Deadline: 28-Feb-25
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), in partnership with the Wilde Ganzen Foundation and the Change the Game Academy, is pleased to launch the Match Funding Initiative to support Ghanaian civil society organisations (CSOs).
Civil society organisations across West Africa, particularly in Ghana, face significant challenges in safeguarding their freedoms, building resilience, and advancing towards sustainability. Global trends show a decline in donor funding, driven by rising nationalism and donor fatigue. Alongside these challenges are system change initiatives advocating for a reimagining of current development practices, championing community-centred and community-led approaches, and encouraging all stakeholders to contribute to the resource pool for development.
The Change Game Academy, in partnership with the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), has delivered its three flagship training programmes in Ghana: Local Fundraising, Advocacy for Change, and Social Accountability. These trainings aim to enhance the impact of CSOs in advocacy, hold governments accountable, and diversify resource streams for these organisations. To further strengthen organisations and their efforts to raise resources locally, WACSI, in collaboration with Wilde Ganzen, is launching the Match Funding project for organisations in Ghana.
The Fund is a one-year programme and aims to support organisations in resource mobilisation efforts to respond effectively, sustainably, and promptly to community challenges.
Funding Information
- Selected organisations will receive funds for a project of up to 50% of amount locally fundraised but not exceeding 48000GHC to address specific community needs and coaching to improve their financial performance.
Eligibility Criteria
- The organisation is legally and locally registered in Ghana with the relevant authorities.
- The organisation demonstrates sound governance and accountable leadership.
- The organisation has an up-to-date Local Fundraising plan
- The organisation has raised at least 50% of the project funds from its local constituency.
- The funds raised by the organisation and the allocation of match funding should not exceed the total project costs.
- Organisations that have participated in any of WACSI’s Local Fundraising training are strongly encouraged to apply.
Organisations that have previously benefited from the Match Fund can apply.
Selection Criteria
- The organisation can carry out straightforward and effective local fundraising initiatives to contribute to their budget (50% of the total budget).
- The project demonstrates innovation and a strong understanding of the local context and needs.
- The project provides evidence that local people have been consulted, engaged, and will be actively involved.
- The project adopts a balanced approach, addressing immediate needs while empowering citizens to claim their rights.
- The project helps build local people’s and organisations’ skills, confidence, and capacity.
- Funding is available for new projects as well as existing projects.
- Preference will be given to existing projects that include local fundraising components.
For more information, visit WACSI.