existence. It has transformed how we communicate, obtain information, and interact with society.  Despite creating an …

The Niger Coup – A Regional Wake-up Call for Sustainable Stability

In the wake of the coup in Niger, West Africa finds itself at a crossroads, facing a critical juncture that demands introspection and immediate action. The events in Niger should …

Empowering West Africa’s Youth through Work-Based Internships

In West Africa, the potential of its young graduates holds the essential key to driving economic growth and fostering social development. Unfortunately, many of these talented individuals encounter significant obstacles …

Four Set to Receive Mentorship under WACSI’s Flagship Research Fellowship Programme

“Being chosen as a research fellow fills me with thrill and excitement. This remarkable opportunity allows me to enhance my research skills and contribute significantly to the advancement of CSOs …

The Gong-Gong Beater: An Indigenous Information Sharing Medium for Sustaining the Influence of Community Networks

Who is a Gong-Gong Beater? In traditional Ghanaian society, the gong-gong beater is characterised as the official communication and information manager within a chieftaincy structure. This person is often unassuming, …

Challenging Societal Norms: Empowering Women through Inclusivity, Unity, and Personal Reflection

When we attribute certain beliefs and behaviours to “society,” it is essential to delve deeper and question who exactly we are referring to. Sociologist Peter L. Berger’s definition of society …

Youth Activists Fear Limited Public Awareness Can Affect Sierra Leone’s 2023 Elections

[Accra- 13 June] – Sierra Leone’s government says the West African country is ready to hold peaceful, free and fair elections come June 24, a news report by Ghana News …

Unleashing the Potential of Social Media for Digital Advocacy: A Guide for African CSOs

Social media over the past few years has become an invaluable resource, especially for Africans and African organisations to tell their own diverse and dignified stories.    At other times in …

Redefining the Lens Through Which Aid is Delivered

Is there more African non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can do to be more resourceful and less dependent on foreign philanthropists?   Decades of inequitable development, colonialism and political uprising have made the …

Availing Sufficient Financial Resources to CSOs: From Rhetoric to Action

There have been resounding calls to make financial resources available to civil society organisations (CSOs) in West Africa. Embraced within the overall concept of ‘localisation of aid’, this remains an …

CSOs in Liberia Equipped to Operate Safely Online

From 20 – 22 March 2023, a training on digital safety and security was held in Thinker Village-Monrovia, Liberia for 12 participants from 4 organisations. The training was organised by …

Through the Big Door of WACSI: The Journey So Far for our 2023 Cohort 1 Interns

In theory, internships are supposed to serve as a platform for career growth for young graduates. Unfortunately, not all interns are able to see this theory become a reality.   …

Leveraging Online Crowdfunding for Resource Mobilisation: A Novel Approach for CSOs

Following the Covid-19 outbreak, civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ghana have been faced with a considerable decline in donor funding due to donors shifting their philanthropy efforts to countries which …

Why are Women Encouraged to Apply for INGO and UN Jobs?

On the issue of gender equality in the workplace, when I see the words, ‘women are encouraged to apply’, I particularly feel happy, and this is why.  The fact that …

From Innovation to Transformation: How RINGO is Revolutionising Global Civil Society

“Launching such an initiative [RINGO] was brave. The way it was done was participatory, it was fun, and it was insightful. And what came out of it already shows how …

Embracing the Concept of Social Enterprise as An Alternative Financial Model

In recent years, civil society organisations (CSOs) have faced numerous challenges in obtaining funds to support their activities due to financial crises, government regulations, poor economic conditions and most recently …

Communication: An avenue for showcasing accountability and transparency for Nonprofits

To quote the famous musician Drake in the song Poetic Justice “They say communication saves relations”. Every human relationship starts with communication of interests, wants or needs and the best …

Have you Considered Using the ABCD Model to Finance your NGOs’ Actions?

