Advocates Redesign

Category: Community-Driven Development

  • Sora Kaufman Fellowship program kicks off in grand style

    The Sora Kaufman Fellowship, a flagship program by Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA) to establish a network of African leaders and practitioners in the field of community-driven development and advocacy, has commenced in earnest with the six pioneer fellows going through a month-long orientation at Asiakwa near Kyebi in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

    The six Fellows, who are practitioners who collaborate with relevant stakeholders to deal with community and systematic challenges that hinder accessibility and involvement of citizens in decision-making, are undergoing a rigorous orientation within the period ahead of the implementation of each one’s innovative project, which must be community-driven and in line with the objectives of the fellowship program.

    Depending on the project chosen, each Fellow shall receive a $5,000 to $10,000 grant toward the implementation of their projects.

    Welcoming the Fellows at the Daasebre Hotel at Asiakwa, where the month-long orientation is underway, Nana Ama Nketia-Quaidoo, ACA’s Director of Community-Driven Development (CDD) Department, explained that the Sora Kaufman Fellowship is a 12-month project meant for people who have love for community-driven initiatives and are passionate about seeing communities develop holistically.

    “This not a school, it’s an engagement session, we’re all here to learn from each other, share experiences, and so we’re expecting that your one-month stay here is going to be more engaging. Let’s be open-minded and share among ourselves the success stories at our workplaces vis-à-vis the challenges so that at the end of the day we all draw useful lessons from them”, she emphasised.

    She said community development is practiced differently in various parts of the country and Africa based on the interpretation of what constitutes community development “but how are we improving on the systems we have created for our own community, how have you used your community service to improve on the existing structures and systems.

    “For community development, we always say that we are not there to change culture, which is unique to each group of people practicing it, but to use the knowledge we have or acquired to improve on the existing systems.”

    She said ACA anticipates rolling out the Sora Kaufman Fellowship program across Africa in the long term and congratulated the pioneer participants for setting the pace for others to follow.

    Earlier, ACA’s Project Manager, Mr. Godfred Osei Nimako, provided an overview of the one-month orientation for the Fellows.

    According to him, the training will involve field trips to some ACA partner communities to interact with the people, spend some days in those communities and later meet with the Head of Local Government Service in Accra as well as engage in some entertainment activities.

  • Akrofufu Chief, others donate towards FCAP implementation

    The chiefs and people of ten communities in the Atiwa West District of the Eastern Region have expressed their commitment toward the timely and successful implementation of all projects under the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), also called “Oman yie die” in Ghana.

    To this end, the Chief of Akrofufu, Osabarima Adugye Gyamfi and his elders are supporting the construction of a 500-bed capacity dormitory for the Akrofufu Technical Institute, which is one of the new projects being implemented under FCAP, with Gh.c 10,000.

    In addition, the chief and his elders have resolved to support the construction of the project with communal labour to ensure that the project is completed on schedule.

    The project, according to them, will not increase enrollment at the Akrofufu Technical Institute but will further boost Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the area and the country as a whole.

    At a ceremony at Akrofufu to symbolically signify the commencement of construction works on FCAP project in Asunafo, Muoso, Ekorso Akwadum, Akwasuaso and Akrofufu, Osabarima Adugye Gyamfi commended the Atiwa West District Assembly and Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), an Accra-based non-profit-making organization, for their collaboration which has resulted in several other projects across the area.

    A similar ceremony was held at Awenare to signify the commencement of projects in Pameng, Amonom, Banso, Akyem Akropong and Awenare.

    Madam Lordina Ofori-Atta, a native of Awenare, who was the Special Guest of Honour, donated Gh.c 10,000 toward the construction a 3-unit classroom block for the local Roman Catholic Junior High School and further pledged to galvanize support from Awenare citizens abroad in connection with other developmental initiatives in the town.

    The Atiwa West District Chief Executive, Douglas Puddy Amponsah described the collaboration with ACA as “very timely as it will not only bring visible improvements to the lives of residents but also carry the entire community along a development path that is in line with the Assembly’s Medium Term Development Plan.”

