Project Overview

Strengthen the Roots is a four-year initiative (2022–2025) funded by The Dutch National Postcode Lottery and coordinated by IUCN NL alongside Wilde Ganzen. This project is being executed in Bolivia, Indonesia, and Ghana. In Ghana, the implementation partners include A Rocha Ghana (ARG) and the West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI).

Aim

To strengthen local communities living in or around threatened natural areas so that they can mobilize local support for their work, the project aims to empower these communities through capacity building and sustainable initiatives. By fostering collaboration and providing necessary resources, Strengthen the Roots seeks to enhance the resilience of communities through Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) against environmental challenges.

Focus Areas

Focus Area One (1)

Landscape: Atewa Landscape

Key Challenge/Issue: Threatened by mining

CBOs Engaged:

Focus Area One (2)

Landscape: Mole Landscape

Key Challenge/Issue: Illegal timber trade and  charcoal pressure

CBOs Engaged:

Focus Area One (3)

Landscape: National Level

Key Challenge/Issue: Policy Influencing

CBOs Engaged:

Focus Area One (4)

Landscape: Togo Atakora Weto Landscape

Focus Area One (5)

Landscape: Nzema Area

Key Challenge/Issue: Illegal Mining

CBOs Engaged:

Key Components

  1. Building the capacity of small and emerging environmental CBOs and NGOs will lead to improved services to communities and also to the Ghanaian public as well as contributing to nature conservation and sustainable development pathways.
  2. Networking: Connecting CBOs and NGOs to thriving and strong advocacy institutions through networks and alliance building will expose the organizations and motivate them to take on critical advocacy and lobby interventions within their respective locations and sectors of operation.
  3. Coaching:  Coaching support services which is integral to this project, will provide the necessary technical backstopping to participating CBOs and NGOs, leading to focused and improved results and outcomes in advocacy and civic engagements.
  4. Opportunities: The participation of these CBOs and NGOs in this program and access to several training tools and opportunities will significantly enhance the capacities of the institutional leadership with a ripple impact on other members of the team.
  5. Organisational Development: Building the capacities of these CBOs and NGOs will enable them appreciate the dynamics for the success of successful organizations for efficient and effective functioning of their respective organizations.
  6. Funding: The match funding support component of this project, which will be accessible to participating organizations will offer critical funding necessary to help the organizations practice some of the tools and strategies they would be exposed to. The funding support is also planned to provide the organizations a leverage when funding, particularly when they are required to make matching contributions to grants from both home and abroad.
  7. Training: The new strategies and approaches offered by the change the game academy training will resource and empower the organizations to diversify funding and improve their funding base to support critical interventions area that their organizations support.
  8. Credibility: CBOs and NGO will build/grow local constituencies that will strengthen their credibility, reinforce the local/public voice, and – by doing so – increase the demand for accountability and transparency by government agencies and other actors.

STR Capacity Building Activities

During the first phase of the STR project, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) enhanced their capabilities in various areas. Strengthening the capacity of selected CBOs will lead to improved services for communities, the general public in Ghana, and contribute to nature conservation and sustainable development.

Local Fundraising Training:

 This training aimed to empower emerging Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to effectively mobilize resources for their conservation and advocacy programs. The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) led this initiative.

Capacity Building & Leadership Training

Focused on the individual organizational development of CBOs, this training was themed “Navigating the Path to Effective and Sustainable Organizational Development.” Participants learned team-building, communication, leadership, and management skills. Facilitated by Participatory Development Associates (PDA), the training also covered regulatory frameworks, including registration, licensing, license renewal, and provided an overview of NGO governance in Ghana.

Media and Communications Training

This training focused on enhancing CBOs’ communication capabilities. Participants learned to effectively use participatory videos to tell their stories and were guided on using social media for advocacy and branding their organizations properly.

STR Coaching

Coaching support is consistently offered to participating Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), ensuring they receive vital technical assistance. This ongoing guidance leads to sharper focus and significantly improved outcomes in their advocacy and civic engagement efforts.

Project Duration: 4 YEARS. (Phase 1,2 and 3)
Funded by: The Dutch National Postcode Lottery

Coordinating Partners: IUCN NL, Wilde Ganzen
Implementing Partners: A Rocha Ghana,  West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI)