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 of School for Life.

For an organisation that has spent decades bringing education to out-of-school children in Northern Ghana, CSSP–StP has been more than a project. It has been a turning point in strengthening systems, widening partnerships, and laying the foundation for long-term sustainability.

Delivering on Key Milestones

Under the CSSP–StP’s Civil Society Strengthening Fund (CSSF), SfL has worked steadily to meet most of the key deliverables it set out to achieve. A new six-year strategic plan has been developed, providing a compass for the organisation’s direction up to 2030. Critical gaps were identified in existing institutional frameworks, prompting the development of policies on gender inclusion, social policy, property and asset management, as well as the review and finalisation of human resource, finance, risk management, and conflict of interest policies.

“Most of the key deliverables have been achieved, and it has added value to our work,” notes Sayibu. “It’s worth it. Generally, we are on schedule with most of the things we set out to do.”

Partnership frameworks are being strengthened to guide how the organisation engages with collaborators, while a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) system is being procured to consolidate accountability and knowledge management. Training sessions in communications and monitoring, evaluation and learning have also transformed the organisation’s approach. “The training on communications was engaging and revealing. It has enhanced our ways of communicating – now more results-based,” she adds.

Diversification

Perhaps the most striking transformation has been in resource mobilisation. Working closely with the STAR-Ghana Foundation and the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), School for Life has diagnosed funding gaps, analysed concentration risks, and crafted a strategy to diversify its income streams.

The plan includes tapping into corporate funding, local philanthropy, alumni contributions, digital fundraising, and social enterprise. To this end, the organisation purchased a 29-seater bus for a vehicle rental service. Launched in April 2025, the venture has already begun serving corporate institutions, with prospects of recouping the investment within two years.

“Project funding takes away the sustainability of organisations. CSSP is positioned to begin to break this cycle – whereby donors can trust local organisations to effectively utilise funding,” Sayibu observes. “True capacity and autonomy will come from that.”

Wedad Sayibu, Director, School for Life Ghana

Local Philanthropy

School for Life has also turned to its alumni – over 600 individuals who once benefited from its Complementary Basic Education (CBE) programme. Through media outreach and direct engagement, the organisation is rallying alumni to “give back” and contribute to sustaining the mission. Dedicated volunteers and small fundraising teams have been recruited and trained, creating new pathways for local philanthropy.

“We have deliberately scouted for funds to support our work. It is a novelty, but we know that it will work with great effort,” says Ayuba Bukari, Head of Programmes and Partnerships. “We have also partnered with fellow civil society organisations for co-creation of proposals – and one has yielded results.”

Securing Flexible Funding

That breakthrough came recently in the form of a USD 1.5 million grant from Echidna Giving, secured over three years to advance foundational literacy. The flexible funding will enable SfL to deepen work around complementary basic education, equip children in deprived and hard-to-reach communities with literacy skills, and expand access for girls.

This new funding also ensures continuity after SfL’s earlier collaboration with Rising Academy Network, and strengthens links with initiatives such as T-TELL, which is working to formalise Islamic Basic Schools. “This is flexible funding that positions us effectively to engage with our communities to meet their needs and aspirations,” Sayibu explains.

Networking for the Future

The CSSP–StP framework has also opened doors to new partnerships. SfL has engaged Vibrant Village Network, Masanawa Africa, Kizazi, and corporate organisations with strong education-focused CSR portfolios. “These efforts will not yield results overnight,” Sayibu acknowledges, “but we are hopeful.”

The organisation has invested in financial software, improved its documentation systems, and created spaces for reflection and co-creation. Lessons from peers, such as My Hereafter, have shaped its local fundraising strategies.

Ama A. A. Baafi, Senior Communications Officer, STAR-Ghana Foundation

Lessons and Sustainability

Key lessons have emerged from School for Life’s journey with CSSP–StP. The importance of continuous reflection, stakeholder engagement, and co-creation processes has been affirmed. The programme has also demonstrated the immense potential of local philanthropic efforts, even though they require patience and sustained investment.

“The whole CSSP programme has come to make our organisation and others more sustainable. Hitherto, we focused on one traditional source of funds. Now, we have diversified – securing funding from philanthropists and donors who are flexible,” Bukari stresses.

As School for Life looks ahead, the priorities are clear: to strengthen alumni structures, expand social enterprise ventures, leverage new partnerships, and ensure sustainability of gains beyond the programme cycle.

For Sayibu and her team, the journey has been both demanding and rewarding. “CSSP has enhanced our capacity, broadened our funding base, and given us the confidence to innovate. The prospects ahead are good. It has been worth it.”

Fact sheet

• Programme: Civil Society Strengthening Programme – Shifting the Power (CSSP–StP)

• Duration: Eight years
• Funders: Comic Relief & UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
• Implementers: STAR-Ghana Foundation & the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)
• Key Mechanisms: Grants & capacity strengthening (Catalyst Fund, Civil Society Strengthening Fund, Matching Fund)