On August 28th and 29th, 2024, STAR-Ghana Foundation and the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), hosted a special learning café in Kumasi to deepen the understanding of partners under the Civil Society Strengthening Fund (CSSF), of the key components of the CSSF.
The two-day event focused on financial sustainability, institutional strengthening, operational support, and setting a learning agenda for the programme, positioning partners for greater impact.
Frank Kwaku Amoateng, Head of Results and Learning
The CSSF is the second domain of the Civil Society Strengthening Programme/Shift the Power (CSSP/StP), an eight-year initiative implemented by STAR-Ghana and WACSI with funding from Comic Relief and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).This programme is designed to provide long-term support to civil society in Ghana, helping civil society actors become more resilient, responsive, and effective in meeting the needs of their constituents.
Fostering learning and accountability
The event saw various insightful sessions. STAR-Ghana’s Head of Results and Learning, Frank Kwaku Amoateng, led a thought-provoking discussion on how to effectively utilise and share learnings, stressing the importance of mutual accountability in reporting. The session emphasised that mutual accountability is not about meeting obligations but also about ensuring that all parties-funders, implementers, and beneficiaries- actively engage in transparent and collaborative processes.
Demonstrating co-creation, a core a principle of the Shift the Power movement, the session reinforced the need for future engagements to continue embracing collaborative practices.
Financial management
Mary Sabbah, Head of Finance and Operations at STAR-Ghana, guided participants through a detailed session on financial management and reporting, offering clarity on operational support, minimum financial standards, and financial reporting requirements. These discussions equipped partners with the tools to better manage their funds while ensuring compliance with CSSF standards.
Sarah Adjei, Manager of the Civil Society Strengthening Portfolio
The Manager of the Civil Society Strengthening Portfolio, Sarah Adjei, led a critical session on safeguarding, highlighting its importance in maintaining safe environments for all stakeholders.
“Safeguarding entails protecting vulnerable individuals from harm and ensuring that organisations have the proper policies and practices to prevent abuse, exploitation, and neglect,” she said.
The session underscored the necessity for partners to prioritise safeguarding, especially as they work closely with communities and individuals.
Path to financial sustainability
Financial sustainability was a major focus of the learning cafe, with the Head of Capacity Development at WACSI, Charles VanDyck leading an interactive session on the subject. Participants explored various models that have been tested for financial sustainability and discussed practical steps their organisations could take to secure long term financial health. The session provided valuable insights for partners, encouraging them to integrate sustainable financial practices into their organisational strategies.
