Partner:
Ministry of Local Government Rural Development & Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Period:
May 2004 – Oct 2010
Country of Operation:
Ghana (Eastern Corridor of the Northern Region)
Category:
Community Development
Project Snapshot:
CIFS was a 6-year bilateral programme designed to enhance food security in northern Ghana through sustainable, community-driven initiatives. Funded by CIDA and implemented by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the project operated in 10 districts. It emphasized capacity building and cross-district learning, demonstrating that integrating community-led initiatives into existing district planning frameworks can yield lasting improvements in food security.
Project Objectives:
- Increase food security in northern Ghana through sustainable, community-led interventions.
- Demonstrate the effectiveness of embedding food security initiatives within the established district planning processes.
- Enhance local capacity by facilitating cross-district learning and knowledge sharing.
- Promote environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable practices in food security initiatives.
PDA’s Task:
PDA served as the Capacity Development Specialist, offering technical and strategic support to design and implement capacity building measures. The role was pivotal in ensuring that local communities and district authorities could effectively integrate and sustain food security initiatives within their planning frameworks.
How We Went About It:
- Capacity Building: Developed and executed tailored training programs to empower local stakeholders, ensuring that capacity building was central to the project’s approach.
- Integration with District Planning: Collaborated with local government authorities to embed food security strategies within the existing district planning frameworks.
- Cross-District Learning: Established platforms for sharing best practices and lessons learned across the 10 districts, thereby promoting consistent and effective implementation.
- Community Engagement: Actively involved community members in both the planning and execution phases, ensuring that the interventions were relevant and sustainable.