Background
A Rocha Ghana, Wacam, and the Nature and Development Foundation are seeking expressions of interest from qualified web design firms or individuals to develop and host a website for the Building Resilient and Active Communities in Extractive Landscapes in Ghana (BRACE) project. This initiative is funded by the European Union and aims to empower communities affected by mining activities by enhancing their access to justice and information regarding their environmental and land rights.
Communities’ rights to their lands, a healthy environment and natural resources are severely threatened by mining activities, and this threat grows by the day as Ghana’s extractives sector takes precedent. Licences are granted without due diligence in socially and environmentally sensitive areas (farmlands, forests, and rivers1, despite a prospecting ban for forests and mining ban for rivers). The ‘UN Special Rapporteur on Toxics and Human Rights’ visited communities living near largescale mining operations in 2022 where he witnessed their living conditions and heard their testimonials of losing their lands, farms and livelihoods to large-scale mining companies; communities surrounded by mine tailings and stagnant water; contamination of farmlands and water sources by mercury, zinc and arsenic; sicknesses (coughing, rashes, nose bleeding, fatigue, respiratory problems, cancer); inadequate compensation; and very limited benefits returning to communities2. Affected communities are not able to access justice systems to seek redress due to the high costs3, and they also lack on information on their environment and land rights, and of the responsibilities of duty bearers in extractive sector development.
Needs of the BRACE partners
BRACE partners are looking for a web designer to design, create and host a website to support the project and its target groups. After creation, the partners will manage the website, so it should be relatively simple to update and maintain (e.g. WordPress or other appropriate host platforms).
