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The fourth Ghana Giving Summit has been held in Accra where over 85 members of the Philanthropy Ghana coalition, partners and stakeholders have underscored the absence of a dedicated policy framework on philanthropy in Ghana. This void, they argued, is becoming a stumbling block, hindering the nation’s progress towards achieving the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The summit organized by Philanthropy Ghana, CESPSI and Giving Tuesday, themed “Activating RadicalLocal Philanthropy in Ghana towards the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” brought together more than 50 CSOs and NGOs, shedding light on the pressing need for a strategic approach to philanthropy to address the developmental challenges faced by local communities. The urgency of the matter was palpable, especially as dwindling funding for SDGs poses a threat to the sustainability of ongoing projects. During the summit, participants were divided into groups corresponding to the five pillars of the SDGs to engage in discussions around the challenges of; people, planet, partnerships, prosperity and peace. The discussions were not just about identifying challenges but, more importantly, about finding solutions that could empower these organizations to play a more effective role in achieving sustainable development. They also proposed and presented solutions which they committed to achieving in their various organizations. On the sidelines of the summit, Prince Nii Afotey, spokesperson for the Worldwide Grants Initiative (WINGS), emphasized the critical impact of the lack of a policy framework on philanthropy in Ghana. He highlighted how this gap is stifling the contributions of CSOs and NGOs, emphasizing the urgent need for a structured approach to maximize their impact. As the shadow of diminishing donor support looms large, Levelyn Asiedu, the National Coordinator for CSOs on the SDGs in Ghana, passionately urged her counterparts to revitalize their efforts. In her call to action, she stressed the importance of enhancing impact reporting metrics to attract the necessary support, emphasizing that a collective effort is imperative to bridge the funding gap. Emmanuel Marfo, the acting director for the Center for Strategic Philanthropy and Social Investment (CEPSI) at Pentecost University, added another layer to the discussion. He advocated for improved data availability, stressing that robust data is not only essential for driving policy formulation but also for attracting crucial donor support. In the wake of these impassioned pleas and calls for action, the stage is set for Ghana to pave the way forward in philanthropy. The fourth Ghana Giving Summit has not only brought attention to a critical issue but has ignited a collective resolve to address the challenges head-on and unlock the potential of philanthropy for sustainable development in the nation.

We are excited to introduce Lawrencia Awuku, our new Executive Director. Her remarkable passion for philanthropy and social investment and her extensive experience in networking building, partnerships development and fostering impactful initiatives makes her an invaluable addition to our team, infusing in the coalition with a dynamic and innovative spirit. ✍ Here are a few essential things you should know about her: Lawrencia has an MA in International Social Development from the University of East Anglia, combined with her vast 10 years of professional experiences in the development sector. As the Country Director for Move the World, Ghana, Lawrencia played a vital role increasing grants, reach and impact of the organisation’s educational programs with a  2-year grant from Global Fund for Children. Also, she created job opportunities for young people through a collaboration program with MasterCard Foundation, Solidaridad International,Plan International  and International Water Management Institute. Over the years, she has volunteered in Uganda, where she fundraised for Uganda Hands for Hope and provided teaching support to the Children with Disability Class. She currently volunteers as the Project Manager for Angels Ark Foundation donating sanitary pads and educational materials to underserved communities and Children’ Homes in Ghana and also serves as a young trustee on the UK board for Village by Village, a UK charity providing potable water and access to quality health care and education in hard to reach communities. She speaks 3 different languages; Spanish, French and English. 🎉 We extend the warmest welcome to Lawrencia!

On Tuesday August 15, 2023, Philanthropy Ghana hosted the maiden Women in Philanthropy Ghana (WiP-Ghana) quarterly partners meeting. The meeting enabled the partners to develop an awareness campaign plan for the WiP-Ghana initiative. The discussion focused on the potential question people might ask about WiP-Ghana and the awareness campaign activities.Through a participatory group work, the partners agreed to launch the campaign on social media with TV and Radio Talk-shows, roadshows at various Universities and exhibitions at various women events in Ghana.The participants also identified the key organizational development priorities for the WiP-Ghana initiative which included the development of Theory Change, development of communication strategy and capacity building for the WiP-Ghana focal persons and ambassadors. The meeting was facilitated by the Head at Centre for Strategic Philanthropy and Social Investment (CESPSI) at the Pentecost University, Mr. Emmanuel Marfo (PhD Candidate) with support of Jodie Watson from Supreme Organisation, USA. At the partners meeting, the WiP-Ghana Coordinator, Benedicta Asamoah (2021 Ghana’s Most Beautiful Beauty pageant Winner popularly known as Sarfoa) was introduced.WiP-Ghana is a founding member of Philanthropy Ghana. WiP-Ghana has over 60 members in the 16 regions of Ghana and Diaspora . Philanthropy Ghana is a community of philanthropy support organisations (PSOs), philanthropy enablers and funders promoting and growing philanthropy in Ghana. Philanthropy Ghana is registered with the Registrar General Department on 21st May, 2020 in Ghana. The mission of Philanthropy Ghana is to provide leadership for local philanthropy and social investment in Ghana and support local giving, inspire more giving and build sustainable philanthropy ecosystem, and adopt and utilize technology and data to increase the sector effectiveness. It is envisioned that the coalition will organically increase and build the constituency of the philanthropic sector, and grow philanthropy to be recognised as a credible agent of delivering national development in Ghana. Giving Tuesday Ghana, NEXUS Ghana, GADeF Ghana Alliance, Women in Philanthropy Ghana(WIP-Ghana) and the African Youth Philanthropy Network(AYPN)-Ghana are the founding members of Philanthropy Ghana. Currently, the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy and Social Investment (CESPSI) is providing technical support for Philanthropy Ghana operations.