TABLE OF CONTENTSAbout WACSI Message from the Board Chair Executive Directors Report Message from our Partners Message from our Trainers Reflections from the Capacity Building Officer Reflections from the Policy Advocacy Officer SIPRI-OSI Security and Governance Project Message from our Next Generation Interns Message from our Past Interns Financial Highlights WACSI Staff 2 12 14 16 17 20 22 25 27 29 32 34

1

Our future ambition Our Partners Our track record Regional focusHaving understood the challenges that development practitioners face in the West African sub region, our creative and custom-made interventions continue to respond to operational and institutional challenges of national and regional civil society institutions in Liberia, Nigeria, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cote dIvoire and Senegal. In the near future, the Institute will focus on invigorating the capacities of development practitioners in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gambia, Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau. Since July 2007, WACSI has successfully completed over 50 capacity development engagements for more than 1200 civil society institutions, foundations, NGOs and government agencies operating in the West African sub region. The Institute has conducted engagements in 9 countries in the sub region. We currently continue to serve the vast majority of the clients we served since our inception, and many of our engagements with new clients come through references from people familiar with our work. The Institute has built working relationships with the following reputable institutions: African Womens Development Fund, Daphne Foundation, German Technical Cooperation, International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Open Society Initiative for West Africa, Open Society Institute, OSIs International Womens Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Trust Africa, West African Civil Society Forum , Women, Peace and Security NetworkAfrica, World Federalist MovementInstitute for Global Policy, Embassy of France Cooperation and Cultural Affairs Office, the Africa CSO Platform for Principled Partnership and the Economic Community of West African States Commission. WACSI is positioning itself to become a civil society knowledge sharing hub and a credible centre of learning with international recognition and accreditation. We envision a veritable civil society resource centre that caters for the capacity development needs of civil society organizations in West Africa.

ABOUT WACSIThe West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) was established by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) in 2005 to reinforce the capacities of civil society in the sub-region.

WACSIs Mission is to strengthen the institutional and operational capacity of Civil Society Organizations to engage in policy intervention and the promotion of democratic values and principles in West Africa. The Vision is to strengthen civil society organizations as strategic partners for the promotion of democracy, good governance and national development in the sub region.The role of WACSI is to serve as a resource centre for training, research, experience sharing and dialogue for CSOs in West Africa

2

3

WACSIS CORE SERVICESCapacity BuildingWACSIs Capacity Building Unit offers training and technical assistance to enable development practitioners to improve performance and value creation. The Units tailor-made interventions in organisational development, skills development, peer learning and information exchange are designed to strengthen the operational capabilities and professionalism of CSO actors so they can better influence policy processes. WACSIs capacity building initiatives are instrumental in not only fulfilling the development needs of institutions and individuals, but also creating a space for networking, collaboration and cooperation between the various actors of civil society in the West African sub region. Its training strategies include regional open call for civil society organisations and development practitioners within the sub region, targeted in-country initiatives in selected countries in response to identified operational challenges and demand driven requests in response to training requests by development practitioners. For further information, please contact: capacitybuilding@ wacsi.org

Policy AdvocacyThe Policy Advocacy Unit of WACSI provides unique opportunities for civil society to enhance its engagement and collaboration with policy makers, government agencies and institutions and private sector on key policy issues across the sub-region. Since its inception in 2007, the Policy Advocacy unit through a three pronged approach has not only provided avenue for civil society actors to discuss and influence significant regional and global issues, but has also in collaboration with the WACSI research unit published and disseminated outcomes of policy forums to diverse stakeholders. The unit also leads the development and execution of the Institutes policy advocacy portfolio, with key activities such as capacity building on communication, advocacy strategy, lobbying and networking skills as well promoting citizens participation in policy interventions. For further information, please contact: policyadvocacy@ wacsi.org

4

5

Research and DocumentationThe Research and documentation Unit of WACSI is actively working with CSO actors to provide relevant, credible and up to date information on advocacy initiatives. This initiative is helping civil society actors in West Africa to address pressing issues by identifying topics of common interest to fill identified knowledge gaps within civil society. The Units resource centre which serves as a library of civil society documents, research reports and other relevant publications that are accessible to both individuals and organisations, is also working with some universities and other research institutions to share expertise as well as publications with CSO actors in West Africa. Some services offered by the Research and Documentation unit include knowledge production on the state of civil society in the sub-region, dissemination of research outcomes, technical assistance in research methods, writing and editing for civil society organisations. For further information, please contact: research@ wacsi.org

6

WACSI GOVERNING BOARDDr. Abdul Tejan-Cole, MemberDr. Abdul Tejan-Cole, Sierra Leonean; is currently the Acting Executive Director of OSIWA and the Africa Regional Director of OSI. He is a distinguished member of the Sierra Leonean Bar, an acknowledged expert on transitional justice, and was awarded the 2001 Human Rights Watch award.

Dr. Said Adejumobi, MemberDr. Said Adejumobi, Nigerian; is currently the Chief of Public Administration Section and Coordinator of the Africa Governance Report (AGR) for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He is an accomplished researcher, and has edited noteworthy publications on political developments in West Africa.

Ms. Aicha Bah -Diallo, MemberMs. Acha Bah Diallo, Guinean, is a champion of girls and womens learning, serves as adviser to the Director-General of UNESCO on girls education in Africa. Madam Bah-Diallo played a guiding role in the formation of the Forum of African Women Educationalists (FAWE) in 1992, and currently serves as its chairperson.

Prof. Esi Sutherland-Addy, Member

Ms. Fatima Mbaye, MemberMs. Fatima Mbaye, Mauritanian is a human rights lawyer, Vice-President of the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and President of the Mauritanian Human Rights Association (member of FIDH) awarded the Anti-Slavery Award in 1998. In 1999, Fatima Mbaye became the first African to receive the third Nuremberg International Prize for Human Rights.

Ms. Nana Asantewa Afadzinu, Executive DirectorMs. Nana Asantewa Afadzinu, Ghanaian; currently serves as the Executive Director of WACSI. Until September 2010, she was the Regional Policy Advisor for IBIS West Africa. She also served as Country Coordinator for OSIWA-Nigeria from January 20062008.