    He entreated people in the beneficiary communities to support the implementation of the projects with communal labour to augment the financial support from ACA and the District Assembly.

    “Any community member who does not participate in communal work in relation to this project willfully will be severely dealt with”, he emphasized.

    Geoffrey Fummey, a Community Trainer of ACA, recounted how the journey of community engagement to discuss, plan and choose a project of benefit to all started in March 2024 and with dedication, commitment and sacrifice of some devoted community members, the projects are finally being implemented.

    “I therefore encourage every community represented here to get to work immediately the sod is cut to finish their projects in good time. Remember we have just December 2024 as the deadline to complete all projects”, he stated.

    Background

    Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a non-profit-making organization, has partnered with four District Assemblies in Ghana to implement the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), also called “Oman yie die” in 45 communities.

    The 45 communities in Abuakwa South, Fanteakwa South and Atiwa West District of the Eastern Region and Nkoranza South Municipality in the Bono East Region, as part of the partnership, have pledged to adopt FCAP as a community development tool to implement all community-based projects in line with their Medium-Term Development Plans.

    “Oman yie die” encourages communities to create a common development vision and equips them with skills and financial resources – including a $9,000 microgrant – to pursue it.

    As part of the collaboration, each district assembly is to provide supervision, technical support as well as counterpart funding of $1,000 towards each of the projects.

    Projects being provided under this partnership include laboratory, mechanized boreholes, markets, classroom blocks, a dormitory, teachers’ quarters, CHPS Compound, OPD facility, foot bridges, extension of electricity, water and the construction of community centers.

    Also being implemented in some of the communities are livelihood enhancement projects such as palm-oil production centre, pastries-making centre, corn-mill operations and a pig farm.

  • 45 communities implement ‘Oman yie die’ in Ghana

    Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a non-profit-making organization, has partnered with four District Assemblies in Ghana to implement the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), also called “Oman yie die” in 45 communities.

    The 45 communities in Abuakwa South, Fanteakwa South and Atiwa West District of the Eastern Region and Nkoranza South Municipality in the Bono East Region, as part of the partnership, have pledged to adopt FCAP as a community development tool to implement all community-based projects in line with their Medium-Term Development Plans.

    “Oman yie die” encourages communities to create a common development vision and equips them with skills and financial resources – including a $9,000 microgrant – to pursue it.

    As part of the collaboration, each district assembly is to provide supervision, technical support as well as counterpart funding of $1,000 towards each of the projects.

    Projects being provided under this partnership include laboratory, mechanized boreholes, markets, classroom blocks, a dormitory, teachers’ quarters, CHPS Compound, OPD facility, foot bridges, extension of electricity, water and the construction of community centers.

    Also being implemented in some of the communities are livelihood enhancement projects such as palm-oil production centre, pastries-making centre, corn-mill operations and a pig farm.

    “This collaboration with ACA is very timely as it will not only bring visible improvements to the lives of residents but also carries the entire community along a development path that is in line with the Assembly’s Medium Term Development Plan”, Douglas Puddy Amponsah, the Atiwa West District Chief Executive, said at a ceremony held at Akrofufu and Awenare to kick-start the implementation of project.

    He entreated people in the beneficiary communities to support the implementation of projects with communal labour to augment the financial support from ACA and the District Assembly.

    “Our long-term goal is to have FCAP adopted as the main development tool by all district assemblies in the country. ACA is committed to supporting mobilizing threatened West African communities around a future they can fight for, through the power of law and community-driven development”, Nana Ama Nketia-Quaidoo, ACA’s Director of Community-Driven Development (CDD) said.

    “By rolling out Oman yie die at scale, we will show that CDD is the most sustainable, cost-effective way to give wings to communities’ dreams for development and protect them from threats to their lives and livelihoods. We want to see government authorities across Ghana cooperating with all of Ghana’s communities to make sure that local people are empowered to pursue their own vision for the future.”

