Social Initiative for Literacy and Development Programme (SILDEP)

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Organisational Profile

SILDEP is dedicated to enhancing the welfare of rural communities by promoting gender equality and child rights, focusing on language development, adult literacy, translation, and skills development, with a particular emphasis on empowering vulnerable populations.

Their vision is a literate rural population with sustainable income levels comparable to the highest regional averages, and societies where the rights of women and children are respected and upheld. Their core objectives include poverty alleviation through various initiatives, increasing literacy to empower communities, promoting improved lifestyles through literacy and social interaction, supporting language development by encouraging literacy in the mother tongue, bridging informal and formal education systems, and fostering religious enlightenment to free minds from restrictive beliefs. They also offer training in health, livelihood, education, environmental, civic, and entrepreneurial fields to effectively reduce poverty. Committed to creating a brighter future for rural areas, SILDEP focuses on education, empowerment, and sustainable development.

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The Mobilising for Afforestation Project (MAP) addresses deforestation and biodiversity loss in Ghana’s Sissala West District, implemented by the Social Initiative for Literacy and Development Program (SILDEP). It promotes environmental awareness and sustainable agriculture in local communities facing threats from illegal logging, mining, and bush burning. Key strategies included stakeholder collaboration, training on best practices, and community engagement to ensure lasting impact.

Objectives:

  • Identify environmental best practices by April 2024.
  • Reduce post-harvest crop losses by May 2024.
  • Educate farmers on the effects of bush burning by April 2024.

Outputs:

  • Trained 130 smallholder farmers.
  • Conducted stakeholder and media engagement meetings.
  • Formed four environmental task forces.
  • Developed community bylaws and initiated local fundraising efforts.

Outcomes:

  • Increased community participation and awareness.
  • Successful prevention of a fire incident on a maize farm.
  • Improved attendance at community meetings.
  • Challenges in cash contributions for project support.
  • Progress towards adopting and enforcing community bylaws.
  • Shift in mindset from logging to afforestation.
  • Enhanced knowledge among participants, leading to better farming practices.

€852 raised locally for project activities.

Northcode Ghana

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Organisational Profile

NORTHCODE Ghana is dedicated to empowering individuals, including women, men, children, and vulnerable groups in Northern Ghana, by enhancing their capacity to participate in decision-making processes. Their mission focuses on fostering responsible citizenship and accelerating community development through stimulation, facilitation, support, and the provision of essential resources. Their overarching goal is to promote sustainable and equitable development within deprived and vulnerable communities, with social justice at the forefront of their operations. They aim to improve livelihoods, particularly for women, children, and vulnerable populations, through integrated capacity-building programs that empower and create sustainable change.

In collaboration with coalition members and relevant stakeholders, NORTHCODE Ghana advocates for effective policy formulation and implementation in areas such as livelihoods, environment, and agriculture, ensuring accountability among duty bearers for impactful outcomes. They actively facilitate spaces for right holders to engage with duty bearers, ensuring meaningful dialogue and collaboration where community members can voice their concerns and influence decision-making. Committed to social justice, NORTHCODE Ghana strives to uplift the most vulnerable, ensuring equitable growth and development across Northern Ghana.

Project Summary

The Jelinkon Riparian Buffer Restoration and Forest Fringe Community Livelihoods Improvement Project aims to restore riparian habitats in the Jelinkon CREMA, enhancing ecological resilience and sustainable economic benefits. It involves local communities through education and conservation activities.

Key points include:

  • Importance of Riparian Buffers: Critical for habitats, regulating stream flow, and providing fertile soils, which are currently degrading.

Project Goals

    • Restore six kilometers of riparian buffers by December 2025 through various methods.
    • Develop agroforestry models for 120 community members to balance conservation and local well-being.
    • Enhance conservation awareness and governance participation in the Jelinkon CREMA.

Outputs

  • Engagement of 133 community members in meetings about riparian habitats.
  • Training on ecological and economic values, riverbank management, and environmental education.
  • Coaching sessions for 37 participants in beekeeping.
  • Guidelines for integrating agriculture with buffer management.

Outcomes

  • Increased community involvement in resource management and accountability.
  • Short-term gains from beekeeping and long-term benefits from sustainable practices.
  • Improved understanding of governance structures.

Enhanced protection and restoration of biodiversity within the Jelinkon CREMA.