The most important catalyst for WACSIs success is our staff of highly committed professionals8

Prof. Adebayo Olukoshi, Board ChairProfessor Adebayo Olukoshi is a Nigerian and currently the Director of the United Nations African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) based in Dakar, Senegal. He served as resource person at CODESRIA, at the Universities of Tampere (Finland) and Lund (Sweden) on governance, conflict studies and social movements and guest lecturer at the Uppsala University. He is a Professor of International Economic Relations.

Prof. Esi Sutherland-Addy, Ghanaian; is a Senior Research Fellow and Head of Language, Literature and Drama Section at the Department of African Studies, University of Ghana. She is a distinguished educationist in Ghana.

9

Our staff of Development Practitioners:The most important catalyst for WACSIs success is our staff of highly committed professionals. Our staff competencies encompass project management, extensive knowledge of civil society evolution and challenges in the sub region, field experience of implementing interventions in challenging environments and training and management development expertise.

Our External Consultants:In addition to the management team, on specific projects the Institute utilizes the expertise of consultants with indigenous expertise in areas such as Organizational Psychology, Organization Development, Impact Assessment, Policy Research Methodology, Policy Advocacy, Human Rights, Conflict Prevention, Democratic Governance, and Economics amongst others. These consultants have several years of experience working with a variety of organizations on human resources and organization development projects. Our external experts are frequently more up-to-date on the newest development thinking and new ways of working, and they bring the added value of rich, broad base experience and stimulating innovation.

Our external experts are frequently more up-to-date on the newest development thinking and new ways of working, and they bring the added value of rich, broad base experience and stimulating innovation10 11

MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR2010 was a year in which WACSI continued to build on its founding mission and objectives to consolidate its presence as a sub-regional resource for civil society. As readers will observe in the pages that follow, the training, research, and outreach activities of the Institute maintained their steady growth even as innovations in programme development and delivery were undertaken. The Institute also continued to expand its partnership base by welcoming new institutional collaborators whilst maintaining older relationships. Furthermore, the presence and standing of the Institute in its host country remained solid while investments in reaching out beyond the boundaries of Ghana to participate in initiatives taking place in other West African countries continued apace. As a sub-regional facility, WACSI has also come to be better known in West Africa, particularly for its training activities, Next Generation Internship Programme, and policy dialogue initiatives. Following the departure in early 2010 of the founding Director of the Institute, the first half of the year was devoted to a search for a suitable successor to continue to pilot the affairs of the Institute from where Ms. Thelma Ekiyor had left off. For much of the first half of the year, the work of the Institute was primarily driven

by the staff of the Institute under the supervision of Prof. Esi Sutherland Addy, the resident member of the Board. It is a tribute to Prof. Sutherland Addy and the staff, and a mark of the inner institutional strength of WACSI that in the absence of a full-time Director for a period of time, activities continued to be run as robustly as the constituents of the Institute had come to expect of a pace-setting institution. I would like on behalf of the Board to salute the example in commitment and leadership which the WACSI staff demonstrated during the year under review. During the last quarter of the year, the Institute welcomed Ms. Nana Afadzinu on board as WACSIs second Director. The decision of the Board to appoint her was unanimous and she comes to the Institute with an excellent knowledge of the West African terrain, a solid record of institutional management, and an impeccable, demonstrated reputation for integrity. These qualities, and others, recommended her to the Board

as the suitable candidate to lead the Institute into the second phase of its growth. Her experience was very quickly put to test by the on-going external review of the Institute which the OSI had commissioned and which she helped to oversee to a satisfactory completion. The review exercise was an important independent, external assessment of all aspects of the work and workings of WACSI; it was heartening that the Institute came out in flying colours. As we look forward to 2011 and beyond, the Board, management and staff of the Institute do so with a renewed commitment to make of WACSI not just a sector leader but a valuable partner and ally with other institutions working at the national, sub-regional, and, indeed, regional and global levels as the quest for a deepening of democratic and developmental governance in West Africa gathers momentum.

Prof. Adebayo Olukoshi

2010: A Year of Consolidation and Renewal for WACSI12

13

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORTBy Nana Asantewa AfadzinuWelcome to the 2010 Annual Report of the West Africa Civil Society Institute. I am very happy you are going to share part of your time to go through what we were able to do within the year 2010. 2010 was a truly remarkable year for WACSI. The organization moved offices; experienced funding uncertainties as its major funder went through a restructuring process; and started the year without a substantive Executive Director. The Board graciously bridged the leadership gap, with Prof. Esi Sutherland Addy; Auntie Esi, as she is affectionately called, providing excellent guidance and direction. By the time I joined in

October 2010, WACSI was not just standing firm and sailing smooth, it was also on the right course. A lot of credit should also go to the WACSI torch-bearers -the staff- who, with commendable inner motivation, rose to the occasion, and consistently innovated and improvised to ensure WACSI delivered on its mandate. WACSI successfully sailed through these challenging waters and sustained its commitments to strengthen and build the institutional and operational capacity of civil society in West Africa. This was achieved on the back of a number of well executed strategies and programmes. One of the more effective instruments of engagement was the heavily subsidized but well received fee-paying training programmes. WACSI also undertook collaborative research projects with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and with the International Coalition on Responsibility to Protect (ICRtoP). Similarly partnerships with OSI-LGI,

WIPSEN-Africa, WACSOF and INWENT (now GIZ) remained strong; and OSIWA kept faith with WACSI even as they went through their own transition. New partnerships were also established with entities such as the French Embassy and the Ministry of Social Welfare and Employment in Ghana. That WACSI was able to do so much with several challenges whirling all over was in large part because of The quality support and service delivered by the team of technical experts in the West Africa sub-region. This group though external in nature, remained an integral and invaluable component of WACSI and contributed materially to the results and successes achieved during the year under review. Special mention needs to be made here of Daniel Andoh and Gilbert Atta Boakye, both of CICADA Consult; Karen Shormeh Sai, now with IPPF; Dr. Yao Gebe and Dr. Ken Ahorsu; Jasper Cummeh, Mary Tobbin, Margaret Brew-Ward, Constant Gnacadja, Antoinette Mbrou, Paul Nyulaku and Alhassan Mohammed, who constitute the policy advocacy training team.