    Last year, ten communities namely Abompe, Saaman, Bososo, Kplandey, Nsutam, Dome, Dwenase and Heman in Fanteakwa South District; and Asikam and Ahwenease in Abuakwa South Municipality began implementing FCAP as part of CDD’s expansion. This was after the successful piloting of the project in Donkro Nkwanta, Nwoase, Salamkrom and Kyeredeso in the Bono East region as well as Juaso, Sagyemase and Nsuapemso.

    There are plans to further expand to a lot more communities around the country.

  • FCAP microloan turns many lives around in Sierra Leone

    Several women in the Sierra Leonean town of Koidu in the Kono District of the Eastern Region, have been sharing their testimonies about how their socio-economic lives have been transformed in the last few years following the disbursement of microloans to them under the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP).  But for FCAP, most of these women would not have any financial freedom and would probably be wallowing in abject poverty and become a burden on their families and society at large. Five beneficiaries of FCAP microloan in Koidu have been sharing their success stories about this intervention, which is being implemented by Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA) in partnership with the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) in Sierra Leone.

    ACA is an Accra-based non-profit-making organization that helps West Africa communities are threatened by the destructive impacts of extractives-led development to take control of their own futures while NMJD is a Sierra Leonean civil society organization that engages in advocacy and strengthens the capacity of civil society organizations to effectively engage women, men, children, communities, government and other actors for the transformation of society.

    Here are excerpts of testimonies of five of the FCAP beneficiaries in Koidu whose lives have been impacted positively by the intervention and are currently using their skills acquired to impact the lives of other women in their respective communities.

    Finda Moiwo 46years, 7 dependents

    Life was extremely difficult for me and my family prior to my encounter with FACP. In fact, it was very challenging to even provide food at home.

    Breaking stones for construction works was my main occupation but I was unable to make any reasonable income out of this to support the upkeep of my home primarily due to the lack of funds to acquire the requisite tools and get additional hands to undertake this business. 

    I was therefore very excited to be part of the training organised for beneficiaries of the FCAP microloan. Before the grant was given to us, we were trained in strategies required to run a business and financial management skills, among others.

    As a result, when the microloan was finally advanced to me, I was able to buy my working tools and hire additional casual staff to help in breaking more stones daily.

    I can confidently say today that I’m now able to effectively take care of my children. I can say without any equivocation that the microgrant I received under FCAP has turned my fortunes around and I will encourage my colleague women who are currently benefitting from it to attach maximum seriousness to the project for their own good.

     

    Alice Komeh, 56years, 7 dependents

    I was engaged in backyard gardening (a mini farm), which obviously yielded a very small quantity of foodstuff. Life was difficult but there was nothing I could do because I didn’t have any capital to start any business. 

    With as many as seven dependents, the FCAP microloan therefore came as a great relief as it enabled me to venture into trade. When I received the microloan, I quickly started trading in palm oil – both retail and wholesale.

    My life has never been the same since I ventured into this business as I have no problem at all taking good care of my children and other dependents.

    I am currently considering an expansion of the scope of my trade to include other items so I’m also looking at acquiring a shop that can accommodate my wares.

    Fatu Finda Ali, 40 years, five (5) dependents

    I have been into the palm oil business for quite some time. I was mainly into the sale of oil on a retail basis due to my low working capital. I was unable to trade in good quality palm oil because of my poor financial state and this led to low patronage of my products. I always wished to expand my business, but it remained a wish until the FCAP microloan came to my rescue. 

    For me, the business training that preceded the microgrant was an eye-opener because it enabled me to quickly expand my business as soon as I accessed the grant. Also, the training inculcated in me the need to develop savings habit, which has secured my future against any possible eventualities.

    Today, I’m now in the position to deal in good quality palm oil and vegetables and I’ve progressed from being a retailer to a wholesaler. Indeed, this intervention has led to an improvement in my standard of living, and I can take good care of myself and my children.

     

    Mabel Sia Ellie, Seamstress & trader, 50years, 9 dependents

    Even though I was working as a seamstress by profession, life was extremely difficult because of my low customer base. Only a few people used to frequent my shop to sew their dresses, and this really made life quite unbearable for me.

