Promoting Collaboration Among Civil Society Actors for Greater Impact
In the context of increasing threats to democracy and the shrinking of the civic space, it is crucial for civil society organisations (CSOs) to sustain their role as key actors …
Job Opportunity: Programme & Administrative Officer
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) is a regional non-governmental organisation dedicated to enhancing the capacities of civil society organizations in West Africa toward greater sustainability and operational and …
Internship Opportunity
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) is a regional non-governmental organisation dedicated to enhancing the capacities of civil society organisations in West Africa toward greater sustainability and operational and …
Unlocking Potential: A Game-Changing Advocacy Training in Freetown, Sierra Leone
[Sierra Leone – 13 September 2023] From the 4th to the 8th of September 2023, a transformative event unfolded in the heart of Freetown, Sierra Leone. The West Africa Civil …
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 …
Communiqué: West Africa Civil Society Week 2023 (#WACSW23)
Embracing Democracy, Peace, and Prosperity: A Collective Call for a Stronger West Africa Preamble We, the participants of the maiden West Africa Civil Society Week 2023 (WACSW23), representing over 100 …
Job Opportunity: Project Officer
WACSI wishes to engage a Project Officer to manage the CSR-Hub Project. Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Head of Policy Influencing & Advocacy, the Project Officer will …
Welcome Remarks by Nana Afadzinu, Executive Director, WACSI at the West Africa Civil Society Week 2023
Mr. Chairman, Your Excellency Ambassador Awinador-Kanyirige, Senior Advisor for Governance and Peacebuilding, African Union; Your Excellencies, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Ghana, Mr. Charles Abani; and Resident …
PRESS STATEMENT: Over 100 Civil Society Leaders and Development Partners Converge in Nigeria to Reimagine the Role of Civil Society in Rapidly Closing Civic Space and Declining Democracy
In a bold response to the unprecedented challenges threatening civic space and democracy in West Africa, over 100 civil society leaders, activists, and development partners are set to convene in …
Gambibgo Ghana Project with Support from Funding Donors Makes Tree Planting a Success in Kandiga Community
Trees contribute to the overall well-being of humans. They improve mental health by providing a calming and aesthetically pleasing environment. Research has shown that spending time in nature, surrounded by …
Call For Applications – Mobilising Support Course For CSOs In Sierra Leone
WACSI with support from the Ford Foundation is seeking applications from local civil society organisations in Sierra Leone to participate in a mobilising support course under the Change the Game …
WACSI Expands Operations in Nigeria: Equips 9 CSOs to Mobilise Resources Locally
With the dwindling nature of financial resources from international donors to civil society actors in Nigeria, there is a growing realisation that civil society organisations (CSOs) in the country need …
Call for Trainers – Training of Trainers in Policy Influencing and Advocacy on Digital Security Laws in West Africa
WACSI seeks the services of a consultant for a training of trainers in policy influencing and advocacy regarding digital security laws in West Africa. The objective of the training of …
Press Release: Statement on the Current Political and Security Developments in Senegal
CIVIC SPACE UNDER THREAT! Statement on the Current Political and Security Developments in Senegal Tuesday, 06 June 2023 We, the underlisted civil society organisations in West Africa, note with deep …
Job Opportunity: Technology Officer
WACSI wishes to engage a Tech Officer to contribute to the digital transformation of the Institute to help in achieving its strategic goals and targets. Under the guidance and the …
PRESS RELEASE – Penplusbytes partners WACSI to build capacity of CSOs on digital security
As the world continues to embrace the full possibilities of digital technologies, cybersecurity has become a non-negotiable prerequisite for investment in any organisation. However, effective cybersecurity remains a challenge across …
WACSI Launches New Report on the State of Digital Security in West Africa’s Civic Space
[Accra– 26 April 2023] – The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) on 19 April 2023, launched a groundbreaking research report which uncovered the state of digital security among civil …
PRESS RELEASE – Digital Insecurity Constitutes a Serious Menace to CSOs in West Africa: New Report Reveals
It has been uncovered that 31% of civil society organisations (CSOs) in West Africa experienced a digital security attack in the last 12 months. 25% of attacks happened multiple times. …
36 Civic Actors in Cameroon, Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire Schooled on Digital Security and Safety
[Accra – 29 March 2023] Thirty-six (36) civic actors in Cameroon, Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire will now be able to effectively protect their personal and organisations’ digital assets and contribute towards …
Four CSOs Gain Knowledge and Skills on Digital Security and Safety in Yaounde
[Yaoundé- 29 March 2023] From 20 – 22 March 2023, four civil society organisations (CSOs) came together in Yaounde under the initiative of a training for CSOs on Digital Security …
Shrinking civic space: Ghana downgraded from NARROWED to OBSTRUCTED
Source: CIVICUS Monitor Ghana has been downgraded from ‘narrowed’ to ‘obstructed’ in a new report by the CIVICUS Monitor, a global research collaboration that rates and tracks fundamental freedoms in …
Call for Applications: Technology Capacity Strengthening and Support in Digital Security & Digital Rights Advocacy
It is critical that civil society organisations do not fall behind in terms of digital security, but instead strive to improve their digital awareness, skills, and capabilities in order to …
Grooming Influential Actors for Civil Society in West Africa: The Story of Leandre Banon
Unemployment and underemployment are dire challenges facing many developing countries. In West Africa, the youth are worst hit by this menace. Moreso, many youths endowed with valuable potential to contribute …
WACSI Grooms 15 Digital Activists to Protect CSOs from Cyber Threats
[Accra – 23 February 2023] – Civil society organisations (CSOs) in West Africa will see improvement in digital security and safety as 15 digital activists have received training to help …