A very special note of thanks must go to Thelma Ekiyor, the past Executive Director of WACSI. Her contribution to ensuring that WACSI had strong institutional structures played a significant part in the resilience demonstrated even in her absence. WACSI also had the opportunity of being part of a global evaluation programme undertaken by OSI for all OSIWA spin-offs. We are pleased with the commendations and recommendations made in the draft report, and note with satisfaction comments made on WACSIs performance. 2011 holds great promise for WACSI and for its primary constituency, civil society in West Africa. One of the Institutes major objectives is to diversify its funding base. For this reason, we have initiated a resource mobilization strategy process that has led to the birth of a 2 to 3 year work plan to expand our funding sources and pipelines. The Institute sees a great opportunity to increase and extend the benefits of its services throughout the sub-

region; it will strengthen its existing partnerships and establish new ones, within civil society, but also with government agencies in different West African countries, and with intergovernmental agencies such as ECOWAS and the United Nations. WACSI will infuse creativity and innovation into its capacity development programming, and introduce services tailored to specific needs of partners. It will also strengthen its own structures and produce a solid database of the technical experts in West Africa. WACSIs Resource Centre and Conference facilities are available for use by civil society in the sub-region, and this information will be widely disseminated. Beyond these, the Institutes role as a hub for civil society in West Africa, and a creator of space for reflection, policy dialogue and knowledge generation will be increasingly enhanced. The prospects for 2011 look bright. We gave our word, and kept it in 2010. We will continue to do so.

WACSI will infuse creativity and innovation into its capacity development programming, and introduce services tailored to specific needs of partners.

14

15

MESSAGE FROM OUR PARTNERSThe partnership between WACSI and the Embassy of France will not end here; the second phase of the project will have to be developed to ensure that the e-directory is regularly updated.WACSI has established a number of partnerships with both governmental and non-governmental organizations and individual actors. These partnerships are the centre of WACSIs commitment to deliver its mandate. It is our greatest pleasure to share what our partners think and feel about these collaborations. However, the sector remains scattered, which makes it difficult to know who does what and where. WACSI and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs believe that information is the key to contribute to the reinforcement of the civil society. Developing the e-directory and the website is part of a strategy aimed at reinforcing Ghanaian civil society organisations capacity. In the long run, we hope that this project will help the civil society of Ghana to become more structured, stronger, and visible on the international scene. The Embassy of France turned to WACSI to implement the project because of WACSIs mandate and its intimate knowledge of the field. It is expected that the e-directory and the website will be launched in July 2011. The partnership between WACSI and the Embassy of France will not end here; the second phase of the project will have to be developed to ensure that the e-directory is regularly updated.

Wolfram Zunzer writes on GIZ-WACSI partnershipWACSI was contracted by GIZ (former InWEnt) and Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping and Training Centre (KAIPTC) to provide training for mid-career government officials and diplomats on Civil Society and Governance in West Africa. The overall objective of WACSIs course component in the 5-weeks Development Diplomacy Training on Regional and International Cooperation in the Field of Security and Peace Policy was to introduce participants to the concept of civil society, the role of civil society in fragile states and opportunities for state-civil society engagement. The course provided a platform for 20 mid-career government officials, diplomats and security personnel from Africa to gain a greater appreciation of the importance of involving civil society in planning and policy making. In intensive discussions and interactive working groups at WACSIs enabling training environment, new insights and increased appreciation of the high potentials and specific limits of some civil society organizations were gained. Due to state of the art presentations, in-depth working group discussions and a skillful facilitation by WACSI trainers, the participants perceptions of CSOs started to alter and progress significantly. In the trainees perceptions,

they became noteworthy actors for all discourses on governance planning and policy-making in the field of good governance, peace and security policy. Another key result was that, practically all participants committed to collaborating with civil society organizations instead of viewing them as adversaries competing for political space or merely subcontracted service providers.

Christian Joly and Elise Ponson, write on the Ghanaian Civil Society E-Directory Project with the Embassy of FranceWACSI and the Office for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs of the Embassy of France in Ghana have signed a partnership agreement to develop an e-directory website devoted to civil society organisations in Ghana. Civil society is an important component of a lively democracy and is indeed dynamic in Ghana.

The overall objective of WACSIs course component in the 5-weeks Development Diplomacy Training on Regional and International Cooperation in the Field of Security and Peace Policy was to introduce participants to the concept of civil society, the role of civil society in fragile states and opportunities for state-civil society engagement.

16

17

WHAT OUR TRAINERS SAYWACSIs important role in CSO capacity building calls for widely experienced, interactive and genuinely motivated training partners. Karen Shormeh Sai and Daniel Andoh are ideal examples of resource persons with experience in civil society development, resource mobilization and community empowerment. Both Ms. Sai and Mr. Andoh have also closely followed the progress of WACSI, therefore we asked them to share their views on the Institutes present role and future prospects in the West African civil society sector.

have to learn from me. This is the best way to learn to be involved in a conversation, to actually think through and come up with examples and your own frames of reference. WACSIs approach is especially meaningful for me since a lot of other organizations do not appreciate that.

2

Daniel: WACSIs training programmes are well-organised in terms of logistics, material and learning environment. Each training workshop is also very international in character. I am pleased by the multinational nature of course participants, which is enriching for me as a trainer and l believe for the participants as well.

hopes that at the end of the day, those teams will form partnerships that move forward into the development arena. Another thing that concerns me a lot is resource mobilization capacity. Many of our CSOs are very small, so who is helping them to do their proposals, budgets, annual reports and communication portfolios? I think WACSI is ideally placed to provide these services. They will basically offer incubation service for the smallest CSOs by providing them back office support, helping their budgets and financials, assisting with proposal and annual report writing in order to give them the time to do their jobs.

How do you envision WACSIs role in the future? 2Daniel: The Institute could come up with a CSO rankingsystem that would assess and recommend certified CSOs for co-operation with governments, international donors and the private sector. The Institute could also strengthen its feedback channels from participating organisations, which would play a strong role in sustaining knowledge and establishing networks.

2

Daniel: WACSIs role in West Africa is essential for thewhole civil society sector. Since West African CSOs are both nationally and regionally facing difficulties in organising themselves, the civil society sector calls for an umbrella organisation to provide capacity building and different forms of co-operation. I recommend WACSI for any organisations that I come across. Recently I went for training, unrelated to WACSI, in Conakry, Guinea. I met up with civil society actors combating small arms and light weapons proliferation; I recommended that they should get in touch with WACSI to assist them with some of their operational needs.