For many years, civil society organisations (CSOs) depended on external funding to propel their activities and projects. With the rise in dwindling donor funding, CSOs are unable to get sufficient …

The Change We Want

THE CHANGE WE WANT The change we want begins with us We can’t just rant without being just And make our communities feel lost Yes, they do depend on us …

The Fate of Every Child Enriches or Impoverishes us All

I have seen for myself and on documentaries in the media how children beg for alms and others hawk on the roads of Accra. This is equally evident in other …

Building Responsive Community Philanthropy

What comes to mind when you hear these phrases; giving for change, shift the power, community philanthropy, local giving, delocalisation of aid? To some people, these all fall under the …

Decolonisation of International Aid In Sub-Saharan Francophone Africa: Challenges And Prospects

The major role that international aid or public aid plays in the development agenda of French-speaking sub-Saharan African states cannot be overemphasized. For many years, international organisations have undertaken projects …

Strengthening the Resilience and Financial Sustainability of CSOs in Africa through the Alternative Funding Models e-Learning Course

For decades, civil society organisations (CSOs) across Africa depended largely on foreign donors for their interventions and organisational sustainability. In 2020, a survey conducted by WACSI across six West African …

Gender Bill and Parliamentary Conundrum

Over the last decade, countries and governments have made significant progress in mainstreaming gender, including parliamentary representation and inclusion. Regrettably, the national assembly in Nigeria is not aware of its …

A LESSONS LEARNT WORKSHOP

African folklore is laden with a lot of moral lesson learning. Most African stories end with a moral lesson, which is a significant part of the African culture. These lessons …

Becoming a butterfly in the civic space

As I stare on the notepad to write these few lines, my mind is blank, as blank as it was roughly two years ago in the year 2020, during the …

Promoting Community-Based Conflict Resolution Can Save Lives

It was on one cold evening in Bawku, a town in the Upper East region of north Ghana, when I lost my darling brother. If his untimely demise had been …

Leveraging Lessons Learnt, a Tool for CSOs to Improve their Performance

“It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure”- Bill Gates. This article in accordance with the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) …

Navigating Microsoft’s Latest Programme Changes

Microsoft for Nonprofits Program Changes – changes are coming to the Microsoft for Nonprofits program. Learn more about what this means for TechSoup members. Get Ready for the Next Evolution …

Reflections on Disruptive Leadership Thinking, Citizens’ Consensus and the 2023 General Elections

“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope … which can sweep down …

GHANAIAN CSOs EQUIPPED WITH GAME CHANGING STRATEGIES IN LOCAL RESOURCE MOBILISATION AND ADVOCACY

“Africa is poor! This is the biggest lie ever told in the 21st century. The truth is that Africa is the richest continent in the world in terms of resources. …

Bambili-Cameroon: 14 Years old Water Heroine, Kewoh Cynthia Faith, donates $1 lunch money for giant water project

Bambili-Cameroon: 14 years old Water Heroine, Kewoh Cynthia Faith, donates 500Fcfa lunch money for the giant water project. She is a Form II student of the Cameroon College of Arts, …

STORY TELLING: A RELEVANT TOOL IN DRIVING LOCAL PHILANTHROPY

“I’m writing my story so that people might see fragments of themselves”- Lena Waithe. Imagine stumbling on an inspiring story on Facebook on a development project carried out in your …

Effecting Mindset Change- Part 1 New Perspective

As you probably know all too well, every day comes with its ups and downs, whether we like it or not. Consequently, it can be easy for people to fall …

Rethinking Education Financing, Development and Sustainable Peace in Nigeria

The Global Education Summit held in London, United Kingdom, a few weeks ago has come and gone, but the realities and the signposts for Nigeria’s education, development and peace agenda …

ENHANCE YOUR CSO VISIBILITY THROUGH AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION APPROACH

Sharing everything on social media is important. So go ahead and share it, if it is relevant enough to share it, then it is important enough for us to re-share. …

Creating NGOs – Not for Jobseekers 

I possess no understanding of who sold us this lie in Cameroon (Africa), that creating NGOs and Foundations is an achievement. You are just leaving school and thinking of starting …

RINGO Podcast Episode 1

The world has changed since INGO’s became prominent actors on the global stage. The current model for INGO’s seems no longer fit for purpose. The Ringo Social Lab – Re-imagining …

