STAR-Ghana
STAR-Ghana aims to increase the influence of civil society and parliament by improving the accountability and responsiveness of Ghana’s government.
Overview
STAR-Ghana is a 5-year multi-donor pooled funding mechanism (funded by the Department for International Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and the EU) to increase the influence of civil society and parliament in the governance of public goods and service delivery in Ghana. Its ultimate goal is to improve the accountability and responsiveness of Ghana’s government, traditional authorities and the private sector.
Background
STAR-Ghana builds on previous programmes such as:
- Rights and Voice Initiative (RAVI) (2004 to 2010)
- Ghana Research and Advocacy Programme (G-RAP) (2005 to 2011)
- KASA (2008 to 2010)
- Civil Society Governance Fund (CSGF) (2004 to 2010)
Rationale
STAR-Ghana commenced at a very critical time in the country’s progress towards middle-income status. Oil revenues are likely to influence foreign aid flows, particularly allocations to budget support. Windfall oil revenues typically strain political institutions and reduce accountability incentives. Effective momentum to bring about real pro-poor policy change requires the mobilisation of sustained constituencies external to government. In recent years civil society organisations (CSOs) have moved away from a welfare approach towards a rights-based approach to helping the poor. There is a new emphasis on empowerment, advocacy and other actions to support poor people’s rights. There is therefore the need to institutionalise, strengthen and improve further the role that CSOs and parliament play in influencing the way government does business.
Output
STAR-Ghana is designed to deliver the following outputs:
- increase the capability of CSOs to enable citizens, particularly women and excluded groups, to claim rights
- enhance civil society engagement in policy formulation, implementation and monitoring
- increase the use of civil society evidence in policy and practice
- improve the representative, oversight, and lawmaking functions of selected parliamentary committees
Eligibility
Civil society organisations that are eligible to apply include:
- registered Ghanaian civil society organisations
- community-based organisations
- media organisations
- research and policy advocacy organisations
- trade unions / labour organisations
- private sector associations
- registered coalitions / networks / platforms secretariats
- faith-based organisations
- various other bodies
CSOs that wish to apply must satisfy the following conditions:
- should be able to state clearly the results and outcomes that will be achieved from the project
- must demonstrate a track record in managing grants, including delivering results and timely reports
- must demonstrate standards of good organisational governance
- should have linkages with other civil society organisations at national, district and local levels, thus leveraging existing capacities
- must be legally registered in Ghana
- proposals must practically demonstrate gender and social inclusion
- must show at least 2 previous annual statements of accounts audited by a suitably certified person(s) or body