Kumasi: The Abak Foundation Ghana, in partnership with Sightsavers Ireland, has launched an extensive capacity-building program aimed at selected civil society organizations (CSOs) across 20 districts in Ghana. The initiative, known as ‘Strengthening Civil Society Representation of Women with Disabilities in Ghana,’ is designed to empower organizations in the Ashanti, Greater Accra, Bono, and Bono East Regions.
According to Ghana News Agency, the program is funded by the European Union (EU) and focuses on promoting disability inclusion, gender mainstreaming, climate change adaptation, and safeguarding within CSO operations. Mr. Philip Duah, Executive Director of Abak Foundation, highlighted during a training session in Kumasi that the program aims to strengthen the capacity of CSOs to ensure inclusive practices that avoid harm to persons with disabilities.
Mr. Duah emphasized the importance of incorporating a disability perspective in organizational leadership, internal systems, and advocacy, enabling full societal participation for persons with disabilities. He further noted that the training addresses the intersection of climate change and vulnerability, as persons with disabilities are often disproportionately affected by climate-related disasters.
The training also introduced gender mainstreaming strategies to ensure the equal participation of women, particularly women with disabilities, in decision-making processes. Furthermore, the organizations are being guided to develop safeguarding policies to protect communities and individuals during project implementation.
As part of the program, each organization will create and implement advocacy plans at the district level, collaborating with local communities to promote inclusion, environmental protection, and accountability. Mr. Duah reiterated that reinforcing the internal structures of CSOs, including governance systems and human resources, is crucial for sustaining disability-inclusive development.