We Must Participate in Public Policy Discourse

Public policy is the biggest driver of change, and the people who implement policy are ordinary citizens. One area which is my daily bread and in which the public policy …

Let’s Learn to Embrace Diversity of Ideas and Others’ Perspectives

Diversity is the best thing that ever happened to humans. Diversity brings strength and with diverse ideas the strength is even stronger because everyone’s ideas can be an opportunity for …

NGOs Suffocating Under Civic Space Restrictions in Nigeria

On 5th June 2021, the Nigerian government put an indefinite ban on Twitter, restricting the social media platform from operating in the country just days after Twitter deleted tweets made …

Why International Development Projects Fail in Africa and What We Can Do Differently

Sub-Saharan Africa is a graveyard of numerous development projects. In almost every rural community in the region, there are legacies of botched attempts at “bettering the lives” of the locals—shattered …

CODAC Builds the Capacity of 15 Teenage girls from five Communities after taking part in Mobilising Support training

CODACS’s action plan involved organising a campaign to reduce teenage pregnancy in identified communities within the Talensi and Bongo District in the Upper East Region. This constituted in identifying teenage …

Tips on Having a Thrilling Internship Experience at WACSI

“For every new challenge, I deliberately choose to turn it to my favour and rather use it as a tool for improvement,” Mabel Lum Shu, Programme Assistant, Next Generation Internship …

TEERE Learns Strategies to Foster Positive Transformation

TEERE means change, or more generally impact. The choice of this word is to show the compelling and burning need for the transformation of lives in Northern Ghana in particular …

Pathways to effectively operationalise the localisation agenda

This article is part of a series that diagnoses the asymmetric positioning of the localisation agenda to the disfavour of actors in the global south. Read the first part – …

The localisation agenda: How successful is it?

3rd June 2015 remains a dark day for Ghanaians. This sad day was marked by a deadly flood caused by heavy torrential rains and a ghastly fire explosion at a …

Conservation Organisations in Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone at the Brink of Transformation

The year 2020 marked a turning point for many civil society organisations (CSOs) in West Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the performance of these organisations in diverse ways, making it …

The Making of an Influential Women and Youth Advocate: An Intern’s Story

“Your voice is far reaching than your vision, so never let it be silent”. These are the words that were drumming in her ears in the middle of 2020. As …

LinkedIn Optimisation for Job seekers

Recently, I shared a couple of LinkedIn posts, and many people shared their impressions on what could have been improved or mentioned a couple of things that were wrong. Leveraging …

Repositioning the Girl Child to Lead in a Contemporary Society

“I want to be a civil engineer,” she responded to her dad when he asked her what she wanted to become in future. “No! You cannot become an engineer. That …

The Encounter: An Intern’s story

As she lay in bed that Sunday evening, preoccupied with thoughts on what the future held for her after graduation, she got distracted by the beeping sound of her phone. …

Choose To Challenge

I was born and raised in a country that discriminates against women in various aspects. I cannot claim to fully understand the struggles and challenges that women – especially African …

A silver lining:  COVID-19 is an opportunity for civil society to explore new and innovative funding forms  

When COVID-19 hit  NORSAAC, a NGO working in Ghana, lost over 185,000 Cedis ($32,173 USD) from ActionAid Ghana and Tools for Self Reliance. It’s a substantial amount of donor income, which …

Report Writing: A Must Do for CSOs

Gone are the days where people needed to rush from work to get home in time to listen to or watch the news bulletin at 6 pm. These days, with …

Reflections on Banditry, Kidnapping and Armed Violence in Nigeria

“If the misery of the poor be caused not by the law of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin” – Charles Darwin.   Security is vital to …

End SARS: Social Action and Epistemic Justice

“The President hears a hundred voices telling him that he is the greatest man in the world. He must listen carefully indeed to hear the one voice that tells him …

The Making of a Global Climate Action and Development Champion

I grew up in a village setting like millions across Africa do. Our village called Jinkfuin was and still is a typical African setting where you have a chief, you …

Implementing the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA): The Role of Civil Society

It would not be an understatement to confidently state that there is enormous potential in Africa’s regional economic integration and intra-African trade. Sadly, the continent is still heavily reliant on …

