The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Ghana today launched an initiative to develop a “Local Leadership Strategy” to empower church partners to attract funding and spur development initiatives at the local level.
The new strategy, based on the principle that human affairs are best handled at the level closest to those affected, will be implemented to train 40 representatives of the Catholic Diocesan Development Offices across Ghana.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Ghana noted that the shift to a focus on local organization capacity development will facilitate development that is closer to the needs of the most deprived in our society.
“Coming off the back of the catholic church’s impressive track record in initiating and driving various developmental initiatives over the years, it is critical to support these faith-based organizations to strategically position themselves to continue to work for the improvement of human life” the organization added.
Mr. Charles Abugri, Executive Director, Tamale Ecclesiastical Province Partnership in Action (Teppia) who spoke at the launch event which was on the theme “In Their Own Hands: Partnering with the Church to Advance Local Leadership in Ghana” said, “There is no institution, except the Government, more capable of bringing scale to development in Ghana than the Catholic Church, they are everywhere.”
The training of the development officers on the new strategy is expected to take place from Wednesday, 18th to Thursday 19th of February 2023.
Present at the launch event were representatives and partners from the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), and Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organisation (Nabocado). Also present were partners from government, Diocesan Development Officers, civil society, donor agencies, clergy and other church partners who are also expected to participate in the training.
The Local Leadership Strategy seeks to create a sustainable and equitable development model by empowering church partners to act as the primary facilitators of development initiatives within their local communities. This will allow resources to be directed to the areas with the greatest need, without the need for outside intervention.
The initiative was met with enthusiasm from church partners who hope it will help to foster better relations between the church and the community it serves. It also provides an opportunity for the church to demonstrate its commitment to the development of the local community and its citizens.
The Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Ghana hopes to strengthen the capacity of church partners to create lasting and meaningful change at the local level.