Concerned Citizens of the Atewa Landscape (CCAL)

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Organisational Profile

The organization aims to engage individuals from diverse backgrounds in adopting sustainable practices for the responsible use of natural resources, thereby enhancing human wellbeing and future prosperity. Its mission is to advocate for sustainable forest management and alternative sustainable use practices, mobilize resources, and enhance capabilities for the effective functioning of Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape (CCL) and target communities. Additionally, the organization focuses on ensuring the sustainable management of water systems to support diverse livelihood options for communities near forested areas.

Project Overview

The Atewa Range Forest Reserve in Ghana is crucial for biodiversity and water supply but is threatened by bauxite mining. The Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape (CCAL) seeks to protect it through community empowerment and advocacy. Project objectives include training members in evidence-gathering, conducting awareness campaigns, and developing advocacy materials.

Outputs:

  • Workshop on evidence gathering for 49 CCAL members.
  • Distribution of 1,330 educational brochures.
  • Seven radio discussions on Agoo FM.
  • Broadcast of pre-recorded advocacy messages.
  • Community sessions using the documentary “Poison for Gold” in ten communities.
  • Creation of an active website and social media for CCAL.
  • Regular updates shared on these platforms.

Outcomes:

  • CCAL members can identify and report illegal activities.
  • Commitment from traditional leaders and community members to protect the forest.
  • Increased public understanding of mining’s impacts.
  • Broad support for advocacy efforts and willingness to engage in conservation.
  • Greater appreciation for the ecosystem services of Atewa Forest.
  • Enhanced visibility of CCAL’s work locally and internationally.
  • Over a thousand people informed about the forest’s importance.
  • Improved community engagement through digital platforms, expanding advocacy reach.

€956 raised locally for project activities.

Facilitating Learning of Women in Emerging Regions (FLOWER)

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Organisational Profile

Their mission is to raise awareness and advocate for environmental protection. They support environmental conservation efforts like community clean-ups and tree planting, and they educate on environmental preservation, while advocating for the marginalized and vulnerable in society.

FLOWER has seen a growing awareness of health impacts from illegal mining and a shift towards sustainable livelihoods like black pepper farming.

Project Overview

The FLOWER project addresses illegal mining in communities like Kobriso, Akanteng, and Abease, which poses environmental and health threats. Aimed at educating residents about the long-term impacts of illegal mining, the project sought to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, mobilize support, advocate for responsible practices, and engage government agencies for alternative livelihoods. Key activities included:

  • Community meetings and durbars with over 600 participants.
  • Educational sessions reaching 1,200 community members.
  • Career guidance for 191 students and youth forums engaging 140 youths.
  • Distribution of 330 behavior change materials and radio discussions reaching over 1,000 people.

Outcomes included:

  • Increased awareness of illegal mining’s dangers among 70% of community members.
  • 58% support for reducing illegal mining activities.
  • 30% of youth are interested in alternative livelihoods.

The project successfully educated the community and laid the groundwork for ongoing advocacy against illegal mining, promoting sustainable alternatives.

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Extractives, Business and Human Rights

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We are diligently striving to promote sustainable and equitable environmental management, as well as effective governance of natural resources by communities, the government, and private sector actors in Ghana. Through our initiatives, we prioritize the adherence to human rights, transparency, accountability, and respect for communities’ rights in mineral governance.

By fostering collaborative efforts, we aim to enhance the capacity of local communities to participate actively in decision-making processes that affect their environment and livelihoods.

Education and Awareness creation

Education and awareness programs are key components of our strategy, empowering individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to advocate for their rights and sustainable practices.

Our projects also emphasize the importance of preserving biodiversity and protecting ecosystems. We work closely with conservation organizations to develop and implement strategies that safeguard critical habitats and promote the sustainable use of natural resources.

Furthermore, we support the development of policies that encourage responsible mining practices, ensuring that economic benefits are shared equitably and environmental impacts are minimized.

By engaging with all stakeholders, including marginalized groups, we strive to create a more just and sustainable future for all.

Corporate Engagement for ESG.

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A Rocha Ghana is actively promoting environmental sustainability through our Corporate Engagement initiatives, helping businesses recognize the importance of nature. To date, we have collaborated with more than 70 businesses. Through these partnerships, we have implemented various  projects that not only protect biodiversity but also enhance the corporate social responsibility profiles of these companies. We offer tailored workshops and training sessions that equip businesses with the knowledge and tools needed to adopt eco-friendly practices. By integrating sustainability into their core operations, companies can reduce their carbon footprint, minimize waste, and contribute positively to the global environmental agenda.  

