For over two decades, Songtaba has been at the forefront of advocating for women’s rights and empowering underserved communities in Northern Ghana. But like many civil society organisations, the group has felt the pinch of dwindling donor funding and shifting aid priorities. Now, with support from the Civil Society Strengthening Fund (CSSF), Songtaba is charting a bold new path—one that blends advocacy with enterprise.

“We have always thought about growth as an organisation, and financial sustainability is one of the key things to consider,” explains Abdul Kasiru Shani, Head of Programmes, Policy and Campaigns at Songtaba. “With dwindling funding in the development space, we realised that if we don’t explore alternative ways to fund our programmes, most of the communities we serve will struggle.”

Abdul Kasiru Shani, Head of Programmes, Policy and Campaigns at Songtaba

Building on CSSF Gains

The CSSF has been instrumental in strengthening Songtaba’s institutional systems. Under its support, the organisation recruited its first Monitoring & Evaluation Manager, developed a Resource Mobilisation Plan, and restructured its fundraising model. Training and mentorship from WACSI also helped Songtaba professionalise its systems, from proposal writing to results management.

Shani notes: “Through the CSSF, we have been able to expand our fundraising team, improve our systems, and rebrand our organisation. Today, fundraising is no longer the work of one department; it is the responsibility of every staff member.”

This shift has yielded results. Over the past few years, Songtaba has secured new partnerships, including a five-year consortium with U-Care, a grant from Mastercard to train 150 girls in male-dominated trades, an IOM-supported youth empowerment project, and a multi-million-euro collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages.

The Agribusiness Dream

Now, Songtaba is venturing into social enterprise as a sustainability strategy. The organisation has already completed feasibility studies and identified strong demand for organic vegetables in Tamale and surrounding communities. A 44-feet facility is under construction, with 70% of the structure complete, and consultants are currently training staff to manage the farm hub.

“This is a capital-intensive project, but it is also a huge opportunity,” Shani says with optimism. “We are establishing a technology-driven farm hub that will produce organic vegetables all year round, supported by irrigation systems. Beyond improving food security, the initiative will help Songtaba generate income to fund our social interventions.”

The model also includes an input credit scheme that supports farmers Songtaba already works with. Profits from input recovery will feed back into sustaining operations, while a dedicated account has been opened to track progress and transparency.

Sarah Adjei, Projects Manager, STAR-Ghana Foundation

A Sustainable Future

Songtaba’s agribusiness initiative is more than an economic venture—it is a commitment to safeguarding the legacy of CSSF and ensuring that communities continue to benefit from inclusive development.

“We want to take charge of our future,” Shani reflects. “Our vision is not to replace traditional fundraising, but to complement it with sustainable income streams. By doing this, we can continue to stand with women, youth, and vulnerable groups long after donor cycles end.”

With Songtaba celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the timing could not be better. The seeds of sustainability have been planted, and with careful nurturing, the organisation is ready to reap a harvest that will empower generations to come.

Mohammed Amidu Alhassan, Head of Institutional Development and Partnerships, Songtaba

 Fact sheet 

The Civil Society Strengthening Programme/#Shifting the Power (CSSP/#StP) is a long-term support to civil society in Ghana, contributing to CSAs becoming more resilient, responsive, and effective in delivering the priorities of their constituents. It is an eight-year programme implemented by STAR-Ghana Foundation and the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) with funding from Comic Relief and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).

The CSSP/#StP maintains that ‘if we connect capacities at the local and national levels and we maintain civic advocacy on critical issues, then we would be strengthening agencies of groups and communities to demand and ensure accountability and responsiveness to issues of social and economic inclusion’.

The main delivery mechanism for this programme is grants and capacity strengthening. There are 3 grant components: the Catalyst Fund, Civil Society Strengthening Fund and the Matching Fund. The Catalyst Fund supports the institutional and capacity strengthening of small organizations, networks and associations. The CSSF will support CSAs to implement their strategic plans, including institutional strengthening elements. The Community Matching Fund will explore innovative funding for CSAs who want to explore local resource mobilization and diversify their sources of funding. Overall, CSSP will support about ninety (90) CSA.