On July 30, 2024, the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) actively participated in the close-out ceremony and exhibition of the Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) project organized by Plan International Ghana, marking a significant milestone in our collaborative efforts to enhance women’s participation in peace and security processes in Ghana.
The event, held at the Fiesta Royale Hotel in Accra, celebrated the achievements of the WVL project and showcased the strides made towards empowering women and enhancing their leadership roles in Ghanaian society over the past five years (2019 to 2024).
FOSDA, as one of the grantees and hence key partners, contributed to promoting women’s rights and security through the project to ‘Monitor the implementation of Ghana’s National Action Plan (GHANAP 2) on United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325’. Popularly called the ‘Monitoring GHANAP 2 project’. Many activities including creating awareness of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, field monitoring and evidence-based advocacy highlighted our commitment to promoting women’s rights and security in the WVL project.
Under the theme, “Celebrating Five Years of Localization, WRO Vibrancy and empowered Women and Girls’’, Mr. Constant Tchona, Plan International-Ghana, Country Director, mentioned during the close-out ceremony that the WVL project sought to create a future where women’s equality is not a distant dream but a reality.
As FOSDA, we believe in the importance of the WVL project and how it has fostered an inclusive environment where women can actively participate in decision-making processes in many aspects and sectors of society and governance. For this, we extend a big congratulations to Plan International- Ghana.
According to Madam Theodora Asare the WVL Project Manager, Plan International Ghana worked with a feminist approach that is founded on the principle that Women’s rights organisations (WROs) are experts. This principle reflects how FOSDA has been instrumental in advocating for the full and effective implementation of the Ghana National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325. As an expert in the field of Women, Peace and Security, we have observed Ghana’s efforts through 6 main stakeholders to implement the GHANAP 2as at 2023. Read full report here: https://fosda.org/2024/07/29/ghanap-2-evaluative-monitoring-report/.
The exhibition featured various displays of the WVL project’s outcomes, including impact stories from grantees who have experienced transformative changes in their work due to funding provided. As part of the exhibitors, FOSDA represented by Ms. Dorothy Barnes shared the journey of the ‘Monitoring GHANAP 2 project’ highlighting the following activities: the field visits to the institutions engaged from April 2023 to September 2023, the Girls Outreach and Mentoring Seminars held at both Accra High School and Mawuko Girls SHS, and the first Validation Meeting of findings from the monitoring project.
The event also served as a networking opportunity for stakeholders, allowing for the exchange of ideas and strategies to further advance women’s rights and participation in governance and peace processes. As the WVL project concludes, the focus now shifts to sustaining its impact and building on the progress made. FOSDA remains committed to supporting and advocating for policies that promote gender equality and women’s rights. The success of the WVL project serves as a testament to the power of collaboration and the transformative impact of investing in women’s leadership. FOSDA’s participation in the close-out ceremony of the WVL project underscores our dedication to enhancing women’s voices in leadership and security sectors in Ghana.
Congratulations to Plan International- Ghana for ‘Five Years of Localization, WRO Vibrancy and empowered Women and Girls’.