Unemployment in Ghana: The Crossroad for the Ghanaian Youth

The issue of unemployment continues to be the most challenging development issue that most African leaders: if not all, do grapple with. In Ghana, where the population is largely considered …

A Worthwhile Internship Experience at WACSI – Marilyne Agueh

While at the university, I constantly pondered over what the next move would be. I was not sure, yet I craved to get an opportunity that will help me to …

An Outstanding Career Grooming Platform for West African Youth – Lisa Sengretsi

“After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” ― Nelson Mandela. These profound words of Nelson Mandela hold true for many young …

Quick Tips: Digital Security Best Practices for CSOs in Africa

What is digital security and should civil society organisations be concerned? Technology and its use have over the years evolved into an almost inevitable tool in the work we do. …

Collaboration Can Help Expand Civic Space in West Africa

A new research report from the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and the Fund for Global Human Rights offers a comprehensive look at the concerning lack of collaboration between …

8 Tips for Writing Winning Proposals for CSOs

“People don’t read. They misinterpret expectations of calls for proposals. They develop their own calls and respond to it”, said the Civil Society Support Unit Manager STAR Ghana, Noshie Idissah. …

Empowered to Perform Better at Work

Popoola Adejoke Glory has gained new communication techniques that have helped her to win the satisfaction of her clients and colleagues. She has greatly improved her approach of communicating with …

Ghana’S COVID-19 Response: Good Policies but Weak Implementation!

As expected, several Side Events and Fringe Meetings at this year’s United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF), were focused on the Implications of Covid-19 and Government responses! These were …

Covid-19 in Cameroon: Low level of CSOs response in the face of government slip-ups

Africa falls next in line after Asia, Europe and America to experience the scourge of the Covid-19 pandemic. In Cameroon, the first case was recorded on March 6, 2020 and …

Refugee Rights Must be at the Centre of COVID 19 Response

Exactly a month ago, the Kenyan government announced the first case of COVID-19 at the sprawling Dadaab refugee complex located in northeastern Kenya, sparking panic among Non-Governmental Organisations offering humanitarian …

COVID-19 puts the Spotlight on the Relevance and Effectiveness of Civil Society

Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the world has witnessed a tumultuous couple of months. This pandemic has changed in diverse ways relations and interactions among community …

COVID-19: WACSI Offers A Platform to Exchange Experiences and Recommendations on Civic Space for CSOs

Most West African states recognise civil liberties in their legislation as an essential component of a strong and resilient democracy. However, in practice, West African states have been increasingly restricting …

Stopping The Spread: A Citizen’s Engagement

Africa is no stranger to recent outbreaks and therefore has a foundation to combat the coronavirus, but more must be done to ensure the informal economy is included in a …

Covid-19: Africa CDC’s Moment

As Covid-19 begins to spread on the African continent, it is the moment for the Africa Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to lead. The Africa CDC was …

Africans Can Fight Covid-19 With Stakeholder Capitalism

With the COVID-19 pandemic threatening to overwhelm much of Africa, companies on the continent must broaden their perspective. Instead of focusing on short-term returns for owners and investors, they must …

Mosquito’s Physical Proximity

Since December 2019, the infectious disease COVID-19 has spread across the world. Africa has not been spared, but the delayed arrival of the virus on the continent has provided us …

Will Global Governance Prove Itself?

Although institutions of international and regional integration have chalked up major successes in recent decades, they are hardly immune from internal and external challenges. In fact, both the health emergency …

Musings on COVID-19 II : Give, Your Widow’s Mite Can Give A Glimmer of Hope to Someone

Amongst ourselves as United World Ambassadors, we asked; ‘what is it that can be done practically during these moments of the COVID-19 crisis that the whole world is facing?’ In an …

What Roles Should The Youth Play to Achieve The SDGs By 2030

These are a set of universal goals which seek to address social, environmental, economic and political challenges facing the world by 2030. By adopting the SDGs, countries have responded to …

COVID-19 Reveals Local Fundraising Capacity as Civil Society’s Weakest Link In West Africa