West Africa Civil Society Series (WACSeries) – Call for Papers and Articles
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) was created to reinforce the institutional, operational and knowledge capacities of civil society in the region as well as enhance knowledge on civil …
Strategising to Promote Self-reliance in Communities across the Globe
[ Zanzibar – 10 February 2023] – Over 40 civil society actors from 15 civil society organisations from Africa, South America, Asia and Europe have converged in the beautiful island …
RINGO is Poised to Transform Global Civil Society
[Accra- 2 January 2023] – The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) is excited about the prospects of the Re-Imagining the Role of International Non- Governmental organisations (RINGO), a project …
Four Gambian CSOs Raise Over $ 30,000 in 2022
[Accra- 31 January 2023]- Four civil society organisations (CSOs) in The Gambia have seen incredible results following their participation in a local fundraising training facilitated by the West Africa Civil …
Hivemind Community of Practice for Digital Activists in Ghana
The increasing use of technology in the sub-region has placed Civic Space under threat, both online and offline. CSOs play a critical role in safeguarding citizens and vulnerable communities and …
CALL FOR CONTRIBUTORS: BLOG ARTICLES
WACSI, in collaboration with TechSoup Europe, is looking to engage qualified individuals to work on creation of content on digital security and safety to be published on the Hive Mind, …
WACSI Reaffirms Commitment to Bolster West Africa’s Civil Society Resilience, Launches New Strategic Plan
[Accra- 16 December 2022] – The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) is well positioned to build a resilient civil society in West Africa. The Institute has launched a new …
WACSI Poised to Tighten Collaboration with ECOWAS to Strengthen Civil Society in Nigeria
[Abuja, 19 November 2022] The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) is poised to tighten collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to build civil society resilience …
Good News for Nigerian Civil Society as WACSI sets to Launch a Node in the Country
[Abuja, 15 November 2022] Civil society actors in Nigeria will no longer be travelling to Ghana to access the services of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) as the …
Over 700 Civic Actors from Around the World to Attend Four-day RINGO Learning Festival from October 31
[Accra – 30 October 2022] – Over seven hundred (700) civic actors from around the world would be participating in the RINGO Learning Festival. The festival is a learning and …
25 CSOs Receive Training on Civic Space Protection
[Accra- 19 October]- Twenty-five (25) civil society organisations (CSOs) will now be able to effectively contribute towards the fight for a resilient civic space in West Africa having received training …
Civic Space Resource Hub Project: WACSI Hosts Regional Workshop on Civic Space Protection
[Accra – 10 October 2022] – The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) is hosting a two-day regional workshop on civic space protection from 12-13 October 2022 in Accra, Ghana …
9 Ghanaian CBOs Set to Benefit from Local Fundraising and Advocacy Support
[Accra – 7 October 2022] – It is a new dawn for some nine civil society organisations in Ghana. The organisations will benefit from a three-year long capacity strengthening programme …
Tighten Collaboration with CSOs to address Unconstitutional Change of Governments and Terrorism in West Africa – WACSI Executive Director Calls on Peace and Security Council of the AU
[Accra – 23 September 2022] – The Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Nana Asantewa Afadzinu, has called on the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of …
42 Civic Actors in Ghana and The Gambia Improve their Local Fundraising and Advocacy Skills
[ Accra – 19 September 2022] – In August 2022, the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) trained 42 civic actors from twenty-one (21) civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ghana …
WACSI Welcomes New Talents from Nigeria and Chad
[Accra – 1 September 2022] The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) has welcomed new talents to its pool of civic actors and experts, as part of efforts to propel the …
WACSI and STAR-Ghana Foundation Chalk Wins in Giving for Social Change Programme
[Accra- 19 August 2022] Eighteen months into the implementation of the Giving for Change (GfC) programme, the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and STAR-Ghana Foundation have achieved outstanding milestones …
WACSI and Partners Hold Intergenerational Feminist Forum in Nigeria to Promote Gender Equality and Justice in West Africa
None of the 15 ECOWAS countries can boast of gender equality in its social, political, and economic spheres despite many years of continuous struggle by women and advocates. Rather, the …
Three Interns Join WACSI
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) is delighted to announce the interns for the second cohort of the 2022 Next Generation Internship Programme (NGIP). The three interns, who come …
Dialogue between Organised and Organic Civic Actors on Transformative Strategies to Expand Civic Spaces in West Africa held in Senegal
[Dakar – 22 July 2022] Leaders of organised civil society and drivers of social movements across West Africa held a three-day workshop in Dakar, Senegal, to design a transformative strategy …
Four Trained Under WACSI’s Next Generation Internship Programme
Four graduates from three African countries have received training under the Next Generation Internship (NGI) Programme, a flagship mentoring initiative of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). The …
Giving for Change Partner Learning and Reflection Meeting Ongoing in Accra
More than 50 partner representatives of the Giving for Change (GfC) programme attended the opening session of the five-day partner learning and reflection meeting which has begun in Accra, Ghana. …
Changemakers Innovation Challenge Opens this Week for Entry
About the Changemakers Innovation Challenge The Changemakers Innovation Challenge is conceived by ACT Foundation as a response to the impressive work of community nonprofits, businesses and social enterprises in Africa …
Press Release : CSOs From Across the Globe Converge In Accra To Advance Giving For Social Change Agenda
