The World Bank/CDP Civil Society Fund Awards Ceremony and Dinner

On the 12th of December, 2009, the World Bank hosted members of the Centre for Development Partnerships and members of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) to its end of year dinner alongside its annual Civil Society Fund awards ceremony.

The Civil Society Fund call for 2009 was opened in July 2009 with an article in the Daily Graphic. There were ninety (90) applicants who were eventually short listed to six 6 awardees/grantees. The applications came from various NGOs across the country (Ghana). Invitations and congratulatory messages were sent to the six awardees by the World Bank and the Centre for Development Partnerships to participate in the awards ceremony. Unlike previous years, this year’s ceremony was fused into the end of year diner of the World Bank.

The dinner/awards ceremony took place on Saturday, 12th December, 2009 at the residence of the World Bank’s Country Director, Ishac Diwan at 6pm. The ceremony began with the arrival of guests amidst music from a local band. During the ceremony, the grant winners were introduced to Ishac Diwan who later introduced his colleagues of the World Bank to the guests. The grantees for the year 2009 were Kumasi Institute of Technology & Environment (KITE), Media in Partnership for Development, INNOVA Ghana, Friends of the Nation (FoN), Afro Global Alliance, and Alliance for Women Initiative. Each recipient was given the opportunity to speak on their organization’s objectives and a summary of what they will do with the grant received. The cheques were presented to the grantees by Ishac Diwan, of the World Bank and the Grants Administrator of CDP, Mrs. Jennifer Brock.

Below are the citations:

The Kumasi Institute of Technology & Environment (KITE) is being awarded FOURTEEN THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO GHANA CEDIS (GH¢14,742) to build capacity of selected journalists/ media personnel, the legislature, CSOs and provide them with access to information to enable them to write authoritatively and engage the public/government on pro poor and sustainable legislation issues and expectation management in the oil and gas sector. Additionally, KITE will generate media stories and discussions in both electronic & print media.

Media in Partnership for Development is being awarded TWELVE THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED GHANA CEDIS (GH¢12,500) towards the production of three (3) fifteen minute docudrama/ documentary capturing different aspects of oil exploration, environmental impact, and awareness creation on rights and responsibilities of citizens and duty bearers on the consequences of non accountability.

INNOVA Ghana is being awarded Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Sixty Two Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 9,462) to organize Multi Stakeholder Dialogue Sessions and build Capacity for Local Community opinion leaders to consolidate local capacities for dialogue in the Oil find communities to identify potential conflict triggers and establish conflict resolution mechanisms.

Friends of the Nation(FoN) is being awarded Eleven Thousand, Eight Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH¢11,800) to organize a 4-day workshop to develop local capacities of Community Environmental Monitoring Member Groups (CEMAG) to enable them engage effectively with the government and other stakeholders. FON will publish the maiden edition of a news letter on oil, gas and environment. A three (3) year advocacy strategy plan will also be developed.

Afro Global Alliance is being awarded Ten Thousand Two Hundred and Twenty One Ghana Cedis (GH¢10,221) to facilitate knowledge and skills transfer to targeted youth groups in the oil producing region to be enable them identify opportunities in the industry and engage themselves in productive ventures. Indigenes will be resourced with necessary skills to enable them demand socially responsible practices to avoid the insurgence of militants as pertains in other oil producing African countries.

Alliance for Women Initiative is being awarded Eight Thousand four Hundred and Seventy Four thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢8,474) to raise the awareness of the targeted women groups on the preparation and provision the government is making in generating policies in Ghana’s Extractive Oil Industry with regards to Women and Children. A policy document will be crafted in the process to feed into the national discussions.