Partner:
Overseas Development Institute (ODI)
Period:
October 2009 – March 2013
Country of Operation:
Ghana
Category:
Community Development
Project Snapshot:
The MWANANCHI Ghana Project is part of ODI’s five-year action-research initiative implemented across seven African countries. In Ghana, the project aimed to enhance the capacity of civil society, media, and elected representatives to access, interpret, and utilize information and communication resources effectively to shape government policy. By linking voice and accountability, the project empowered citizens to transform institutions toward greater transparency and responsiveness. Key to its strategy was the recognition that media, civil society, elected representatives, and traditional rulers are essential interlocutors in citizen-state relations. The project promoted improved use of evidence in policymaking and focused on representative engagement, policy processes, and accountability, leveraging ICT to create sustainable dialogue platforms.
Project Objectives:
- Enhance Stakeholder Capacity: Improve the ability of civil society, media, and elected representatives to access and use information for policy influence.
- Strengthen Accountability: Foster greater transparency and accountability among traditional authorities and elected officials.
- Promote Synergistic Partnerships: Encourage collaboration among key stakeholder groups to maximize the benefits of their comparative advantages.
- Improve Evidence Use: Enhance the utilization of evidence to inform policy-making and public accountability.
- Boost Citizen Participation: Increase citizen engagement in policy processes, implementation, and national budget discussions.
PDA’s Task:
PDA coordinated and supported the project in Ghana as the National Coordinating Organisation. This involved:
- Providing technical and strategic support to partner organizations.
- Facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues and capacity-building initiatives.
- Overseeing the integration of ICT tools to sustain communication and advocacy efforts across 11 grant partner organizations.
How We Went About It:
- Collaborative Partnerships: Worked with 11 grant partners in six regions, including organizations like Basic Needs Ghana, BEWDA, Choice Ghana, Conservation Foundation, Drama Network, Friends of the Nation, GNAD, Radio Ada, ToYACE, ATWWAR, and Grassroots Sisterhood Foundation.
- ICT-Driven Platforms: Utilized innovative information and communication technologies to create platforms for ongoing dialogue among civil society, media, and government stakeholders.
- Evidence-Based Advocacy: Supported research into legislative and decision-making processes to build a robust evidence base for advocacy.
- Innovative Engagement: Experimented with practical, community-focused approaches to strengthen freedom of speech, dialogue, and citizen-led governance improvements.