Launched on 17 June 2021 in Ghana,, the Giving for Change (GfC) programme seeks to transform the way development is done by promoting local giving as a strategy for achieving …
CHOGM 2022: Citizens Decry the Shrinking Civic Space, Violations of Human Rights and Freedoms in Commonwealth Africa
[23 June 2022] Over 70 African citizens held a dialogue to address the shrinking civic space and violations of human rights and freedoms in Commonwealth Africa during the Commonwealth People’s …
Empowering Grassroots Conservation Organisations in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone
Though civil society organisations (CSOs) have significantly contributed to addressing a wide array of rights-based topics in West Africa, they still have an essential role to play in complementing governments’ …
One-on-One Interview with Jimm Chick Fomunjong, 2022 #ShiftThePower Fellow
Last week, the Global Fund for Community Foundations (GFCF) and Root Change announced the inaugural cohort of the 2022 #ShiftThePower Fellows. Jimm Chick Fomunjong, Head of Knowledge Management and Communications at the West Africa …
WACSI commends Nigerian civil society for the major win on new anti-money laundering law
[Accra – 30 May 2022] The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) joins several civil society organisations in West Africa to commend progress made by Nigeria in the protection of …
CoPs Receive Training on Fundraising under Giving for Change Project
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) in partnership with STAR-Ghana Foundation has trained 24 staff from 12 organisations of the Communities of Practice (CoPs) members under Giving for Change …
Building on Our “Ubuntu Spirit” in African philanthropy – The way to Go
“As Africans, our giving is not transactional, it’s transformational,” Nana Asantewa Afadzinu, Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) said on Thursday May 11, 2022. This, she …
WACSI and Partners Launch Civic Space Resource Hub
[Accra – Ghana] 18 May 2022 – A resource hub dedicated to promoting an open civic space and regulatory compliance as well as strengthening civil society organisations (CSOs’) organisational governance …
LAUNCH OF THE CIVIC SPACE RESOURCE HUB – (CSR-Hub) FOR CSOs IN WEST AFRICA
16 May 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Omolara Balogun, Head, Policy Influencing and Advocacy Unit (WACSI) Email: obalogun@wacsi.org Contact: Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri, Executive Director, Spaces for Change (S4C) Email: spacesforchange.s4c@gmail.com LAUNCH …
Programme of the international conference
The Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS vision is to remain an independent, reliable, efficient and accessible legal and judicial institution of the Community, playing a strategic role in establishing and …
Lessons and trends in nonprofit capacity strengthening
As part of its Organizational Effectiveness (OE) strategy refresh, the Hewlett Foundation’s Effective Philanthropy Group set out to answer these questions and better understand the current field of nonprofit capacity …
WACSI TRAINS 31 YOUNG LEADERS FROM WEST AFRICA
[Accra, Ghana] 31 March 2022 — As part of efforts to groom the next generation of leaders in the West African region, the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) has …
Consultations with Civil Society in Niger – A courtesy visit to CARE Niger
[Niamey, Niger] 18 March 2022 — The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) concluded a successful 3-day capacity building training for young civil society actors on effective advocacy for open …
CDD-GHANA PARTNERS WITH SIDA TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY IN WEST AFRICA
The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) have entered into a new partnership to establish a transnational democracy solidarity network, to be …
Consultations with Civil Society in Niger – A courtesy visit to Coalition of Nigerien Organizations for the Rights of the Child (CONIDE)
[Niamey, Niger] 17 March 2022 — The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) concluded a successful 3-day capacity building training for young civil society actors on effective advocacy for open …
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) trains youth and social movement actors on advocacy, civic space, and democratic engagement in the Sahel
[Niamey, Niger] 14 – 16 March 2022 — The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) successfully completed a 3-day capacity building workshop for young civil society actors on effective advocacy …
WACSI Receives a Generous Gift to Continue to Strengthen the Capacity of CSOs in West Africa
15 November 2021 marked a new dawn for the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and gave impetus to its mission of strengthening civil society in West Africa. It will …
Clarity of Roles, Better Functioning Characterises a Young and Vibrant Nature Conservation Organisation in Cote d’Ivoire – IDEF
Initiative Pour le Developpement Communautaire et de la Conservation de la Foret (IDEF) has positioned itself on the path of good institutional governance; one that makes the staff, management and …
‘This Programme has helped us to Improve our Way of Working’, Says Prof Egnankou Mathieu, Board Chair of SOS-Forêts
A visit of four personnel from WACSI to SOS-Forêts on Tuesday 16 November 2021 was characterised by high sense of gratitude shown to WACSI by the over 10 members of …
VIRTUAL CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM
Dear partners of civil society organizations, You are cordially invited to the 1st regional forum for civil society organizations in the Western Africa region to be held virtually, on Wednesday December …
WACSI holds dialogue on civil society contributions to national development and post-pandemic recovery efforts in Ghana
[Accra, Ghana] 24 November 2021 — The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) held a half-day dialogue on civil society contributions to national development and efforts towards rebuilding better the …
Nana Afadzinu Urges Donors to Allocate more Support for Social Movements
The spontaneous nature of social movements combines groups of people with complementary skills driven towards a shared goal. These social movements have become a prime factor contributing to social change …
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) trains women and feminists organisations in climate change, environment, and natural resource governance.