Local Fundraising is a recurrent challenge for civil society actors in West Africa. Currently, traditional donors are seeing their funding mechanisms being disrupted due to the ongoing crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic …

Adapting to COVID-19 For CSOs’ Long Term Impact and Viability

The past decade has seen considerable changes in civil society dynamics in Africa, with reductions in traditional forms of funding. In the middle-income countries shrinking space for civil society has …

Musings on COVID-19 I : Show A Little Kindness

My names are Nji Mabih of Cameroonian nationality.  I was asked by a group of young people to write up a personal thought on the COVID -19 situation and this is what …

Leveraging on Forgiveness and Empathy to Foster Peaceful Social Coexistence and Civic Engagement In Liberia

This article[i] is based on the findings of the social cohesion and reconciliation Index (the SCORE Index), a contextual and in-depth study conducted in 2016 and 2018 in Liberia by the Center …

Re-Engineering the Conversations Around Gender Equality

“You’re joking, aren’t you, Tawakalit? I mean, why not contest for the position of Vice President, it’s better suited for a female.” I was standing to be elected the 28th …

My Journey as a WACSI Intern: a Dream Come True

Like many students in Burkina Faso, getting to the end of Carmelle Sergine Kabore school year, she was looking for an internship opportunity to gain practical experience. One day, she …

Going beyond Western models of value to shift the power

In the development sector, supported by the international aid architecture, the power scale is tipped in favour of organisations that have the right connections with aid bilaterals and multilaterals, and …

African CSOS’ AFCFTA Moment

There is no better moment than now for civil society organisations (CSOs) to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). AfCFTA is about creating a unified …

Rethinking CSOS’ Sustainability

Sustainability is probably the biggest threat facing civil society organisations (CSOs) today. In a recent report on CSO Sustainability Index for Sub-Saharan Africa, the United States Agency for International Development …

Preparation is Everything! How to Write Winning Proposals?

A proposal is a request in the form of a written document that describes a programme or project for which an individual or organisation is seeking funding to support. The …

Techsoup Admin Fees to Increase for Selected Discount and Donation Programs

Starting in November, you will notice that we have increased administrative fees for selected donation products on the Techsoup platform. We periodically review and adjust administrative fees to reflect the …

A Strategy Statement and its Relevance for Civil Society Organisations

Today, I had my first class at the Utrecht Summer School, Utrecht, the Netherlands, where I am taking a course titled: A Real-World Perspective- Manage Your Business Abroad. I learnt …

Worrisome Right Violations of Journalists in Ghana as Press Freedom Endures Critical Times

In 1991, African journalists launched a call for media pluralism and independence by producing the landmark Windhoek Declaration. This led to the recommendation adopted under section 4.3 at the twenty-sixth session of …

Could French Language Teachers be the Cause of Low French Literacy in Ghana?

 As stated on the Spain Exchange County Guide, about only 13% of the Ghanaian population speaks French. In other words, the level of literacy in French is very low. Although …

Youth Volunteerism: An Indispensable Force for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ghana

Ghana made great strides in achieving a significant number of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). For instance, according to UN-Ghana, the country performed creditably well in poverty reduction, access to safe …

Staff Meetings: An Organisational Practice For an Effective Non-Profit Organisation

Meetings are an essential part of the life of every organisation and your ability to run effective meetings with your management skills is a critical part of your success in …

“Same Skin, We are Brothers”: What it Takes to End a Civil War

This article is an opinion edition related to the Liberian society written by the operation team of the Center for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development, the organisation implementing the Social …

Ex-Child Soldiers Surviving in Post-Conflict Monrovia

This article is an opinion edition related to the Liberian society written by the operation team of the Center for Sustainable Peace and Democratic Development, the organisation implementing the Social …

Strengthening the Technological Capacity of RAIDH

In the fast-paced world, we live in now, it is imperative for civil society organisations to not only be abreast with the latest technological applications and tools, but also master …

Promoting Human Rights Through Technology

In today’s world where technology makes it easier to reach out to a wider audience thereby growing existing networks and amplifying the visibility of any organisation, the Human Rights Advocacy …