1

Karen: I think WACSI is very strongly positioned to be aregional accreditation agency for CSOs through offering training and capacity building from their infancy to the graduation point, when the organisation is ready to fly. At the infancy stage, WACSI is providing services in strategic planning, board development, governance, structuring, fundraising, in all fundamental issues that one has to address in order to start a CSO. I also envision WACSI continuing to incubate them as they grow and gain their registration and accreditation that we discussed. On the whole, WACSI has the ideal capacity to provide these essential services for the civil society sector in the region. I dont see any reason why WACSI wouldnt be around for 20 years from today.

Which aspects of WACSI training sessions motivate you the most as a facilitator? 1Karen: The most exciting thing about the WACSI training process is the participatory approach. The participants in the training, the organization and the trainer, all enjoy the participatory style. The training is more of a conversation than a lecture. Personally, I have always felt that I have just as much to learn from anyone in the room, as they

Which pressing points can you identify with regards to CSO capacity building needs in West Africa? 1Karen: Now, the pool of funds is very small and the competition is very high. The slice of the pie that each organization gets is shrinking. One of the most important ways forward is partnership and working together around themes, so that there is less duplication of efforts and more economy of scale. I like the training structure at WACSI there is a team of thirty people who dont know each other, and they are put into smaller teams. One

18

19

REFLECTIONS FROM THE CAPACITY BUILDING OFFICEREmpowering the civil society sector is critical to increasing the welfare of community citizens in the West Africa sub region. Since the inception of the Institute, the Capacity Building Unit has been committed to ensuring that it strengthens the operational capacity of civil society institutions to influence policy processes and enhance their participation in decision-making. The Institutes capacity building strategy focuses on creating networks and strategies to transform institutional systems at all levels. The Unit also creates new ways of organizing and thinking about economic, social and political relationships. The year 2010 was one of creativity for the Capacity Building Unit. In order to sustain its obligations to civil society constituents, the Unit designed and piloted regional training initiatives that attracted a token fee. The Institute implemented four regional training initiatives total in 2010. These training initiatives were specifically requested by civil society actors in the region; the Institute received numerous communications and documented reports of these requests. Therefore, the training interventions were designed to respond to identified needs and to improve civil society organizations performance in relation to their stated purpose, context, resources and viability.

The following training programmes were organized by WACSIs Capacity Building Unit:

Fundraising and Monitoring and Evaluation Workshop:This workshop attracted and equipped 21 civil society actors across the region with fundraising skills and toolkits to be used as a reference document and a training tool.

Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre/INWENT Capacity Building International Development Diplomacy Programme:The overall objective of this course was to introduce the trainees to the concept of civil society, the role of civil society in West Africa, the relationship that exists between the government and the civil society and how this relationship can be strengthened. Civil society actors at the training workshop were advised to pay increasing attention to networking and alliance building across institutional lines in order to strengthen their capacity to interact with government and other stakeholders.

EU, USAID, WB, UN Grants Specialized Workshop:This workshop provided civil society practitioners with the requisite proposal formulation competencies to meet international grant reporting requirements. The course also provided trainees with the essential proposal formulation competencies and a comprehensive understanding of international grant reporting requirements.

CIVIL SOCIETY IN GHANA E-DIRECTORY PROJECTA stakeholders forum was organized for implementing partners under this project on 17th November 2010 at Accra, Ghana. The forum which attracted members of civil networks, forums and associations including KASSA/ Friends of the Earth, Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC), Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) and many others enabled the implementing partners to elicit broad based ownership of the process and also offered opportunity for the representatives to make inputs into the project methodology and the data collection questionnaires.

The Institutes Capacity Building strategy focuses on creating networks and strategies to transform institutional systems at all levels. The Unit also creates new ways of organizing and thinking about economic, social and political relationshipsBy Charles Kojo Vandyck

NGO Management Training for Civil Society Organizations :This workshop attracted civil society organisations from Nigeria, Cote dIvoire, Togo and Ghana. The workshop provided middle-level civil society practitioners with the requisite managerial and strategic thinking skills.

20

21

REFLECTIONS FROM THE POLICY ADVOCACY OFFICERPolicy Advocacy and Engagement Training for Civil Society Actors in West Africa2010 could be described as a successful year for the Policy Advocacy Unit. The Unit intensified its effort in responding to civil society capacity deficiencies in policy advocacy, engagement and analysis. The 2007 Regional Needs Assessment report had revealed that the absence of civil society actors from active participation in public policymaking is largely due to: The increasing dearth in policy engagement and influencing skills, Lack of requisite policy research skills, Lack of strategic policy influencing dimensions in civil society initiatives, as well as In-depth understanding of the dynamics of the West African policy environment has further caused a series of setbacks to the sector.

With the financial and technical support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and the Local Government and Public Service Reform Institute (LGI) of the Open Society institute, over 150 actors from across West Africa participated in the training programs run by the Unit to address the identified gaps.

The second phase of the Institutes partnership with the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and the Local Government and Public Service Reform Institute (LGI) commenced in January 2010. This phase aimed at establishing an experienced and qualified cadre of Policy Advocacy trainers who can professionally replicate the acquired skills to other deficient civil society actors across the sub-region. Between JanuaryJune, the project has successfully set up a West African training team consisting of seven (7) policy advocacy experts from Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Liberia and Benin. They organized seven (7) training workshops in major West-African cities. Up to date, the team has trained over 120 civil society actors from across West Africa through the specialized capacity development initiative. See a tabular representation below: S/N Training Venue Abuja Nigeria Monrovia, Liberia Dakar, Senegal Abidjan, Cote DIvoire Lagos, Nigeria Accra, Ghana Cotonou, Benin TOTAL Training Category ToT Certification ToT Certification ToT Certification ToT Certification Post-ToT Post-ToT Post-ToT

In 2010, the Unit also strengthened its existing relationships with like-minded organizations. In February 2010, the Unit received support from the International Coalition on the Responsibility to Protect (ICRtoP) and the World Federalist Movement (WFM). This support was channeled to designing a Responsibility to Protect Training Toolkit to educate civil society actors and government officials in West Africa on the RtoP norm. In a similar vein, the Unit fostered its cardinal mandate to serve as policy convener by providing regular spaces for civil society to engage in constructive policy dialogue with policy makers and other relevant stakeholders on various topical issues. Thus, the Unit co-convened the 3rd Annual West African Womens Policy Forum in Abuja in December 2010 in partnership with the Women in Peace and Security Network (WIPSEN-Africa) Security Network-Africa (WISPENTraining Date 22 26 Feb., 2010 4 8 Mar., 2010 15 -19 Mar., 2010 26 30 Apr., 2010 27 30 Sept., 2010 22 25 Nov., 2010 13 16 Dec., 2010 No. of participants 29 26 15 19 (including 9 Guineans) 14 18 19 126