[Accra, Ghana] 25 – 27 October 2021 — The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) completed a 3-day successful capacity building training for women and feminist organisations in climate change, …
5th Young Entrepreneurs Summit, Expo and Awards Launched in Accra
The Ghana Startup Network in partnership with International Trade Centre’s Ye! Community, and Pan African SMEs Network has launched the 5th edition of the annual Young Entrepreneurs Summit, Expo and …
WACSI Concludes a 3 – day Training for the Newly Created Non-Profit Organisation’s Secretariat in Accra, Ghana
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) with the support of the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) facilitated a 3 – day institutional strengthening training for staff of the …
#ShiftThePower conference titled Local Philanthropy, Localisation and Power: Communities driving their own development
Join the #ShiftThePower conference titled Local Philanthropy, Localisation and Power: Communities driving their own development to discuss how African civil society organisations, grantmakers, philanthropic foundations and other actors in the …
Moderators
Terms of Reference for the Africa Innovation Festival Moderators Introduction to Innovation for Change (I4C) Innovation for Change (I4C) is a global network of people and organizations who work together …
Translation Services
Terms of Reference for the Africa Innovation Festival Translation Services Introduction to Innovation for Change (I4C) Innovation for Change (I4C) is a global network of people and organizations who work …
Keynote Speakers
Terms of Reference for the Africa Innovation Festival Keynote Speakers Introduction to Innovation for Change (I4C) Innovation for Change (I4C) is a global network of people and organizations who work …
Demo Jams
Terms of Reference for the Africa Innovation Festival Demo Jams Introduction to Innovation for Change (I4C) Innovation for Change (I4C) is a global network of people and organizations who work …
APN Catalytic Grants 2021
The Africa Philanthropy Network (APN) is the only continent-wide network of organizations and individuals in Africa and its diaspora that promotes the culture of philanthropic giving. Since 2009 APN conceived …
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 …
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 …
It is Time for a Paradigm Shift from the Dependency Mentality in Ghana
Star Ghana Foundation and its strategic partner, the West Africa Civil Society Institute -WACSI, launched the Giving for Change Project in Ghana with a clarion call on citizens to maximise …
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 …
CALID helps Girls Access Education in Northern Ghana
Centre for Active Learning and Integrated Development (CALID) is a Non-Governmental, Non-profit and Non-Partisan organisation formed on April 04, 2001 in Tamale by a group of Community Development Workers formerly …
Virtual High-Level Policy Dialogue on Gender Equality in West Africa From Data to Policy Action: Tackling Gender-Based Discrimination in Social Institutions
The OECD Development Centre, the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat, the African Development Bank Group, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, in collaboration with the Austrian Development …
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 …
AAP Transforming Institutions Strategic Funding Invitation for Proposals 2021
The Alliance for African Partnership is now accepting proposals for the Transforming Institutions Strategic Funding! The Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) seeks proposals from AAP consortium members and their partners …
WACSI Supports 9 CSOs to Strengthen their MS and LFR Skills
Feedback is a very important aspect of the learning and growth strategy of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). At WACSI, we have taken deliberate steps to elevate the …
WACSI Goes Green in Style
Warren Buffet once said: “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Friday 11 June 2021 marked another historic day in Ghana; Green …
Pan African Media Conference on Debt and Development
Africa Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD), in collaboration with OXFAM and ActionAid, is organising a two-day Pan African Media Conference on Debt and Development. From 9th – …
Opportunities to Promote Engagement Between CSOs and ECOSSOC
Migration and the movement of persons within Africa and outside the continent forms a large part of Africa’s history. Migration in Africa dates back to centuries. Cross-border migrations happen daily across the …
WACSI Hosts ARNOVA/AROCSA 2021 Leadership Fellows from Africa
WACSI continues to serve as fertile ground for the cross-fertilisation of knowledge among civil society leaders in West Africa and across the globe. On 4 May 2021, Leadership Fellows comprising …
STAR-Ghana Foundation and WACSI host the Dutch Ambassador to Ghana
Ghana with seven other countries and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs have started a new partnership called strengthening the civil society framework. Under the framework, the Dutch government will support community …
Basic Steps Towards Strengthening CIKOD
Have you ever wondered why some civil society organisations (CSOs) effortlessly produce excellent results with respect to impact creation, while others struggle in the quest? Let us begin by picturing a young lady who just did her test …
CSOs in West Africa were Severely Hit by COVID-19 – Research Reveals
In March 2020, the world was plunged into a state of shock and dismay by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The pandemic affected every aspect of human life, ranging …
WACSI: The Home of Dynamism, the Springboard towards Efficiency
She prides herself in being the best While others struggle in the quest Excellence is her minimum standard She ensures she is always on guard Her vision is a peaceful …
The Fluid Journey of Organisational Growth
Imagine spending a whole year putting together resources needed to strengthen your organisation. Having sleepless nights and barely being able to maintain a proper diet for yourself just to ensure that you followed all legal and social requirements …
Grooming Young African Leaders amidst COVID-19: Challenges and Lessons Learned
Community development and leadership now rests in the hands of the youths. According to a report on “The Burgeoning Africa Youth population” by Felix Kariba, 60% of Africa’s population is …
Ghana: 14 CSOs receive 42 Laptops from WACSI and Techsoup
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), since its establishment in 2007 has provided consistent support to civil society organisations (CSOs) in West Africa and beyond in the areas of …
ECOWAS Engages Youth And Women On Its Vision 2050
ECOWAS Commission has called for more youth and Women participation in its vision 2050, in a two-day workshop, held in Abuja, 25th – 26th March 2050. The workshop created a platform …
ECOWAS Commission Consults, Decentralized Stakeholders On The ECOWAS Vision 2050
The ECOWAS Commission has asked Community stakeholders to play an active role in the development and the implementation of the ECOWAS Vision 2050 document and its frameworks for the West …
Liberia: 7 CSOs Receive 12 Laptops from TechSoup and WACSI
Seven civil society organisations (CSOs) in Liberia received twelve brand new Lenovo laptops on Thursday March 25, 2021 from the Executive Director of NAYMOTE – Partners for Democratic Development, Eddie …
WACSI Recognised Among Top 50 NGOs in Africa
WACSI’s efforts to strengthen the civil society sector in West Africa has not gone unnoticed. With the Institute’s resilience in 2020, WACSI delivered activities that benefitted 1,158 participants from 761 …
Four New Interns Join WACSI from Cameroon, Ghana, and Benin
January 2021 set a new page in the careers of Shu Mabel Lum, Angela Akorfa Apedoh, Agossou Jacques Setondji and Ballo Ngomna as they joined the Capacity Development, Policy Influencing …
WACSI and TechSoup Donate 102 Laptops to 40CSOs from Seven Countries
Technology remains an indispensable tool that is required to boost the efficiency of civil society organisations (CSOs). With the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the role of technology in …
Call for Case Studies: Existing African Models on Philanthropy Practices
Submission Deadline: Monday 5 April 2021 The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) is inviting individuals, organisations, associations and groups from across Africa to submit stories or cases of the …
Invitation to Participate in a Civil Society Knowledge Café.
