STAR-Ghana has tested the Cluster approach and Community of Practice and Learning (CoPL) as models for fostering collaboration among civil society actors for both practice learning and advocacy. These models are anchored on STAR-Ghana’s strategic documents, including the GESI Strategy and the Learning Framework, in the support of promoting active citizenry that is well informed and participate in governance processes in Ghana.

The cluster model, pioneered under the STAR-Ghana Gender Equality & Social Inclusion/Media Call has been a key mechanism for promoting and achieving joined up influencing and collective actions on gender equality and social inclusion in Ghana. The two (clusters and CoPLs) complement each other by enabling learning and translating learning into joint actions that promote social justice in Ghana.

It has been up-scaled to the Anti-Corruption and Local Governance Calls. Whilst this presents opportunity for mainstreaming joined up actions within specific calls, it has also presented a challenge with coordination, given numbers of clusters, which stands at Eleven (11). Given that thematic issues across the 3 calls are connected, the response has been to conduct a recalibration process, to link projects and organizations across the calls.

The successes, challenges and lessons from the GESI clusters have informed the recalibration. Five clusters have emerged, as follows:

1. Decentralization and citizens participation
2. Transparency, accountability and equitability in public services and pro-poor programmes
3. Democratic and peaceful elections
4. Economic rights and empowerment
5. Regulatory frameworks and policies on transparency and accountability

These on-boarding workshops are planned for all 5. During these meetings, about 100 organizations across Ghana will participate, with the aim of developing a framework for jointly pursuing issues of interest on the respective themes. The serries of meetings begun on Tuesday 19th February 2019 in the Volta regional capital of Ho with the cohort on Decentralization and citizens participation.

The specific objectives are:

• To validate and consolidate collective action plans for influencing specific thematic advocacy issues
• To develop frameworks for learning and plan ways of working.
• Renew commitments towards joined up actions
• Develop Action plans
• Defined and agree to ways of working