2010 could be described as a successful year for the Policy Advocacy Unit. The Unit intensified its effort in responding to civil society capacity deficiencies in policy advocacy, engagement and analysisBy: Omolara T. Balogun

22

23

The project also contributed to the existing pool of policy advocacy learning resources with the development of an indigenous Policy Advocacy Handbook. It is envisaged that the Unit will expand on its capacity building initiatives in 2011 by developing more policy advocacy focused training courses to further enhance civil society practitioners abilities in policy processes. Major activities undertaken by the Policy Advocacy Unit includes;

Antoinette Mbrou, a Togolese and human rights lawyer, Mr. Jasper Cummeh, a Liberian and lawyer, Ms. Margaret BrewWard, a Ghanaian Gender expert, Mr. Paul Nyulaku, a Nigerian Conflict analyst/Peace Lecturer, Ms. Mary Tobbin, a Ghanaian Advocacy Expert/Social Worker, Mr. Constant Gnacadja, a Beninese Peacebuilding expert with WANEP, and Mr. Alhassan Mohammed, a Ghanaian civil society expert and trainer.

Africa and WACSI. The forum provides a venue to deliberate and design strategies for enhancing womens influence on policy processes and improving collaboration among diverse womens groups. In 2008, at the inaugural forum which was held in Accra, roles, gains and challenges confronting women in the pursuit of sustainable peace and Peace and Security framework were addressed.

African Security and Governance, Security, Democratization and Good Governance in Africa: The Impact of External Actors. WACSI realized the viability of the project in boosting the Institutes research capacity and increasing its visibility across the region. The Institute also envisioned engaging Ghanaian civil society actors, the academia and legislators in discussions on governance and security issues in the country. Although Ghana is often hailed as a haven of peace and a beacon of democracy among numerous conflict-prone West African societies, the country remains vulnerable to sporadic violent communal conflicts that harmfully influence its governance and security climate. These communal conflicts take place across the country; however, Northern Ghana remains the most vulnerable and the protracted nature the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis as the most devastating example. The conflict called for renewed dialogue and new, creative solutions that this research collaboration between WACSI and SIPRI set to explore. In the researchers meeting held in Stockholm in March 2010, the research project was streamlined to rest on three focal points: Examining the relationship between external actors and the development of sub-Saharan African policies in the field of security and governance; Assessing the impact of external actors on the prospects for security, democratization and good governance in a number of sub-Saharan African countries;

Commissioning the First Policy Advocacy Team of Trainers in West AfricaThe Institute in partnership with LGI and OSIWA held the first Policy Advocacy and Engagement Training for Civil Society Actors in West Africa. The consultative meeting was held from August 1 2, 2010 for all project partners including the members of the West Africa Policy Advocacy Training Team. The platform was also used to devise strategies and guidelines for replicating the training to other deficient actors in West Africa. Most importantly, the meeting was used to officially certify the seven successful candidates who undertook the six month ToT under the tutelage of the LGI policy communication experts. The certified trainers include: Ms.

The 3rd West African Womens Policy ForumIn 2010, the 3rd West African Women Policy Forum was held in Abuja, Nigeria from December 6 8 under the theme Increasing Womens Visibility: A framework for Political action for 2011 and 2012. The forum provided an opportunity for approximately 50 women from political parties, civil society, academia, government institutions and development agencies to review existing strategies focused at increasing womens numerical value and representation in politically elected offices, including national parliaments. The participants also discussed contemporary tactics and strategies through which women could engage and maximize opportunities in the upcoming 2011 2012 elections across the sub-region. The West African Womens Policy Forum serves as an annual reflection space for women working in different sectors in West Africa. This forum is a partnership between WIPSEN-

SIPRI-OSI SECURITY AND GOVERNANCE PROJECTThe role of non-state actors in West African conflict dynamics raises increasing interest both in the region and among international conflict resolution researchers. In consonance with this trend, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) based in Sweden commissioned WACSI to conduct a research project entitled Governance and Security in Ghana: The Dagbon Chieftaincy Crisis. The research sought to interrogate the underlying socio-cultural, economic and political dynamics fueling the conflict between competing Abudu and Andani families over the Dagbon chieftaincy position. Another objective was to explore the prospects of civil society actively participating in conflict resolution and management in West African settings. The research project was funded by the Open Society Institute (OSI) within SIPRIs broader research initiative on

24

25

Supporting sub-Saharan African civil society organizations in building basic knowledge of security issues and disseminating knowledge at the grassroots level. The choice of the research topic, methodology and scope of study specified in the March 2010 meeting was inspired by the fault-lines in Ghanaian socio-cultural, economic and political institutions. The Northern Region of Ghana is the hotbed of violent communal and ethnic conflicts that result from land disputes, chieftaincy rivalries, religious intolerance and ethnocentrism. The intractable nature of the conflict thus raises numerous questions: What are the main causes and protagonists of the conflict? Who benefits from the conflict, including political actors, ideologies, financiers and other power brokers? Which factors account for its contemporary intractability? What interventions have been made so far? Why have these efforts failed to resolve the crisis and what is the way forward? In order to conduct this challenging research, WACSI contracted two widely experienced scholars on African security issues: Dr. Ken Ahorsu and Dr. Boni Yao Gebe, who both lecture at Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD). The research set out to gather information that would uncover the mystery behind the Dagbon Chieftaincy crisis and find answers to the aforementioned questions.

Dr. Ahorsu took up the leading researchers role, which included extensive fieldwork with Dr. Gebe in Dagbon. The two scholars sought to unravel the conflicts internal dynamics through in-depth interviews and ethnographic immersion into the daily lives of people in Dagbon. After completing the fieldwork in summer 2010, Dr. Ahorsu and Dr. Gebe set out to conduct the final analysis. In December 2010, SIPRI and WACSI hosted another meeting in Stockholm where they reviewed the central research outcomes and brainstormed ways forward. Above all, WACSIs research associates holistic approach had resulted in an analysis that uncovered a host of hidden factors often left out from conventional conflict analysis: the influence of political maneuvering and implicit actions by influential individuals, such as ruling elites, to the Dagbon conflict; the incessant intrusions into the disputes by successive Ghanaian governments along ideological lines which had greatly fueled controversies among the opposing Abudu and Andani families; a lack of a systematic structural and operational strategy to transform the socioeconomic conditions of the Northern Ghana towards peaceful co-existence and development. The scholars concluded that the Dagbon crisis is unlikely to be resolved amicably through normal judicial processes. The final research report is due to be published and disseminated in the first quarter of 2011.