    It was therefore heart-warming when the news came that FCAP was coming to my aid through a microloan. Together with other women in my community, ACA and NMJD took us through training on various business strategies, record-keeping, among others. The training equipped me with the requisite skills which have helped me to effectively manage my work.

    I must say that in addition to my dress-making business, I’ve now added the sale of palm oil and other assorted items in my shop. This has really given me financial independence and enhanced my living conditions. 

    The fact that there is no interest on the microloan makes it unique in my opinion. What really matter most are your time and dedication in attending meetings. I’m proud to say that I’ve started imparting the knowledge I gained during the training on others.

    Esther Moiwa, 55years, 7 dependents

    Before my encounter with the FCAP intervention, I was engaged in petty trade in assorted items. I could not keep any records of my business, and this really had a toll on sales and my entire work. I simply lacked the basic skills to keep any records.

    However, upon the completion of the training given to us ahead of the disbursement of the microloan, I am now able to manage, maintain and keep proper records of my business.

    Besides, there is vast improvement in my business because I’ve been able to add rice, oil, palm oil and other items. More importantly, I’m able to support my husband financially and gradually, I could realize that I’m becoming financially independent.

    About FCAP

    Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA) is a non-profit-making organization devoted to championing the course of West African communities which are threatened by the devastating effects of extractive activities to chart a new path of development through various assistance.

    One of the ways through which ACA supports communities to chart a new course of development and take control of their futures is through the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), a process developed and popularized in East Africa by Spark MicroGrants, a partner organization of ACA.

    (This write-up was co-authored by Richard Boahen of ACA, Accra, Ghana, and Francess Finda Gbondo of NMJD, Kono District, Sierra Leone with support from FCAP team)

  • So Abapa Boateng: My community development practice experiences with ACA

    Today, one of our newly recruited Trainers with the Community-Driven Development Department, So Abapa Boateng, shares her experiences since she joined ACA in February 2024. She says the experiences she gathered in her previous workplace are being sharpened and appreciated in multiple folds in ACA.

    The email read “You are hired”, my joy was out of this world. I screamed, I jumped, I danced to no song; the excitement was indescribable. “Wow”, I was lost for words. “Finally, Finally,” those were my words when I could speak.

    My time with Advocates for Community Alternatives has been very fulfilling and I dare say, it has been worthwhile joining this exciting team of development practitioners.

    “Welcome to our new team members, Geoffrey Fummey Horkpe, Bommie Adamu, Joseph Obeng, Ingrid Frempong and So Abapa Boateng” a beautifully written note placed on the wall in the Osino office welcomed the new staff members. It was heartwarming because I was not quite certain on what to expect on my first day in the office, but the team made it so welcoming, it was as though we knew each other for a very long time before we got to the office.

    The Director of Community-Driven Development, Nana Ama Nketsia-Quaidoo (Mrs), was so welcoming as she clearly outlined what was expected of us as new staff members.

    Osei Nimako, the Project Manager was so excited and did not spare us a minute of laughter and jokes. Francis Manu and George Mpoah were so knowledgeable in their fields, and it made it super easy to understand what ACA does within the various partner communities.

    And oh, the time with the Executive Director, Jonathan Kaufman – I loved the chocolates he got for us. We could make our choices; he was ever ready to answer all the questions on our newly recruited minds.

    It has been smooth sail for the months I have worked with ACA. I am even more enthused that the organization gives room for innovation and creativity because working with the communities is not cast in stone.

    The decision to move out from the Northern region of Ghana where I had practiced community development work since 2008 to Nkoranza in the Bono East region has been very fulfilling. My experiences gathered in Education, Food Security and Livelihood, Entrepreneurship, and Gender, are being sharpened and appreciated in multiple folds in the organization.

    The journey with Advocates for Community Alternatives has just begun and I am looking forward to working with communities to attain their development vision one community at a time.