Enhancing CHRI’S Capacity Through Technology

In this technologically advanced era, every organisation needs effective information technology (IT) tools to efficiently accelerate its operations. Organisations that work to collect and document information have a dire need …

Enhancing CSCI’S Communication Through Technology

Technology has become an essential tool for development in recent times. For the development sector, it has helped to amplify various organisational impact, causes and connected like-minded organisations to work …

Raising Funds to Re-Integrate and Reduce School Drop-Outs

Special Attention Project (SAP) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Ghana created in 2007 and has been operating since 2008. The organisation works to improve the lives of children with …

Local Fundraising is Possible in Ghana

Street Children Project (SCP) Kumasi has been overwhelmed by the creditable increase in their organisations’ operational funds and support from the community it operates in, after applying the techniques and …

Ghana, A Model in Promoting Civic Space Freedoms in West Africa

A democratic nation in which good governance, justice, fairness, and transparency thrive can only be built by the collective efforts of every member of the nation duly performing their role …

CSOs and the Fight to End Child Marriage in West Africa

Child marriages are intense in low and middle-income countries. Some of the highest rates are found in Sub-Saharan Africa. West Africa has one of the highest rates of early and …

CSOs Beyond Foreign Aid: Local Fundraising for Financial Sustainability

For decades, civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ghana have relied mainly on international donor funding for their financial sustainability. According to the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), financial sustainability …

Civil Society’s Sustainability – Not all About Financial Resources

The question of civil society’s sustainability cannot be explored without analysing the implications of financial resource factors for civil society organisations (CSOs). Acquiring the appropriate and adequate financial resources is …

Domestic Resource Mobilisation: Pathway to Civil Society Sustainability in Ghana

On 1 November 2018, the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and the Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA) convened a consultative forum on Domestic Resource Mobilisation for Civil Society. …

Bridging the Inter-Generational Gap Between Women’s Activists in West Africa

In early 2018, a video went viral where a young boy in a relay race took over a baton and ran in the opposite direction. He ran so fast even the …

Practical Strategies to Effectively Engage Nonprofit Board Members

Having board members that are actively engaged in the mission and performance of the organisation is highly critical. However, keeping a board engaged requires work. For instance, a study of 200 …

Moving Forward for Our Girls: Ending Child Marriage in West Africa

Child marriage is the practice of parents marrying off their children under the age of 18, sometimes as young as 7 years old, because of tradition, culture, or financial issues …

2019 Elections: Are Nigerian Women Really Ready for the Task of Being President?

Nigeria embraced democratic rule since 1999, but not until 2003 did she record her first female presidential candidates in Dr Sarah Jibril and Late Major Moji Obasanjo. Jibril, however, remains …

The Devil is in The Details: 5 Tips to Write Excellent Reports

Six of us recently joined WACSI as interns. We are all excited about this opportunity because we are aware of the outstanding professional exposure we would be getting. We are …

Technology and Civil Society in West Africa: the Advent of a New Era

We currently live in a dynamic world where people are constantly creating new innovations to find better ways of doing things. Thanks to these innovations, our world is witnessing a …

Redefining Feminism and Feminist Activism in West Africa

For decades, feminism has been a keyword that has influenced national and international agendas across the globe. The scope and specificities of its practice arouse prolonged arguments as to what …

How Can CSOs in West Africa Make Use of Open Data?

There used to be a time when data was something only academics and statisticians had to worry about.  But in recent times, there has been an increased prioritisation of data …

The Life Cycle of a Functional CSO Board

A key driver of operational resilience and sustainability is the capability of civil society organisations (CSOs) to establish and cultivate effective boards. Board governance is an important ingredient to securing …

Setting Up An Administrative System for a CSO: 5 Things to Consider

Having worked in the non-governmental and civil society sector for more than twenty years, one observation I can confidently state is that good administration system is a key part of …

FIIFI BOATENG

Fiifi is a Ghanaian and currently serves as Communications and Information Officer at the West Africa Civil Society Institute. He joined the Institute in December 2020.

NANCY KANKAM KUSI

Nancy is a Ghanaian and currently serves as Programme Officer in the Knowledge Management unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute. She joined the Institute in January 2021.