NEXT GENERATION INTERNSHIP2010 Interns share their experiences1 Harrison Owusu BoakyeAfter completing my first degree in Philosophy, I have incessantly questioned and reflected on the tangible role of philosophy in the new corporate world order. I thought Philosophy as a discipline did not offer comparable opportunities in that regard until I interned for six months in a non-governmental organization, West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). An intern is a student-worker who is given an opportunity to learn about corporate values, norms, practices and culture to complement his/her academic pursuits. During my internship, I worked as part of a data collection team, which was tasked to collect data on all civil society organizations across Ghana as part of an e-directory project. This research experience offered me practical insights into how things are done in the field within departments and the chain of command of the Institute. Largely, the internship greatly improved my facilitation, leadership and communication skills. As a field research officer, I gained experience on the following three thematic areas;

Leadership: As part of a two-person data collectionteam, I realized that in order to lead people, I should first clearly spell out the objectives of the task to be executed with my team members. Secondly, I noticed that every opinion counts; no matter how irrelevant an opinion may seem at first sight, everyone needs to be heard. Whenever team members feel involved in decision-making, they actively think for better solutions to a problem. If they are not encouraged to contribute, their creativity blocks. The resulting apathy and lack of contributing ideas seriously undermines team performance.

Communication and Reporting: There wereinstances when the team had to persuade people to fill the questionnaires that were sent out to collect data. I believe that was one of the key factors that encouraged the directors of organizations to co-operate were our ability to explain the benefits of a fully operational e-directory. I realized that people are primarily interested in the benefits they can gain from each project and the projects sustainability. The team promised to give periodic reports on the progress as well as the date of launching the e-directory. As a result of my work experience with

26

27

the Institute, I now appreciate Reporting as crucial to any productive endeavor between and amongst parties. Indeed, effective communication builds future relationships, mutual trust and respect.

2 Paul Aloboma AyambilaMy first degree programme in Integrated Development Studies (IDS) aimed at effectively combining theory with community-participatory dimensions. Its paramount goal was to grapple with environmental problems and socioeconomic deprivations that affect Northern Ghana in particular, and other regions across the country. In order to apply what I learnt, I applied and was successfully chosen to be a field research intern at West Africa Civil Society Institute within the Institutes Next Generation Internship Program. My first week at WACSI consisted of technical and administrative procedures, such as establishing an email account. However, from the second week on, I started working on the e-civil society directory project. Undertaking an internship provided me a better perspective on civil society organizations, thanks to the knowledge and practical skills I acquired both at the WACSI office and in the field. I attended workshops that enhanced my awareness of the importance of policy research to civil societies and local communities. I explored how to analyze policies as well as the differences between traditional research and applied policy research. I acquired skills to develop and plan effective policies for positive change and communicate policy advice to decision makers. I have also learned about effective networking and how to mobilize and persuade public support behind advocacy initiatives.

Time Management Skills: I learned the lesson, time is a luxury you cant afford to have in WACSI. In plain language, the phrase stands for prioritizing, organizing and getting things done within the shortest possible time. I acquired this skill thanks to the frequent pressures from my immediate boss when work assignments delayed. Personally, I believe that brevity and clarity are the two essential ingredients that count in time management. These skills have also built up my self-confidence to get things done within limited deadlines. I believe WACSI is an institute where any young person seeking to develop a professional work ethic can begin.This internship experience has helped me deepen my understanding of the relevance of Philosophy in the modern world. The experience exceeded my expectations. WACSI offered me an outstanding platform for my professional growth. The Institute has helped me build a firm foundation for my career and reinforced my commitment to pursue further academic studies.

I further strengthened my personal work ethic and clarified my career interests and career goals. I acquired skills of disseminating information to and from meetings and official seminars, retrieving data from various agencies and coordinating data entry processes. I also learned how to engage with policy makers at different levels of decision-making and skills of training community level institutions. When I finally got to the field to collect data on Ghanaian CSO actors for an e-directory, my practical field aspirations in the academia were actualized; the experience was comparable to conducting a dissertation. The experience at WACSI greatly helped me to realize the importance of networking and professional contacts, which may potentially act as a reference for another company and assist me in securing full-time employment. I have had the opportunity to meet and make friends with the various regional, district and municipal directors when conducting the exercise in all the ten regions of Ghana. These contacts have not only widened my network, but also made me to appreciate different cultures across the regional and districts boundaries of my native country. I have enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere in WACSI and the wonderful people I have worked with. I am grateful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and the valuable experiences that continue to influence my professional direction.

UTILIZING THE GAINS, - Next Generation Internship Alumni share their experiences1 Jimm Chick FomunjongMy decision to serve as an intern in the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) from October 2009 to September 2010 is one I do not regret. I enjoyed every minute I put into the programme. The experience served as the lever that gave me a vertical movement in my academic and professional career. I worked principally in the Research and Documentation Unit of the Institute. However, the internship programme, full of challenging and exciting learning opportunities, enabled me to gain practical professional skills at WACSIs Training and Capacity Building and Policy Advocacy units as well. For me, this breadth of training was the cornerstone

28

29

of developing my personal abilities and professional potentials in the domains of personal organisation, critical thinking and writing, strategic planning and corporate communication amongst others. The exposure to various research activities also greatly enhanced my research skills and enabled me to develop a particular interest in the field of global peace and security. Today, I am a Ferguson Trust Scholar in Coventry University, United Kingdom, studying for a Master in Peace and Reconciliation Studies. I am focused on becoming an expert of Peace in Africa and this has been strategically motivated by the research experience I gained on peace and conflict related themes while serving as an intern in the dynamic next generation internship programme at the West Africa Civil Society Institute.