Business in Environmental Stewardship Network (BESNet)

 

BESNet is a business network coordinated by A Rocha Ghana in collaboration with IUCN Ghana. It has a membership of 34 businesses and has engaged a further 20. The network is committed to promoting and supporting natural capital inclusion,  security in business development, and company production value chains. 

Read More on BESNet

Green Corporate Star Awards

A Rocha Ghana (ARG) has partnered with EMY Africa for the past six years to acknowledge and reward businesses or corporate entities that prioritize green practices and environmental sustainability in their operations. This collaboration also aims to support green initiatives that align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 3, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.

The award serves to emphasize the importance of business leaders and corporate organizations in championing environmental sustainability while they focus on their primary objective of generating profit.

2023 GCS Award Winners-The Good Roll
2022 GCS Award Winners-Coliba
2021 GCS Award Winners- Zaacoal
2020 GCS Award Winner- Nelplast Ghana
2019 GCS Award Winner- Guinness Ghana
2018 GCS Award Winner- Blue Skies

Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH) Project

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European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) co-funded, Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH) project being implemented in Northern Ghana.

Project Context

The project aims to address the increasing effects of climate change on the agricultural sector in Northern Ghana by enhancing resilience and promoting sustainable development in the sector.

Overall, the REACH project is targeted at enabling a sustainable and inclusive improvement in the rural economy through enhanced implementation of gender-sensitive climate adaptation practices in the EUGAP targeted communities in Northern Ghana by 2025, with a particular focus on smallholder farmers.

Achievements

  • Establishment and support to Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs),
  • Conservation Agriculture (CA)
  • Agroforestry
  • Community Fire Management.

Ghana Shea Emission Reductions Project (GSLERP)

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Project Context

The project is being implemented with the Savannah Fruits Company (SFC) to restore off-reserve savannah forests/woodlands, degraded shea parklands, and to create an integrated monitoring system for safeguards, forest monitoring and reporting systems in Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs).

Funders: Green Climate Fund, UNDP, Forestry Commission, Global Shea Alliance (GSA)

Objectives

The project outputs are focused on restoring and sustainably managing the shea parklands and strengthening value chains for shea processing with specificity on setting up of community nurseries, tree planting and parkland management training activities, warehouse construction, cooperative development and improvement in the capacities, technologies and
efficiency of women.

Achievements

  • Establishment of 6 tree nurseries to raise shea and non-shea seedlings
  • Restoration of degraded landscapes
  • Training in Parkland Management
  • Women training in cooperative development, governance, improved technology, business management aggregation, auditing, marketing, quality etc.
  • Construction of Warehouse

Mobilizing More for Climate (MoMo4C)

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Project Context

Mobilizing More for Climate (MoMo4C) is a five-year programme (2020-2024) funded by the Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry in partnership with IUCN NL, WWF NL, and Tropenbos International which seek to Develop Innovative Finance for Climate Action Using a Landscape Approach. In Ghana, the program is being implemented by A Rocha Ghana and Tropenbos Ghana in the Mole and Juabeso-Bia Landscape respectively.
The programme aims to bring together entrepreneurs, corporates, policymakers, investors, and civil society organisations to make green business propositions. These should tackle the impacts and causes of climate change at a landscape level in developing countries, contribute to climate-resilience and (gender) inclusive, sustainable development in the landscapes where they are proposed, and attract investments to implement these initiatives.

Objectives

  • Create the Enabling Environment for state agencies, the private sector, and civil society organizations to towards the goal.

 

  • Support the development of Business Cases for Public and Private Investors.

 

  • Harvest lessons for sharing and ensuring the sustainability of programs initiated

Achievement

  • Climate Vulnerability Assessment
  • Support to Protected Area Management Advisory Units (PAMAUs)
  • Green business training for youth and women
  • Business incubation for 20 businesses
  • Financial and technical support to 3 selected businesses

Project Duration: 5 YEARS.
Funded by: Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry in partnership with IUCN NL, WWF NL, and Tropenbos International
Implementing Partners: A Rocha Ghana, Tropenbos Ghana