The West Africa Civil Society Institute has initiated a process of promoting peer learning among like-minded civil society actors and other stakeholders in the development space. This initiative dubbed the …
The Professional Transformation Process begins for Shu Mabel from Cameroon
The curtains of 2021 opened with a new career adventure for Shu Mabel Lum, a young and ambitious Cameroonian who is passionate about grooming young girls to understand the key …
Sankofa small grant programme: Call for submission of proposal
The French Embassy in Ghana is seeking high-quality project proposals that seek to preserve, promote, advocate and educate on culture and heritage in the following three areas: ⮚ PROTECTING HERITAGE …
Celebrating an Illustrious African Hero – Carl Manlan
Many are called but few are chosen. This popular adage encapsulates the recognition bestowed upon Carl Manlan, Chief Operating Officer of the Ecobank Foundation, for his relentless efforts to ‘move …
Capacity Strengthening Training for CEPF Partners
As part of the project entitled: Strengthening CSOs’ Capacities for Effective Stakeholder Engagement in Biodiversity Conservation funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF); on Monday 9 November 2020, the …
WACSI Rolls Out First Ever Course on Social Accountability for CSOs in Liberia – 296 CSO Reps Benefit
“In West Africa, state institutions and public service delivery are still very fragile, inefficient and not meeting the expectations of community citizens. In many countries, public institutions are progressively being …
Harnessing the Soft Leadership Skills of Young Civil Society Actors
In 2017, with the support of Ford Foundation West Africa and the Rockdale Foundation, the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) organised the second edition of the Civil Society Leadership …
The Leadership Challenge in Civil Society: A Call for Concern
It is has become more evident that there are serious leadership challenges within civil society. “Managing people is a challenge within civil society …There is a big gap in leadership …
Multi-Stakeholder Reflection Meeting on COVID-19 Responses in Ghana
On Wednesday 19 August 2020, over 90 stakeholders from the private sector, civil society and government convened to reflect on the gains they have made to curb COVID-19 in Ghana. …
110 Participants Equipped to Bolster the Communication Skills of their Organisations
This has compelled most CSOs to model their activities to be delivered via online means. This makes it paramount for CSOs to adopt information and communication technologies (ICTs) and use …
Enhanced Technological Capacities Enhances Programmatic Efficiency of HRAC
In a fast-paced technological and digital age, the ability of civil society organisations (CSOs) to create impact and enhance their reach is affected by their skilfulness in leveraging technology for …
WACSI Strengthens Enoch Mensah’s Fundraising Skills
Hope for Children and Aged Rehabilitation Centre located in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region Ghana in West Africa was commissioned to combine measurement and actions in the medical and …
Release of Madi Jobarteh: A Big Win for CSOs’ Collective Advocacy in West Africa
“I am happy to announce that as Inspector General of Police of The Gambia Police Force, we are dropping all charges against Mr. Madi Jobarteh as from today. No other …
Building a Robust Next Generation of West African Leaders
“Through a hands-on approach to executing tasks in the next few months, I hope to get a grasp of how civil society works in the region of West Africa. This will help me understand how to …
WACSI Graduates 5th Batch of Interns in its 3rd Strategy Cycle Amidst COVID-19
It is in July 2020. The middle of an extraordinary year in the 14 years of WACSI’s existence. Extraordinary because the Institute, like every other civil society organisations (CSOs) in …
Strengthening CSO’s Capacities for Effective Stakeholder Engagement in Biodiversity Conservation in West Africa
The Upper Guinean Forest of West Africa considered as one of the “global biodiversity hotspots” due to its exceptional concentrations of endemic flora and fauna species. This natural treasure has lost more …
Enhancing CSOs’ Knowledge and Skills in African and International Human Rights Instruments
As West African states have been implementing anti-COVID-19 directives to curb the global pandemic, civil society organisations (CSOs) have increasingly raised criticism on national and regional decision-making and governance related …
Amadou Oury Bah Testifies to the Added Value of WACSI’s Communications Training
Although COVID-19 has raised significant health, economic, social and human rights challenges, the global pandemic can also be viewed as an opportunity for innovation and higher impact. Several civil society …
WACSI Boosts Communication Skills of CSOs in Ghana during COVID-19
COVID-19 has exacerbated the existing challenges that West African civil society organisations (CSOs) normally face. Indeed, the global pandemic has aggravated the prevailing digital divide as lock-down measures began to …
“Technology is here with us! We need to embrace it and take advantage of it”: Gertrude Bibi Annoh-Quarshie to CSOs in West Africa
Many CSOs in West Africa do not have Internet-based and technology tools through which they can communicate their activities as front liners in the fight against COVID-19. Furthermore, in the …
AWDF Capitalises on Technological Products during COVID-19
West African civil society organisations (CSOs) are increasingly putting efforts into leveraging on ICTs to mobilise support, coordinate response mechanisms and raise awareness on the COVID-19 pandemic. However, an overwhelming majority are …
Citizens-focused Feedback and Information Hub on COVID-19 Launched in Ghana
On Thursday, 25 June 2020, STAR Ghana and Penplusbytes’ organised a webinar to officially launch and deploy a COVID-19 ‘info-for-all’ website, information for all platform to address gaps in information dissemination …
Google for Nonprofits launches in Ghana and Nigeria!