Ghana. The journey involved accomplishing various tasks that I ordinarily would have regarded as too complicated. However, the more I got to understand the field of civil society, the more I enjoyed this journey. The internship period ignited my interest in development and security, which continues to influence me as I pursue a second Master of Arts in International Security. Moreover, the structure of the internship gave me the opportunity to play roles that have helped me in various aspects of my current position as a Programme Officer at the TY Danjuma Foundation based in Abuja, Nigeria. Performing these roles at WACSI greatly enhanced my analytical, facilitation, research, logistics, and writing skills. The most striking aspect of my WACSI experience pertains to my current ability to play active team role. I also learned about the major principles of professional conduct, such as effective team work, meeting targets and deadlines, integrity, transparency and excellence, which cannot be quantified. Above all, the internship granted me an avenue to gain uncountable effective work principles, which I apply in the diverse roles I currently find myself. In any profession, no matter how effective an individual is naturally, mastering such principles makes the difference. I am one of the fortunate next generation of professionals to have internalised these principles, thanks to WACSI.

3 Ramde YayaI served as an Intern at WACSI from June 2009 to June 2010. I got the opportunity to learn and acquire professional and cultural experiences, and gain a better understanding of the civil society sector in West Africa. Thanks to the knowledge I acquired at WACSI, I have been working as a consultant in various projects since coming back to my country. My domains of competency are Capacity Building and Advocacy, which include various tasks from organizing workshops to advocacy campaigns. After WACSI, I have gained work experience in Media Foundation, RAJS (Regional Youth Network against AIDS), ODAS-Africa, FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), Japanese Cooperation in Burkina Faso, National Primary School teachers Institute of Bobo Dioulasso and Indices Services. Before the internship, I did not have the capacities to organize successful training workshops. These days I am contributing to the success of training and advocacy campaigns for civil society actors in Burkina Faso. I have organized a training workshop in Interpersonal Communication for the staff of the National Primary School Teachers Institute in Bobo Dioulasso. As the main resource person, I was glad that the needs of the institute were met. I have also served as the rapporteur during a training workshop organized by Media Foundation in Burkina Faso in September 2010. My WACSI internship certainly gave me the confidence and skills to embark on this professional career. As for

today, I have secured a permanent position as the Bilingual Programme Assistant of ADD-FWAP (Action on Disability and Development Francophone West Africa Programme). I am in charge of the communication and the visibility of the programme. In this job, I assist the Regional Director in fundraising, monitoring and evaluation of the activities carried out by the DPOs (Disabled People Organizations) in Burkina, Mali and Cote dIvoire. I am also formulating project proposals and monitoring funding contracts of several programmes and projects.

2 Lady AmedormeyThe importance of undertaking an internship cannot be overemphasised; the experience built a foundation for me to understand the dynamics of civil society and governance. As I progress in my current profession, I continue to cherish the six-month Next Generation Internship opportunity I was granted at West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). My journey at WACSI began with my own confusion as to what it meant to engage in professional work since I had just completed an academic degree programme in Peace and Development Studies at the University of

30

31

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTSInflow/ Activities Statement of Activities for West Africa Civil Society Institute for the Year 2010INCOME STATEMENT 2010 USD Receipts Donor funds Receieved Total Funds Received Payments Gen Admin Programme 235,129.29 404,711.48 639,840.77 Surplus / (Deficit) 73,662.23 187,780.00 464,733.00 652,513.00 3,293.00 CURRENT LIABILITIES Payables 7,458.05 7,458.00 Net Asset Financed By Accumulated Fund 182,767.00 109,105.00 182,767.00 14,156.00 14,156.00 109,105.00 713,503.00 713,503.00 655,806.00 655,806.00 2009 USD FIXED ASSETS Property and Equipment CURRENT ASSETS Cash and Bank Balances Receivables 117,154.56 190,225.09 62,715.00 4,481.00 123,261.00 73,070.53 56,065.00

The Balance Sheet as at 31 December, 2010As at 2010 USD As at 2009 USD

32

33

Nana Asantewa Afadzinu Executive Director

Charles Kojo Vandyck Capacity Building Officer

Omolara T. Balogun Policy Advocacy Officer

Adama Sira Bah Programme Assistant Gender Focal Person

WACSI STAFF1Nana Asantewa Afadzinu - Executive DirectorNana Afadzinu is a Ghanaian and currently the Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined WACSI as Executive Director in October 2010. Nana is a member of the Ghana Bar and has a Master of Laws from the New York University School of Law. She is an alumnus of the Columbia University Human Rights Advocates Program, and has worked in different capacities on human rights and governance issues with various national, regional and international organisations since 1997. These include the African Com and Comparative Law, and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa. She worked as Governance Program Officer and Country Coordinator in Nigeria for the latter from 2005 to 2008. Just before her appointment as Executive Director of WACSI, Nana was the Regional Policy Advisor for Ibis in West Africa. obtained a Master of Development Management from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

1

2

3

4

3

Omolara T. Balogun - Policy Advocacy OfficerOmolara Balogun is a Nigerian and currently the Policy Advocacy officer of the Institute. She holds a Masters of Arts (MA) degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, (2009) and Bachelors of Arts (BA) degree in International Relations and History from Obafemi Awolowo University, (2005) both in Nigeria. Omolara first joined WACSI in September 2008, as a beneficiary of the highly competitive Next Generation Internship Programme, a professional learning platform established to groom the next set of leaders and civil society expert in West Africa. Omolara has immense experience in project designs and management, training/meeting facilitation skills, and learning resource development for a broad range of civil society actors in West Africa. Her strategic research areas includes - Conflict Prevention and peacebuilding, civil society development, public policy advocacy and management, Democracy and good governance, Gender and development issues.

Katherine Adarkwa Administrative Officer

Kwabena Kroduah Finance Officer

Grace Ziggah Bilingual Secretary Receptionist

Bethel Kwame Boateng Technical Assistant

5

6

7

8 2

Charles Kojo Vandyck - Capacity Building OfficerCharles Kojo Vandyck is a Ghanaian and currently serves as the Capacity Building Officer at the Institute. He joined WACSI in April 2008. Charles is a Capacity Development and Governance Specialist who has a passion for management, training and capacity development. Charles

34

35

4

Adama Sira Bah - Programme Assistant Gender Focal PersonAdama Sira Bah is a Guinean and currently the Programme Assistant of the Institute. She provides operational support to the programmes department and is responsible for the Gender Programme of the Institute. She joined WACSI in May 2008 with a background in Management and Administration. She holds a BSc. degree in Business Management and Administration.

