A recent study into Social Norms and Petty Corruption investigated the reasons why Ghanaians may engage in bribe paying, based on an original survey of 1,400 citizens. A third of Ghanaian citizens report that they have paid a bribe during the last year. The sectors that are most corrupt are the police, followed by electricity […]

Ghana has held six elections since returning to multiparty democracy in 1992 with three turnovers of power including, in 2016, the first defeat of a sitting incumbent. But multiparty elections are costly affairs for aspiring and current parliamentarians as this cost of politics research illustrates. Between 2012 and 2016 the cost of running for political […]

How Naabans Foundation is inspiring change through resource mobilisation, women’s empowerment, and community development. Naabans Foundation began its journey under the Catalyst Fund and has since grown into its second phase — one of the youngest organizations within the CSSF portfolio. Their work is rooted in the community. The team spends time with local groups, […]

By Eunice R. Agbenyadzi               What if peacebuilding is not about only security? Across northern Ghana, communities are sending a powerful message: they do not seek violence; they seek the dignity of work and the means to provide for themselves and their families. This call challenges us to rethink peacebuilding and […]

The Rural Aid Alliance Foundation (RAAF), a non-political, non-profit NGO based in Takoradi, is steadily transforming its operations and impact through the Civil Society Strengthening Facility (CSSF). With a clear plan and commitment, RAAF has been able to implement several activities, despite encountering a few challenges along the way. The journey so far has been encouraging, showing […]

When a consultant once described Human Rights and Development Services (HURDS) as “a child in need,” it reflected the organisation’s struggles before joining the Civil Society Strengthening Fund (CSSF). Limited systems, no finance officer, and weak structures threatened its sustainability. But just a few years later, HURDS has transformed into a confident, visible, and resilient civil society organisation charting […]

For the Women Support and Activist Group (WOSAG), the Civil Society Strengthening Fund (CSSF) under the Shift the Power programme came as a lifeline. When Samiha Yunus joined as Executive Director in February 2025, the organisation was struggling to stay afloat—under-resourced, with only two staff managing operations and finance, and without an up-to-date strategic plan. The CSSF grant marked […]

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 […]

In Tamale, Northern Ghana, URBANET is writing a new chapter in its 22-year journey of supporting vulnerable groups and smallholder farmers. Through the Civil Society Strengthening Fund (CSSF) under the Civil Society Strengthening Programme (CSSP) – implemented by STAR-Ghana Foundation (SGF) and the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), with funding from Comic Relief and […]

When the Civil Society Strengthening Programme – Shifting the Power (CSSP–StP) took off, School for Life (SfL) in Tamale embraced the opportunity with optimism and caution. “When we set out with the CSSP programme, we went through the inception phase. We have come far and so much has changed from then to now,” reflects Wedad Sayibu, Director […]

For years, members of the Akwatialine Scrap Sellers Association in Kumasi dismantled metal and electronic waste under harsh and unsafe conditions. Workers lacked protective gear, discarded valuable materials, and endured poor health as a result of toxic exposure. The work was tough, the earnings meagre, and the risks high. “Now we extract waste in smarter ways that […]