    I believe that I can be creative in facilitating communities to attain their development vision and I’m always encouraged by the fun and excitement that go with my community-based work.  This spurs me on to do more and always put on my creativity cap. My level of confidence is soaring up higher because the team is always on hand to sharpen the rough the edges, so we get the desired results in the development journey. There are well tailored training tools and manuals to make facilitating trainings, monitoring and evaluating results very detailed and easy.

    Even more fulfilling most of the time is the positive feedback from the community meeting I facilitate. “Madam, not only have we learned how to develop a vision for our community, but I have also learned to use that knowledge for myself. I know I must have a vision I am working towards for my life and family, thank you.” A community member expressed his appreciation after a community meeting.

    I have no doubt that I am going to make a positive impact on ACA and the communities assigned to me while broadening my horizon further by learning from my colleagues and most of the people I encounter through the performance of my duties.

  • CiCoNet welcomes new members

    From a humble beginning of memberships in seven communities in the then Brong Ahafo Region and the Eastern region in 2018, the Citizens Committee Network (CiCoNet) can now boast of branches in 62 communities in Ghana.

    CiCoNet currently has 14 branches in Nkoranza South Municipality, ten in Atiwa West District, 17 in Abuakwa South Municipality and 21 in the Fanteakwa South District – all contributing to an estimated membership of 340.

    At the inauguration of new CiCoNet members drawn from Abuakwa South, Atiwa West and Fanteakwa South districts at a ceremony held at Osino, ACA’s Senior Trainer, Francis Fernaldinho Manu, explained that members of the Committee serve as watchdogs in their communities and resist any act that poses as a threat to their lives and livelihoods.

    He also said CiCoNet members actively participate in, supervise and monitor the effective execution of development projects in their community and always ensure accountability and transparency in their line of work.

    “You’re to play a lead role in educating your community members on their fundamental human rights, act as intermediary between community and local government and also serve as the official mouthpiece of community”, he further said.

    Mr. Manu assured CiCoNet of ACA’s continuing support towards the effective running of CiCoNet, adding that copies of constitution and guidelines will soon be made available to them for thorough study and application.

    Touching on some successes chalked by CiCoNet since its inception in 2018, the Senior Trainer mentioned a recent media campaign by members which resulted in the refilling of some abandoned mining pits in Juaso, Sagyemase and Nsuapemso and compensation payment to some landowners in the Fanteakwa South district as well as the reversal of the sale of some 400 acres of land by the queen mother of Donkro Nkwanta for cashew plantation without following due process.

    Another Senior Trainer of ACA, Mr George Mpoah, also encouraged the CiCoNet members to keep themselves abreast of the country’s legal frameworks on lands, minerals and mining.

    He further asked them to demonstrate a high sense of commitment to their work and attach maximum seriousness to meetings, keeping in mind that all that CiCoNet does is geared toward development of their communities.

    A similar ceremony was held in Nkoranza to welcome 30 new CiCoNet members from ten communities in the Nkoranza South Municipality of the Bono East Region.

  • New CiCoNet executives sworn into office

    The newly elected executives of the Osino Citizens Committee Network (CiCoNet) have taken over from the out-gone executives at a ceremony at Asiakwa near Kyebi.

    The new executives, who will steer the affairs of the Committee till 2026, took over from their predecessors who recently ended their term of office. They were elected a few weeks ago during one of the committee’s meetings.

    Chaired by Stephen Gyekye Appiah, the other executives include Antwi Boasiako, Vice-chairman; David Aboah, Secretary; Grace Adu, Treasurer and Samuel Gyeketey, Organizer.

    They took over from George Owusu Asante, Bartholemew Boakye, David Aboah, Grace Adu, Matilda Asantewaa and Ebenezer Tetteh.

    The out-gone Chairman, George Owusu Asante, congratulated his successor and his team, and urged them to serve with humility and selflessness.

    “I worked with you during my tenure as the Chairman and I have no doubt in my mind that you can deliver. Continue to dedicate your time, energy and other resources to the course of CiCoNet and trust me, you will never regret doing so”, he added.

    Stephen Gyekye Appiah, on behalf of the new executives, pledged to continue the good works of the outgone executives and called for the total support of all CiCoNet members.