Generals Office and a number of SMEs in various capacities in their respective Finance units.

George Adu-Mintah Driver/Protocol Officer

7

Mohammed Ibrahim Abdulai - Office Assistant/Cleaner

Maxwell Appenteng Gardener/ Janitor

Ramde Yaya - Training and Capacity Building Intern

Grace Ziggah Bilingual Secretary ReceptionistGrace Akpene Ziggah is Togolese by nationality. She joined the Institute in June 2009 as a professional Bilingual Secretary with a Diploma in Bilingual Secretaryship. She provides front desk and secretarial support to the Institute. Prior to her joining WACSI, Grace worked with Sonapack GH Ltd, Tema Industrial Area.

9

10

11

12

5

Katherine Adarkwa Administrative OfficerKatherine is a Ghanaian and joined WACSI in July 2006 with a background in Business Management and Administration. Katherine provides administrative and logistics support to the Institute. Prior to her appointment, she worked in various administrative capacities with several UN Projects and International Non-Governmental Organizations in Ghana. She holds a B.Sc degree in Business Management and Administration.

8

Bethel Kwame Boateng - Technical AssistantBethel is a Ghanaian. He provides technical and IT related support to the Institute. He joined the Institute in October 2006. Prior to his appointment, Bethel worked with RAJDEN Graphics in Ghana as an Office Assistant.

9

George Adu-Mintah Driver/Protocol OfficerGeorge is a Ghanaian and provides protocol-related administrative support to the Institute. He joined the Institute in October 2006. Prior to his appointment, George worked with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Japan Embassy in Ghana.

Jimm Chick Fomunjong Aicha Araba Etrew: Paul Aloboma Ayambila Harrison Owusu - Research and Policy Advocacy/ - Research and Research and Documentation Intern Capacity Building Intern Documentation Intern Documentation Intern

Assiatou Diallo - Policy Advocacy/ Capacity Building Intern

13

14

15

16

17

6

Kwabena Kroduah Finance OfficerKwabena Kroduah is a Ghanaian and joined WACSI in January 2008. He is an ACCA Affiliate with five years of experience in the NGO and corporate financial management. Prior to his appointment with WACSI, he worked with AED-Ghana CEDEM, Intergritas Chartered Accountants and Consultants, Controller and Accountant

36

37

10

Mohammed Ibrahim Abdulai - Office Assistant/ CleanerMohammed Ibrahim is a Ghanaian. He joined WACSI in 2008 and provides janitorial services to the Institute. Before joining WACSI, he worked at the Palestinian Embassy in Accra, Ghana.

13

Jimm Chick Fomunjong - Research and Documentation InternJimm Chick Fomunjong is a Cameroonian and assists the Research and Documentation Unit of the Institute, an area in which he developed interest during his undergraduate and post graduate studies. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma (Maitrise) in Child Psychology from the University of Yaounde I, Cameroon, and a Bachelors degree in Psychology with a minor in Communication from the University of Dschang, Cameroon. Jimms internship with WACSI ended in September, 2010.

15

Paul Aloboma Ayambila - Research and Documentation InternPaul Aloboma Ayambila is a Ghanaian and joined WACSI as Research Intern in November, 2011, an area in which he developed interest during his years of undergraduate studies. He holds a Bachelors degree in Integrated Development Studies with a major in Integrated Development Studies (IDS) from the University for Development Studies, Ghana.

17

Assiatou Diallo - Policy Advocacy/ Capacity Building InternAssiatou Diallo is a Guinean, and currently serves as an intern in the Training and Capacity Building and Policy Advocacy unit. She holds Masters Degree in Public Law and a Bachelors Degree in Law. Between 2001 and 2006, Assiatou worked as a volunteer with a youth NGO Les Amis du Future (LAF), while studying at the University and acting as the Vice President in charge of Social Affairs and Gender. From 2006 to 2008, she worked with Mano River Womens Peace Network (MARWOPNET) as the officer responsible for the Governance Programme and Capitalisation of assets of the organisation.

11

Maxwell Appenteng - Gardener/ JanitorMaxwell Appenteng is a Ghanaian and joined WACSI in September 2010. He provides gardening and janitorial services at the Institute.

16

Harrison Owusu Research and Documentation InternHarrison Boakye Owusu is a Ghanaian. He joined the Institute in October, 2010 May, 2011 as a field research intern to assist the Research and Documentation unit with the project titled: E-directory for Civil Society Organizations in Ghana. Prior to his internship with WACSI, he worked with an NGO called Technoserve, as a Data Entry Clerk and a Field Research Officer on contract for four months. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy as a major and Religions as a minor. He holds a certificate in NGO Management issued by Assurance Ghana Group.

Interns12Ramde Yaya - Training and Capacity Building InternRAMDE Yaya is a national of Burkina Faso and assists in Training and Capacity Building Unit of the Institute. He is a trained bilingual communicator for development and scriptwriting. He has been the chairman of Bilingual Communicators Association (BCA) in Burkina Faso from 2005 to 2007 and translator at Plan, Burkina Faso from 2001 to 2008. He was also a trainer in drama at ATB (Atelier Theatre Burkinabe). He holds a post graduate diploma (Maitrise) in Sciences of Information and Communication and a first degree in Foreign Languages and Civilizations. Ramde Yaya also has experience in Journalism. Yayas internship with WACSI ended in June 2010.

14

Aicha Araba Etrew: Policy Advocacy/ Capacity Building InternAicha is a Ghanaian and a trained Career Diplomat and Political Scientist, specialized in International Political Economy. She joined WACSI as an intern in October, 2010. Prior to joining WACSI, she worked at the Human Rights Research Center, Faculty of Law, University of Ghana as a Research Assistant, British Council- an International Nonprofit organization as a Customer Service Officer in 2007, and CAL Bank- a financial institution as a Client Service Officer in 2008. She holds a B.A in Political Science and Sociology and an M.A in International Affairs.

38

39

40

WEST AFRICA CIVIL SOCIETY INSTITUTE NO. 9 Bingo Street, East Legon P.O. Box AT 1956 Achimota, Accra, Ghana Tel: +233. 30. 2542010 +233. 30. 2522589 Fax: +233. 30. 2522588. Website: www.wacsi.org

Design & Print: PIGMENT- +233(0)302543121/ +233(0)243473161