AGNES ADWOA ANIMA

Agnes is a Ghanaian and currently serves as Head of the Administration unit in the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in October 2021.

DORIS ODEI

Doris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social sciences (Economics and Sociology) from the University of Cape Coast. She is passionate about impacting young lives hence co-founded Impart Foundation. A non-profit organization which seeks to empower young lives through education, technology and entrepreneurship.

PRINCE AKOWUAH

Prince Akowuah is a Ghanaian and currently the Programme Assistant in the Translation Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in 2020.

MAXWELL APENTENG

Maxwell Apenteng is a Ghanaian and joined WACSI in September 2010. He provides gardening and janitorial services at the Institute.

GEORGE ADU-MINTAH

George Adu-Mintah is a Ghanaian and currently the Protocol Assistant/Driver at the West Africa Civil Society (WACSI). He joined the Institute in October 2006.

IBRAHIM KWAKU GBADAGO

Ibrahim Kwaku Gbadago is a Ghanaian. He joined the Institute in 2008 and provides janitorial services and assisting the institute's errands. Before joining the Institute, he worked at the Palestinian embassy in Accra, Ghana.

RUTH YAKANA

Ruth Yakana is from Cameroon and currently the Receptionist at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in 2020.

BETHEL KWAME BOATENG

Bethel is a Ghanaian. He provides technical and IT related support to the Institute. He joined the Institute in October 2006.

WHITNAY SEGNONNA

Whitnay Segnonna holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Management from the University of Benin. With 2 years of experience, she has a strong knowledge of organizational and project management. Combined with her bilingualism, she is very passionate about her work. She joined WACSI as Project Assistant on Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) for the Capacity Development Unit.

STELLA YAWA WOWOUI

Stella Yawa Wowoui holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Translation Studies. She has a perfect grasp of both French and English, as well as an intermediate level in Spanish. She is currently working as a Project Assistant on the Techsoup Project.

KWAME ASANTE

Kwame is an experienced IT Consultant/Software Developer. He is skilled in Web Applications Development, Digital Security, Database Management, Digital Marketing and Brand Management. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology and is a Microsoft Programme Alumni. He is currently serving as a Marketing and IT Officer on the Techsoup Project.

GRACE AKPENE ZIGGAH

Grace Akpene Ziggah is a Togolese and currently the Logistics Officer and also assists in administration duties at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in June 2009.

LILLIAN DAFEAMEKPOR

Lilian Dafeamekpor is a Ghanaian and currently the Assistant to the Executive Director at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in 2020.

JOHN P. FRINJUAH

John P. Frinjuah has expertise and interests in civil society, international development, democracy and governance, conflict, crisis, and security. He has extensive experience working with civil society and international development organizations where he supported and managed research, programmes, and provided technical assistance on a variety of themes around public policy, governance, and development. He is an alumnus of the University of Ghana and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy - Tufts University in the United States, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from two institutions respectively. John speaks English, French and several Ghanaian and regional West Africa languages.

GERVIN CHANASE

Gervin has extensive international development experience, including 5 years of policy advocacy and capacity building of grass root organisations. He has implemented over the years a combination of agriculture value chain, livelihood, food security and governance and rights programmes.
Prior to joining WACSI, Gervin worked on two USAID projects focusing on agriculture value chain development and governance in northern Ghana
Gervin holds a master’s degree in development & Governance from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany as well as a Masters in Global Studies from the Universities of Vienna (Austria), Leipzig (Germany) and California (Santa Barbara), USA. He is passionate social justice and inclusion.

LEANDRE BANON

Leandre Banon, Beninese, joined WACSI in September 2014 as Capacity Development Programme Assistant. Since then, he has worked in various units within the Institute to support operational and institutional capacity strengthening programmes for civil society in the region. Currently serving as Capacity Development Programme Officer at WACSI, his main responsibilities involve designing, planning, implementing and monitoring capacity development programmes for civil society constituents and grouping across the West Africa. Leandre is a certified Change the Game Academy Programme Trainer. His background lies in the areas of economics and development planning.