    Certificates of recognition were presented to all the outgone executives as a sign of appreciation for their hard work and dedication to duty.

  • Atiwa West Assembly renders accounts to residents through Town Hall Meeting

    The Atiwa West District Assembly in the Eastern region of Ghana has held its maiden annual Town Hall Meeting at Kwabeng as part of measures to deepen local governance, transparency and accountability.

    The Town Hall meeting was funded by Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a non-profit-making organization, that has a long-standing partnership with the District Assembly.

    The District Planning Officer and the Budget Officer took turns to explain the projects executed by the Assembly in 2023 vis-à-vis the revenues generated or accrued during the period.

    The projects executed by the Assembly during the period under review were mainly in the areas of education, health, agriculture, economic empowerment and infrastructural development.

    Mr. Paddy Amponsah Douglas, the DCE for the area, noted that through the meeting, citizens would have the chance to demand accountability from the local government authority.

    “Pursuant to the Local Government Act, ACT 936 (2016), the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies are mandated to organize Town Hall meetings at least twice a year to afford the local people the opportunity to engage the District Assembly officials on the Assembly’s Public Financial Management and service delivery outcomes”, he stated.

    Stakeholders’ engagement

    The Director for Community-Driven Development (CDD) programs of ACA, Nana Ama Nketia-Quaidoo (Mrs), stated that her organization places much premium to stakeholders’ engagements such as the Town Hall meeting.

    “This is because such engagements promote accountability, builds trust, saves cost and ensures a well-informed decision-making process.”

    She therefore reminded the Assembly that it owed it as responsibility to make conscious effort to improve on existing structures that would allow the participation of the citizenry in every stage of development.

    She disclosed that a recent Chiefs Council meeting organized by ACA at Asiakwa for chiefs in Fanteakwa South, Abuakwa South and Atiwa West districts revealed serious communication and participatory gaps between the assemblies and the chiefs and called for pragmatic measures to rectify this anomaly.

    Some of the issues raised by the citizens focused mainly on health and sanitation, revenue mobilization, effectiveness of the National Health Insurance Scheme, drug peddling in the area and improvement in educational standards, among others.

  • Nkoranza South: FCAP Leadership Committees back community development pathways

    Story by So Abapa Boateng, Nkoranza

    Members of Leadership Committees in ten communities in the Nkoranza South Municipality, in the Bono East Region of Ghana, have pledged their commitment to lead their communities to create community development proposals to achieve a communal development vision.

    The Leadership Committee members held a meeting last week in Nkoranza to deepen their knowledge of the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), also known in Ghana as Oman Yie Die.  FCAP is a methodology that helps communities articulate a development vision, gain skills to implement that vision, and pursue projects consistent with that vision in a transparent and inclusive manner.  They vowed to leave no stone unturned to solidify their commitment by hard work and perseverance in the execution of the task ahead.

    Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a non-profit-making organization that helps West African communities that are threatened by the destructive impacts of extractive projects to take control of their futures, is partnering with the Nkoranza South Municipal Assembly to roll out Oman Yie Die in ten communities in the Municipality: Asuano, Akuma, Abuontem, Akumsa Domase, Bredi No. 1, Bonsu, Barnufour, Brahoho, Kyekyewere and Nkwabeng.

    The FCAP Leadership Committee members and a selection of officers from the Nkoranza South Municipal Assembly Planning, Social Welfare and Community Development, and Works and Engineering Departments met to discuss strategic ways that they could support the Oman Yie Die development processes in their various communities. They also reviewed steps for the proposal development subphase of the FCAP and the various roles the Leadership Committee can play to make this sub-phase successful.

    The Leadership Committee members will use the information shared during this meeting to guide their chiefs, elders, and community members on the proposal development sub-phase and support community-based facilitators to implement FCAP activities.

    As part of the meeting, the participants were taken through different leadership styles and how that can impact the Oman Yie Die in terms of participation and the mobilization of the needed resources for the chosen community development pathways.  They also discussed procurement processes, implementation action plans and budgeting, maintenance plans, transparency and accountability, cost tracking and how to request micro-grants.