Great news! Ghanaian and Nigerian nonprofits are now able to join the Google for Nonprofits program. Get access to a number of Google’s paid products, tools, and nonprofit services at …
COVID-19: WADPN Provides Emergency Humanitarian Responses to Persons who use Drugs
While West Africa has increasingly become an important hub for the global trade of illegal drugs, drug policy in the region has shown considerable weaknesses as West African states continue …
WACSI Strengthens the Communication Skills of CSOs in Côte d’Ivoire and Cape Verde during COVID-19
The civil society sector has been crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby reducing civil society organisation’s (CSO) capacity to effectively implement their activities and reach targeted vulnerable communities. As lock-down …
WACSI’s First Female Chairperson Begins Her Term of Office
Mrs. Ayodeji Fajemirokun, a technology consultant chaired her first board meeting at WACSI in her capacity as the board chairperson. Mrs. Fajemirokun becomes the first female board chair to lead …
WACSI Holds First Board Meeting Online Amidst COVID-19
On Thursday 28 May 2020, WACSI organised its statutory first board meeting for the year. The meeting was organised online for the first time in the Institute’s 13 years of …
Civil Society and Ghana Beyond Aid (GBA) Agenda in the context of COVID-19: A strategic opportunity to revisit the GBA Charter
On 30 April 2020, the West Africa Civil Society Organisation (WACSI) in collaboration with the Ghana CSO Platform on the SDGs organised a webinar to discuss the expediency of the …
WACSI Strengthens the Capacity of GNDR Partners to Mobilise Resources
Over the last decade, West African civil society organisations have been leveraging on digital democratisation to voice their constituencies interests to contribute to social welfare and to participate actively in …
“Feed the Hungry and Save a life.” Together we do more! – SCP
Street Children Project (SCP), is a legitimate Ghanaian based organisation operating in the Ashanti Region (Kumasi). Running under the vision “that all children live, grow, and are cared for within …
COVID-19: How WACSI Supports CSOs’ Sustainability
The Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has created a global health crisis that significantly affects citizen’s habits across the world. In the quest to stop its spread, governments across West Africa have …
Most Active Organisation Sharing its Impact on the West Africa CSOs E-Directory – ASERD
Aid for Socio-Economic and Rural Development (ASERD), is a legitimate non-governmental organisation located at Nalerigu, North East Regional Capital of Ghana. The organisation envisions a community, where the rural poor, …
CSOs Equipped to Respond to Cyber Security Threats
Civil society organisations (CSOs) across West Africa are showing innovation by using technology to advance their work. In fact, technology allows CSOs to communicate their agenda, mobilise larger audiences, connect …
Ghanaian CSOs Equipped to Effectively Mobilise Communities to Demand Accountability
Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ghana play a vital role in influencing policies in the country. They also play key roles in ensuring adequate service delivery to deprived communities. However, …
30 CSOs in Northern Ghana Equipped with Practical and Effective Communication Skills
“A lot of lessons were learnt and the right answers were given to all questions. It was more of an open discussion. I just cannot wait for the next training. …
Precautionary Measures to Curb the Spread of COVID-19
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) would like to bring to the attention of staff, partners and the general public, key measures it is putting in place to support …
WACSI Convenes Key Civil Society Actors in Ghana to Assess the Legal Environment for CSOs in the Country
An enabling environment is key for civil society sustainability. However, across the globe, there have been growing concerns of threats to civil society sustainability due to the dearth of or …
Equipping Young West Africans with Skills to Smoothly Transition from Academia to the Work Milieu
By the end of the programme, I hope to gain a quantum of competence from the internship, including knowledge of Public Policy and civil society organisations. Also, I hope to …
PRESS RELEASE: Rights CoLab and Partners Join Forces to Map Civil Society Innovation to Advance Human Rights
Rights CoLab is pleased to announce that it has joined forces with the Prague Centre for Civil Society, the Social Innovations Advisory and the West Africa Civil Society Institute to …
WACSI Board Expresses Delight with 2019 Accomplishments
On Friday 13 December 2019, the board and management of WACSI held the second and last board meeting for the year. This meeting was the second in the second year …
WACSI Engaged the Civic Leadership Track of 15th Cohort of YALI RLC West Africa
As part of the West Africa Civil Society Institute, WACSI’s commitment to grooming the next generation of West African leaders, WACSI has been a key implementing partner of the YALI …
West African Activists Enhance their Ability to Effectively Conduct Non-Violent Mobilisation
Since the 1990s, with the institution of the multiparty democracy, the number of electoral democracies in West Africa has been on the rise. Since January 2017, the region has for …
Strengthening the Capacities of CSOs to Eliminate Child Marriage in Niger
Seventy-eight per cent (78%) of girls in Niger get married before their 18th birthday. This makes Niger the country with the highest prevalence of child marriage in the world. It …
Tebeck Mariztsa Commits to Mobilise Cameroonian Youths to Create Lasting Peace
Tebeck Mariztsa, 18, will hold fond memories of the nonviolent mobilisation training she participated in from 4 – 7 November in Accra, Ghana. The young Cameroonian, and youngest to have …