SAMUEL APPIAH

Samuel Appiah is a Ghanaian and currently the Programme Officer in the Finance and Administrative Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). He joined the Institute in May, 2016.

JIMM CHICK FOMUNJONG

Jimm Chick Fomunjong, Cameroonian, joined WACSI in May 2018 as the Head of the Knowledge Management and Communication Units of the Institute. He has over ten years’ experience as a journalist and a development communications expert. He has a vast experience in supporting African organisations to strengthen their internal and external communications, building and sustaining relationships with the media and, leveraging on the power of social media to promote their mission. He is also excellent at supporting organisations to set up and operationalise functional communications and knowledge management systems. He has a deep passion and expertise in supporting Africans and African civil society organisations to document their praxis, share and learn from experiences documented from the African civil society sector.

FRANCK A. SOMBO

Franck Sombo is a development practitioner with the drive to lead self and others to influence productivity and efficiency. His work involves supporting organisations to develop strategic plans, design monitoring and evaluation systems, develop and use relevant performance measurement tools to track progress, assess organizational growth and institutionalise learning. Franck has eight years of experience working with WACSI where he currently serves as the Head, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning. His academic qualifications include Masters in Organisations’ and Projects’ Management, and in Business Sciences and a High National Diploma in Finance and Accounting.

Franck is a Fellow of the International Program for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) and a graduate of the Graduate Training Institute (GTI) - Ghana with specialization in Strategic Management and Corporate Leadership. He has a rich experience in Project Management, Capacity Development, Strategic planning, Data Analytics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Training and Facilitation, Mentoring and Coaching among others.

OMOLARA T. BALOGUN

Omolara is a development practitioner and advocacy strategist with over 15 years of progressive experience in development programming targeted at strengthening civil society in West Africa.

She joined WACSI in November 2009 as a Regional Advocacy Consultant and later became the first Policy Advocacy Officer of the Institute in 2010.

She was promoted to Head of the Policy Influencing and Advocacy (PIA) Unit in 2015. As the Head of the PIA unit, Omolara offers strategic direction to the Institutes’ ambitions to connect and convene groups of organised and organic civil society actors; and influence regional and global discourses on crosscutting policy issues including—civil society regulations, sustainable development goals, civic space and enabling environment, aid effectiveness, gender equality, and civil society accountability.

Previously, Omolara served as a Programmes Associate with the Women in Peace and Security Network-Africa (WIPSEN-Africa), where she worked with her team to design and implement pan-African programmes on—multidimensional peace support operations and gender mainstreaming in security sector reform in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.

She also served as a Service Development Marshal at TVQ Consulting Group, a customer service firm focused on designing strategic customer relationship and business growth plans for private and public financial institutions in Nigeria.

Omolara is a social justice advocate, a network weaver, and a convener. She has a postgraduate degree in Peace and Conflict Studies; a degree in International Relations and History, from the University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria respectively.

She also holds executive certificates in Behavioral Science in Public Policy from Harvard University Executive Education in Cambridge and in Citizen Advocacy from the Coady International Institute, St Francis Xavier University in Canada.

KWABENA KRODUAH

Kwabena Kroduah is a Ghanaian and currently heads the Finance Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). He joined the Institute in January 2008.

CHARLES KOJO VANDYCK

Charles currently serves as the Head of the Capacity Development Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). Charles has over 10 years of experience working in international development and social justice issues in Africa. Charles has expertise in strengthening civil society and public agencies including the design and implementation of governance and leadership programmes, development of knowledge pieces and policy advice. Charles was the founding Board Chair of Innovation for Change (i4C)-Hub Afrique, as well as the founding member of the International Consortium on Closing Civic Space (iCon), an initiative of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC. Charles currently serves as the Member of the Governing Board (Coordination Collective) of Africans Rising. He is a Member of the Development Studies Association, United Kingdom. Charles is a 2017 Stanford University Fellow for Nonprofit Leaders and a certified Change the Game Resource Mobilisation Trainer.

NANA ASANTEWA AFADZINU

Nana Afadzinu is a Ghanaian and currently serves as the Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in October 2010.