Call for Projects: SPARK Change-Makers Project (Ghana)

The SPARK Change-Makers Project is an EU-Ghana Youth Empowerment Programme that supports youth-led and youth-focused civil society organizations (CSOs) and social enterprises across six regions of Ghana. The programme offers capacity development, mentorship, business support, networking opportunities, and access to grant funding to strengthen youth participation in sustainable development and community impact.

About the SPARK Change-Makers Project

The SPARK Change-Makers Project is a youth empowerment initiative implemented by SOS Children’s Villages Ghana in partnership with Songtaba, Social Innovation Africa (SIA), and SOS Children’s Villages Netherlands, with co-funding from the European Union.

The programme aims to empower young people aged 18–35 years by strengthening youth-led organizations and social enterprises with the skills, knowledge, technical assistance, and financial opportunities needed to improve livelihoods and contribute to sustainable development in Ghana.

The project is implemented in six regions of Ghana:

• Greater Accra
• Ashanti
• Volta
• Northern
• Western
• Upper East

The programme follows a phased approach, where selected organizations first participate in a capacity strengthening programme before becoming eligible for grant support.

Programme Objectives

The SPARK Change-Makers Project aims to:

• Empower youth-led organizations and enterprises.
• Strengthen organizational and business capacity.
• Promote youth participation in sustainable development.
• Improve livelihoods for young people.
• Support innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Increase access to funding opportunities.
• Encourage inclusive and environmentally sustainable development.
• Strengthen collaboration and policy engagement.

Priority Focus Areas

Projects should contribute to one or more of the following priority sectors:

Gender Empowerment

Initiatives that promote gender equality, women’s leadership, youth inclusion, and equal opportunities.

Agriculture and Environmental Protection

Projects supporting sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, environmental conservation, food security, and green development.

Peace and Security

Initiatives promoting social cohesion, conflict prevention, civic participation, community resilience, and peaceful societies.

Culture and Creative Industries

Projects supporting arts, culture, creative entrepreneurship, media, cultural heritage, and creative economic development.

Digital Technology and Innovation

Initiatives promoting digital transformation, technology solutions, entrepreneurship, innovation, digital skills, and emerging technologies.

Programme Benefits

Benefits for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

Selected CSOs will receive:

• Organizational capacity development.
• Technical assistance and advisory support.
• Leadership and skills training.
• Coaching and mentorship.
• Policy advocacy opportunities.
• Networking and partnership support.
• Access to grant funding opportunities.
• Support for sustainable income-generating activities.

Benefits for Social Enterprises

Selected social enterprises will receive:

• Business development support.
• Enterprise growth coaching.
• Mentorship from industry experts.
• Access to innovation hubs.
• Networking opportunities.
• Market access support.
• Opportunities to compete for grant funding.
• Support to scale business and social impact.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Youth-led civil society organizations (CSOs).
• Youth-focused civil society organizations.
• Youth-led social enterprises.
• Youth-focused social enterprises.

Applicants must also:

• Operate within one or more of the six implementing regions of Ghana.
• Demonstrate active community engagement.
• Show commitment to inclusion and diversity.
• Promote environmentally sustainable solutions.
• Align their activities with one or more programme priority areas.
• Meet any additional programme requirements.

Eligible Regions

Organizations must operate in one or more of the following regions:

• Greater Accra
• Ashanti
• Volta
• Northern
• Western
• Upper East

How the Programme Works

Capacity Strengthening Phase

Eligible organizations participate in organizational development activities designed to strengthen leadership, governance, sustainability, and operational capacity.

Training and Technical Support

Participants receive structured training, technical assistance, coaching, and mentorship to improve organizational performance and long-term impact.

Networking and Policy Engagement

Organizations gain opportunities to connect with partners, stakeholders, policymakers, and other youth-led organizations while participating in advocacy initiatives.

Business and Enterprise Development

Social enterprises receive specialized support to strengthen business models, improve operations, expand market access, and increase sustainability.

Grant Support Opportunities

Organizations that successfully complete the capacity strengthening phase may become eligible to compete for grant funding to expand their projects and increase community impact.

Why This Programme Matters

The SPARK Change-Makers Project helps strengthen Ghana’s youth ecosystem by investing in organizations and enterprises that address social, economic, and environmental challenges.

The programme enables participants to:

• Improve organizational sustainability.
• Strengthen leadership capacity.
• Increase access to funding.
• Expand community impact.
• Build strategic partnerships.
• Promote youth employment and entrepreneurship.
• Support sustainable development.
• Encourage innovation and inclusive growth.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants should:

• Clearly explain their organization’s mission and community impact.
• Demonstrate experience working with young people.
• Align activities with one or more programme priority areas.
• Show commitment to inclusion and environmental sustainability.
• Present realistic growth objectives.
• Highlight partnerships and community engagement.
• Demonstrate long-term sustainability.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid the following:

• Applying from outside the eligible regions.
• Failing to demonstrate youth leadership or youth focus.
• Providing unclear organizational objectives.
• Not aligning with programme priority sectors.
• Submitting incomplete application materials.
• Demonstrating limited community engagement.
• Ignoring sustainability and inclusion requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is the SPARK Change-Makers Project?

It is an EU-Ghana Youth Empowerment Programme that strengthens youth-led organizations and social enterprises through capacity building, mentorship, networking, and grant opportunities.

2. Who can apply?

Youth-led and youth-focused civil society organizations and social enterprises operating within the six participating regions of Ghana are eligible to apply.

3. Which regions are eligible?

The programme operates in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Volta, Northern, Western, and Upper East regions.

4. What support do selected organizations receive?

Participants receive capacity development, technical assistance, coaching, mentorship, networking opportunities, business development support, and access to grant funding opportunities.

5. What are the programme’s priority sectors?

The programme focuses on gender empowerment, agriculture and environmental protection, peace and security, culture and creative industries, and digital technology and innovation.

6. Do participants receive grant funding immediately?

No. Eligible organizations first participate in the capacity strengthening phase before becoming eligible for grant support opportunities.

7. What makes a strong application?

Competitive applications demonstrate youth leadership, community impact, sustainability, inclusion, environmental responsibility, and alignment with the programme’s priority areas.

Conclusion

The SPARK Change-Makers Project offers an outstanding opportunity for youth-led organizations and social enterprises in Ghana to strengthen their capacity, expand their impact, and access future funding opportunities. Through organizational development, business support, mentorship, networking, and grant opportunities, the programme empowers young leaders to contribute to sustainable development, innovation, and inclusive economic growth across Ghana’s six participating regions.