As calls for power shift between the global north and south in areas of development deepen, International NGOs continue to fashion out ways to prepare the south for a paradigm shift in power. In Ghana, Norsaac is modelling Participatory Grants Making (PGM) with a core country team including STAR-Ghana Foundation, Oxfam and WACSI providing support.

The pro-marginalized and policy influencing organization (Norsaac), is one of two CSOs selected in Ghana to roll out prototypes aimed at providing the needed power shift. This follows a global call from Research International NGO (RINGO), for models that can shift the power from partners in the global north to partners in the global south.

PGM as a homegrown grant making model in Ghana will prepare the country as a model from the south to embrace and use power efficiently. The global south power shift agenda is expected to operate in a way that is context driven, responsive to local narratives as well as norms and values. It would also be designed with southern terms in a mutually beneficial relationship between north and south, it would disrupt patterns of top-down grant making learning.

Norsaac and its partners have held power shift dialogues, facilitated platforms for reflections or providing critical alternatives to the process. At a recent consultation meeting hosted by STAR-Ghana Foundation, the organizations, among other objectives documented their perspectives on concepts of balancing power between INGOs, donors, CSOs and shifting power initiatives within partner organizations among other areas critical to implementation of the PGM prototype. Local CSOs were also engaged at a similar convening in Northern Ghana to document their perspectives on what power they need to be shifted and what PGM means to them.

The partner organizations and Norsaac have agreed to hold monthly consultations around PGM and have strategic engagements with the donor community.