The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), through the Management Information International (MSI) is implementing the Ghana Local Governance and Decentralisation Program (LOGODEP) in the Western Region of Ghana. The Network for Community Planning and Development (NECPAD) is as a “Grantee” is implementing a project entitled “Social Mobilization for Good Governance and Local Empowerment Project” in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly (TNMA). The TNMA is one local government unit in the Western Region with a cosmopolitan composition which makes it crucial for it to properly manage diverse interests and demands for services. In many years of its work in the municipality, NECPAD has noticed key challenges which hamper the Assembly’s development oversight responsibility for basic social services which also inhibit responsiveness, inclusive decision-making and the efficient management of development policies to serve community needs and empower people to participate in, and influence the development process. The project thus seeks to improve on transparency and accountability in local governance as civil society and citizens are involved in budget tracking and monitoring of how well projects are being implemented and how well funds have been used in Municipal Assembly compared to the allocations in the budgeting process.
The Overall project goal is a strengthened capacity of local government and civil society to manage development through participation and social mobilization. Specific objectives are;
i. To strengthen local governance through improving the engagement capacity of communities to demand accountability and promote participation in decision making;
ii. To provide information, knowledge, and skills to increase community interest in assembly processes for development benefits.
iii. To create and institutionalize Governance Issues Forum Network (GIFNET), a local platform
for inclusive development and sustainable project monitoring.
The “Social Mobilization for Good Governance and Local Empowerment Project” covers all the 30 electoral areas in the TNMA. It targets communities with development programs and projects identified in the TNMA’s 2014 and 2015 Annual Action Plans. The Strategy features awareness creation through community entry, education and social mobilization; institutional strengthening and capacity building; partnerships and networking; participatory community monitoring and project tracking; lesson learning and experience sharing.
Under the technical guidance and supervision of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), NECPAD is leading the identification and mobilization of community-based organizations and opinion leaders to form Governance Issue Forum Network (GIFNet). The organisation is supporting and participating in the training of the identified groups to physically monitor the implementation of the TNMA‘s Annual Action Plan delivery and interface with the local governance system. Through this it is mobilizing local CSOs for consensus building on processes, procedures, and content of monitoring engagements. Further, it is holding public forum to inform the constituents about the project objectives, expectations and their complementary roles for the success and sustainability of the project. NECPAD is organizing and leading an experience sharing workshop session on Social Accountability where GIFNet will share success stories and challenges with Assembly members, civic groups and the public. Lessons learnt and recommendations will highlight relevant issues for other project environments of the Municipality.
Client’s Name
LOGODEP
Approx. Value of contract sum
Contract sum: GHS 69,645
Address
Ghana Local Governance and Decentralisation Program (LOGODEP) funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) The Grants Manager
MSI/ LOGODEP
Plot 42, Airport Ridge
Takoradi – W/R
