At a certain point in time NGOs felt the need to create a forum for networking, interaction and collaboration, and to provide a common front for interfacing with the government
membership has increased over the years to over 435 national and international CSOs/NGOs covering all the ten administrative regions of Ghana. We operate in all sectors including health education, rural and urban development, environment, population and social welfare, employment creation, economic development, skills training, gender awareness and action, peace and human rights, poverty reduction and advocacy on policy reforms, anti-corruption, etc.
The diverse skills and capacities of our members and numbers which can be harnessed for our common good
Recognition as a credible organisation by donors and government
Lack of commitment and apathy on the part of some members, unhealthy competition and rivalry among members for resources, lack of resources – human, financial and material, weak organizational structure
Missions of the NGO national platform
The mission of GAPVOD is to seek sustainable growth and development of NGOs/CSOs and their active participation in the process of national development for improved well-being of all Ghanaians, particularly the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable.
In pursuance of this mission, GAPVOD engages in:
• Policy advocacy and lobbying
• Forging networking to benefit from expertise, knowledge and technical support
• Serving as a clearing house for information relevant to the operations of members
• Facilitating development of partnership between government and NGOs/CBOs and the creation of an enabling environment for the operation of members in support of national development agenda
• Capacity building of members to enhance service delivery and performance
• Facilitating access to local/foreign donor support (financial &technical)
• Initiating and supporting research relevant to the development and performance of the NGO/CBO sector.
NGO Policy – NGO legilstion
Through campaigns, working groups, media encounter, newspaper articles, etc.
Functioning and governing of the NGO national platform
Registered with the appropriate government agency – Registrar General’s Department, and Department of Social Welfare. NGOs register with the Registrar General’s Department under the Company Law. No different laws for different local or national organizations but INGOs (International NGOs) sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the government.
1. General Assembly - meets annually and on ad-hoc basis.
2. Board or Council
Internal rules and ethics
Does your NPF have internal rules?
Does your NPF have code of ethics or other similar documents?
Yes, Constitution and Bye-Laws
NO
Yes, election procedures
Have you changed the code of ethics or internal rules in the last 5 years?
Registration with the Registrar General’s Department
Payment of Registration and Membership dues
Do you have international institutions as members (associations, NGO movements)?
Yes, GAPVOD is made up of both national and international NGOs. There are 9 international NGOs in the GAPVOD membership.
Letters, e-mails, meetings
Governing of the NGO platform
Through elections every 3 years.
Roles:
Strategic orientation and planning, follow-up of activities and budget, appointment of Executive Director
1. Election of Council members
2. General direction of the organisation
Do you have work groups or thematic commissions?
non
No
Do you assess the expectations or needs of your members?
oui
Yes, through questionnaire administration
Relation with sponsors
Does your government provide reinforcement policies for NGOs?
oui
Yes, but on a limited scale
Is there a specific financial system to reinforce the NGOs in your country (example: funds, special donations)? - If yes, what kind of capabilities do they support? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these funds? - Else, how does the NGO fund its capability-reinforcement program (staff training, research, strategic plans, organizational diagnosis…)?
non
No. NGOs finance their own capacity building by themselves and sometimes source funding from donors.
No institutional support but we have funded projects:
The World Bank/Civicus - Civil Society Index Project – 2004-2006
Ghana AIDS Commission(GARFUND) – Capacity building – 2005-2007
Sicial Investment Fund – Training, Equipment support – 2005-2007
Co-fundings:
1. NGO Policy : The World Bank, UNDP/NIRP, Royal Netherlands Embassy, Action Aid Ghana, CARE International, DFID, Plan International. - 2000-2007
2. NGO Directory: SNV, INGO Forum, French Embassy. – 2004-2006
We have healthy relations with sponsors. There are frequent interactions, dialogues and discussions during project implementation.
Relation with other associations, NGOs
Do you work with international NGOs, international networks, and national NGO platforms from countries other than yours?
Yes, e.g., CIVICUS, Affinity Group of National Associations, InterAction of USA, The Panos Institute West Africa (PIWA) : Information sharing and workshops
Are there other NPFs or national NGO networks in your country?
Yes, there are sector networks on e.g., education, HIV/AIDS, Environment, Child Rights, Poverty Forum, Netright, etc.
Do you work with these NPFs and/or national NGO networks?
In spite of challenges generally faced by platforms, the national platform (GAPVOD) has mobilsed with some success NGOs to interface with government and donors on major development and policy issues. Perhaps more could have been done with increased support
Ghana