    Smooth implementation

    For the smooth implementation of Oman Yie Die in Ghana, each partner community has elected a team of a five-member or seven-member leadership committee to spearhead the FCAP implementation process.

    Each of the ten communities was represented at the meeting by the chairperson, secretary and treasurer of the FCAP Leadership Committee.

    These proposal development sub-phase meetings will last for two months, after which the communities will be able to begin implementation of their community development projects.

  • Nkoranza South CBFs undertake field work on FCAP

    Story by So Abapa Boateng, Nkoranza

    It was yet another grueling and enduring moment for Community-Based Facilitators (CBFs) from ten partner communities in the Nkoranza South Municipality of the Bono East Region of Ghana. These CBFs, together with selected members of staff of the Nkoranza South Municipal Assembly, gathered once again in Nkoranza to deepen their understanding of the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), which aims at strengthening local participation in the implementation of the assembly’s medium term development plan.

    One of the key highlights of the meeting was field practicing proposal development, which primarily provides an opportunity for the CBFs and the local government staff to interact with community members on the practicalities involved in community meetings in relation to the smooth implementation of FCAP.

    The field practicing proposal development phase provides an opportunity for a community to delve deeper into the choice of its development pathway and how it will aid in the fulfilment of the community’s development vision in line with the local assembly’s medium-term plan.

    The CBFs literally put into practice the activities learnt during the proposal development process. As part of the field practice, a topic from the proposal development sub-phase is selected for a facilitator to plan and come up with a meeting guide to facilitate it at a community meeting.

    As part of the field practicing proposal development, the CBFs visit selected project sites identified by the communities for their development pathways. This provides yet another opportunity for community leaders to delve deeper into the choice of the pathway and how it will aid in the fulfilment of their community development vision.

    The core objective is to equip the CBFs and the assembly staff with practical experience during the proposal development sub-phase. The CBFs plan their meetings by outlining the topics to be discussed, the facilitation techniques to be used and go further to figure out possible challenges that might come their way and how they will be addressed.

    The Director for Community-Driven Development (CDD) programs of ACA, Nana Ama Nketia-Quaidoo (Mrs), noted in an interview, that such an activity offers ACA the opportunity to assess the level of understanding of the CBFs on the various topics treated during the training sessions and how they will put the knowledge acquired into practice.

    “The assessment is done on their level of preparedness before the meeting, their understanding of the topic, the techniques used during the facilitation and how well they engaged the communities during the community meeting. It enables the trainers to identify areas that need improvement during the facilitation and promptly work with the facilitator to identify ways of improving upon it before the actual proposal development meeting in the communities start.”

    “It also builds the confidence of the CBFs in facilitating the various steps of the proposal development sub-phase and enables the assembly staff supervise them appropriately and further details the role of the technical advisor during the proposal development sub phase, which is guiding the communities to strategically tailor their implementation action plan and budget to their desired projects or development pathways.

    Bonsu and Nkwabeng hosted the team for the field practice, which was generally very successful. The team visited the Nkwabeng community development site where a proposed Out-Patients Department (OPD) is to be built under FCAP.

    At Bonsu, the visit took the team to the Bonsu water site to get firsthand knowledge on their proposition for an extension of water to their households.

    The ten communities which participated in the training programme were Akuma, Akumsa Domase, Abuontem, Asuano, Barnufour, Brahoho, Bredi No. 1, Bonsu, Nkwabeng and Kyekyewere.

    Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a non-profit-making organisation, which helps West African communities that are threatened by the destructive impacts of extractive projects to take control of their futures, is partnering with the Nkoranza South Municipal Assembly to roll out FCAP, which is also called “Oman yie die” in Ghana, in these ten communities in the area.

    Community meetings are expected to be facilitated for two months by the CBF under the supervision of an ACA trainer and the Nkoranza South Municipal assembly staff.

    (Note: The writer is a CDD Trainer based in Nkoranza in the Bono East region of Ghana)