Civil Society Networks in Niger Strategise to End Child Marriage for Good
Niger has the highest rate of child marriage in the world, with alarming statistics of 76% of women married before the age of 18 and 28% are married before age …
WAVES Enhances its Institutional Competences
A 5-day training conducted for partners of the Fund for Global Human Right (FGHR) Partners in Sierra Leone by the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), took place at Imperial …
Sonny Leigh Commits to Revive the Board of Act
Action for Community Task (ACT), a community-based organisation in Pujehun, in the southern part of Sierra Leone was among four civil society organisations that took part in a five-day training …
Act Sierra Leone Commits to Have a Functional Board
Four women and child rights organisations in Sierra Leone have been enlightened on the urgent need to have boards that play more active oversight roles in the management of their …
DCI-SL and NCYAB Win Proposal Pitching Competition
Defence for Children International Sierra Leone (DCI-SL) and the National Children and Youth Advisory Board (NCYAB) of Liberia emerged winners of a proposal pitching competition organised for a selected group …
WACSI and PNA Enhance the Skills of CSOS in Parliamentary Advocacy and Engagement
Advocacy is an essential tool used by civil society to achieve its mission to advance collective interests, solve shared problems and defend social causes. As institutions that facilitate communication between …
WACSI Organises Four-Day Training for Embassy of France Civil Society Partners
“As an organisation, we have not been doing very well with monitoring and evaluation because of limited opportunities for detailed learning. [Thanks to this programme] I have learnt key issues …
Benitha Dehfer Participates in Her First Ever Training in Resource Mobilisation
Benitha Dehfer was one of four participants from Defence for Children (DCI) Liberia who took part in a five-day training for five child rights organisations in Liberia. Like the other 15 participants, …
Strengthening the Capacities of Child Rights Organisations In Liberia
Five civil society organisations (CSOs) in Liberia have benefitted from a five-day training in Monrovia from 15 to 18 October 2019. The organisations who are partners of the Fund for Global …
20 CSOS in Ghana Participate in Maiden CSO Sustainability Fellowship
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) with support from Star-Ghana Foundation held a 3-day sustainability fellowship training for 20 selected civil society organisations (CSOs) in Accra from Wednesday 9 to Friday …
Ghana CSOS Sustainability Fellowship: A Step Forward in The Sustainability Journey of CSOS In Ghana
Sustainability of the civil society sector remains a key challenge in Ghana. Although civil society plays a key role in contributing to the development of the country, dwindling funding, inadequate …
AFDB Engages CSOS in West Africa
The African Development Bank (AfDB or the Bank) held a consultation workshop on 26 September 2019 with civil society actors from across West Africa in Abuja. This workshop sought to enable participants …
The Ghana National Civil Society Sustainability Strategy: A Key Tool to Drive the Sustainability of CSOS in Ghana
This strategy paper has been developed as a one-stop toolbox of ideas, initiatives and strategies for making Ghanaian civil society viable and sustainable. The Strategy document is a product of …
WACSI Completes Organisational Assessments for NGOS In Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea
Four non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Sierra Leone, five from Liberia and three from Guinea have benefitted from a capacity assessment support from the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). This …
CSOS on the West Africa Civil Society E-Directory Participate in First Webinar
“We, SPONG, are very grateful for this timely support provided by WACSI. We had an uncomplete draft of our communication strategy and this webinar provided us with the right set …
Stakeholders’ Engagement on Relevance of Techsoup to CSOS in West Africa
On 23 July 2019, WACSI took part in the 4th Edition of the Association for Research on Civil Society in Africa (AROCSA) Conference that took place from 22-24 July, in Strathmore University, …
CSOS, Social Movements and Activists Must Collaborate to Curb Shrinking Civic Space in West Africa
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) in collaboration with the Fund for Global Human Rights (FGHR) organised a 3-day convening with twenty representatives from civil society organisations (CSOs) that promote social justice in …
Empowers Civil Society in Francophone West Africa on AML/CTF Issues
WACSI in collaboration with the International Center for Non-Profit Law (ICNL) on 20th to 22nd August 2019, convened a workshop on the theme Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing in West Africa: Strengthening civil …
2017 Civil Society Leadership Institute – Stories of Change
This publication showcases leadership stories from various communities within West Africa. The stories highlight the growth and influence of young West African leaders who continue to shape the development of …
AGNA: Sharing Lessons Globally to Scale Up Domestic Impact
Many CSOs learn sector-based best practices from others. This is often achieved through their membership in networks. Networks comprise a group of CSOs and or individuals who work together to …
Result Based Monitoring Evaluation and Communicating Impact – Interview With Chris Ogbonna
The interest in attending training on monitoring and evaluation evolved from his need to have basic knowledge on monitoring and evaluation. Ogbonna did not regret participating in this training. Although …
Strengthening CSOS to Raise Funds Locally!
