CSRC

CSRC is a local Ghanaian social justice organisation working to empower small farmers’ to work with local, regional and central government to ensure national and international policies are supporting small scale Ghanaian farmers in their struggle to transform people’s lives in the region.

Community Self-Reliance Centre (CSRC), Northern Ghana

The Community Self-Reliance Centre is committed to defending ecological diversity and promoting women’s rights by working to strengthen communities to represent themselves and their interests and influence policies and decisions that are taken on their behalf.  It was founded by Philip Ayamba who was involved with the initial discussions to set up African Initiatives under the mango tree in his own village. 

African Initiatives helped establish and strengthen CSRC in 2003 and is now its main partner in northern Ghana.  CSRC has already built a reputation for accurately representing the rights and needs of farmers and women, built on a foundation of effective work on the ground. This has resulted in the respect and motivation of the communities they work with.  As a result farmers are benefiting from improved sustainable agriculture and natural resource management and are beginning to have their voices heard, challenging corruption and improving democracy.

The women’s rights work has taken a similar approach, strengthening the confidence of women to speak up on those issues that affect them: tackling female genital mutilation and domestic violence, access to land and credit, improved reproductive healthcare and increasing women's participation in decision-making.  The secret to CSRC's impact on these very difficult issues has been the energy, commitment, creativity and sheer courage of the 2 women working there.