Preceding the training, WACSI engaged the leadership of selected organisations to identify critical gaps, expectations and address issues pertaining to ownership of the programme. A total of eighteen (18) participants …
Grooming the Next Generation of Researchers on Civil Society
My experience with WACSI has been one that is phenomenal. It has affected me in a number of ways. It shaped my research focus. I had to redirect things after …
GDCA Enhances its Knowledge Management System
On 10th January 2019, the Techsoup West Africa team delivered the second phase of training support in Knowledge Management System and Technology Planning for the Ghana Developing Community Association (GDCA) …
Civil Society Situation Report October 2018
Over the last month, there has been a cross-cutting of events of civil society activities across West Africa ranging from elections to governance, activism, women empowerment among others. As these …
Civil Society Situation Report November 2018
Reports gathered over the last one month on civil society activities across West Africa revealed a massive and diverse socio-economic agenda towards the development of livelihoods. CSOs in Nigeria recorded …
Promoting Social Accountability in West Africa
From the 03-05 December 2018, the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) in partnership with the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) organised the …
Strategic Human Rights Litigation Course 2019
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) invites applicants for the 2019 Africa Human Rights Litigation Course, to be held in Accra, Ghana from April 10 …
Ghana Hosts CSO Conference on Alternative Funding Models
The existence and viability of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are being threatened by the reduction in donor funding, Mr Charles Vandyck, Head, Capacity Development Unit, West Africa Civil Society Institute …
WACSI, Innovation for Change Hold Conference on Alternative Funding Models for CSOs
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), in partnership with Innovation for Change, has put together a three-day conference in which participants are expected to share ideas on alternative funding …
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. …
Change the Game Academy Newsletter
In today’s world, there are many organisations seeking to address various needs in society. This has led to competition for grants, especially in developing countries. There has been a culture …
WACSI Hosts 3rd Annual ICON Meeting
From the 17th- 18th October 2018, WACSI hosted 13 members of the International Consortium on Closing Civic Space (iCon) at its secretariat. During her opening remarks, the Executive Director of …
Functioning Beyond Donor Dependency
“We’ve improved our ways of generating funds locally towards projects instead of depending solely on foreign aid and internally generated funds. This awareness only came about through our participation in …
Tapping into The Local Resource Mobilisation Pool
Since its creation in 2000, the Urban Poor Child Organisation (UPCO) has experienced some resource mobilisation challenges. This impeded their ability to locally mobilise resources to sustain their mission and ensure …
Civil Society Situation Report September 2018
Over the past one month, the level and engagements of civil society activities in West Africa have been observed to be on the rise as they are confronted with a …
Civil Society in Ghana Strategise Towards A Sustainable Future
The state of civil society’s sustainability in Ghana remains challenging. This was realised from research on the State of Civil Society’s Sustainability in Ghana published by the West Africa Civil …
“We all Knew Funding Was Becoming A Challenge, But We Didn’t Know that the Intensity Was that Dire” – Dr. Arhin
Dr. Mohammed Arhin urges non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to invest in building their own capacity. He also encourages NGOs to be smart in generating funds both internally and externally. Additionally, he …
CSOS in Ghana Commit to Work Towards their Sustainability
The state of civil society sustainability in Ghana remains challenging. This is a key outcome of the research on the State of Civil Society’s Sustainability in Ghana. “Sustainability is an …
Media Reporting on Substance Use: Magnifying or Reducing the Harm?
Over the past four months, phrases such as “sweet, sweet codeine” and “end tramadol abuse now” have become very popular in Ghana and Nigeria. These terms emanated from a title …
Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders
Over decades, youths on the African continent have argued that the biggest leadership deficit is caused by the failure of young qualified professionals to be given the opportunity to occupy …
Civil Society Situation Report August 2018
From politicians violating human rights to repressive laws and downright violence, the civic space in many West African countries is shrinking even amidst rising advocacy. The August edition of the …
Reviving Corps Senegal
Mareme Ndour believes in duty; her duty to manage and lead her colleagues and organisation more effectively as Deputy Director of Corps Africa-Senegal. In 2017 she discovered a means to …
Civil Society Situation Report 01-31 June,2018
Civil society in West Africa, Cameroon and Chad continued to pursue divergent mandates and face unique challenges, as reflected in the diversity of the population, and the political, economic and …
2017 Civil Society Leadership Institute – Stories of Change
The Civil Society Leadership Institute (CSLI) is designed to groom the next generation of leaders in civil society. It equips participating fellows with the skills and tools they need to …
WACSI Trains Civil Society Actors on Evidence Based Advocacy
In line with our mandate to capacitate civil society actors in the sub-region, WACSI organised 5-day training on Evidence-Based Advocacy from 23-27 July 2018 in Accra, Ghana. The training which …
It is Time for A Public Health Approach to the Illicit Drug Problem in Liberia
The Senate Committee Chairman on Youth and Sports has called for the decriminalisation of drug use and to consider it from a public health perspective. Senator Commany Wesseh explained that the drug …
Advancing Women’s Agenda in West Africa
Decades after the Beijing Women’s Conference in China, gender equality continues to face stiff resistance across sectors of African society. Notwithstanding, the inclusion of gender equality as a key policy …
Civil Society Situation Report 01-31 July, 2018
Over the month of July, the West African civic space has been very dynamic. Many of its actors undertook key actions to improve the lives of citizens. Civil society organisations …
Transformational Leadership for Change – A CSLI Story
“I used to focus on just myself, completing my daily tasks without considering a holistic approach to enhance my organisation’s work,” Chinenye Etoniru, a 2017 Fellow of WACSI’s Civil Society …
Mandela Washington Fellow Joins WACSi as Immunisation Advocacy Initiative Project Officer
Dr. Annick Sidibe, a 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow (MWF) from Burkina Faso has joined WACSI as the Immunisation Advocacy Initiative (IAI) Project Officer. As a MWF, Dr. Sidibe took the …
Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
“It was an honour to be a Next Generation Intern with WACSI”, said Cesaltina Travares Sa, after completing a six-month internship at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) in …
The Future of Civil Society Series
The editorials are analytical write-ups on topical themes and emerging issues relevant to West Africa and the development sector. These editorials provide WACSI’s Board members with a platform to reflect, …
Unearthing the Potential of the Next Generation of Leaders
Since 2015, WACSI hosts two students from the Ghana Institute of Languages every month. During this period, these students work at the institute as part of their language immersion programme. …
Reshaping the Narrative- A 2017 CSLI Story
“I was prone to outbursts, lacking tact and an unapologetic disposition”. These were the words that came to mind about Moussa when his colleagues thought about him. Moussa Hassan Ousseini, …
NIPSS Delegation Pays Working Visit To WACSI
In the early hours of Monday 30 July 2018, 16 participants from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) paid a working visit to WACSI. The goal of their visit …
Soaring in Life Through Internship Programmes: Ms. Nicole Hinshaw Lauds Internship Opportunity with WACSI
Meet Ms Nicole Hinshaw, an aspiring diplomat and Public Diplomacy Officer, a Junior at Arizona State University (ASU) studying Human Communication and Political Science who took up internship programmes in …
The Status of Women’s Leadership In West Africa
For many years, women continue to be poorly represented in governance and power structures across the West African region. Specifically, women are not adequately represented in two of the three …
