The Foundation for Research and Development (FoRD-Ghana) is a grassroots development oriented Ghanaian Non – Governmental Organization (NGO) based in Tamale.
A Non-profit making organization established in 2008 and fully registered and incorporated in 2016, to facilitate development at the grassroots level among community groups and structures.
The organization uses community participatory assessment with the communities to initiate their own self developmental programs to improve the livelihood and well-being of the community members, aimed at poverty reduction and to ensure sustainable development in the Northern parts of Ghana.
In view of this, The NGO, Foundation For Research and Development (FoRD-Ghana) on Saturday 9th September 2023 organized a workshop to orientate its staff and board members on a 5-year strategic plan it is preparing to enhance its operations.
Addressing the press after the workshop, Programs Manager for FoRD-Ghana, Mr. Shayaw Fuseini said, “We engaged a consultant to take us through the process involved and to take stakeholders’ inputs for the strategic plan preparation”.
“The project is supported by Star Ghana Foundation (SGF) and the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), with funding from Comic Relief and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).
According to Mr. Shayaw Fuseini, the funding has helped the organization so far in capacity building, but not actually for project implementation.
“This funding has brought some change in the organization even though it is not for project implementation, but to help us develop our policies, especially those that are outdated”, he added.
Key amongst the policies FoRD-Ghana is implementing and strengthening under the project include Communications, M&E, general safety and Safeguarding Policies.
Engaging the press after the workshop in an interview, Program Manager for WUZDA-Ghana, Mr. Ziblim Abdul Karim expressed confidence in FoRD–Ghana to go through this phase of the project intended for capacity building, but added that the organization needs to increase its efforts if it will achieve better results at the end.
According to Mr. Karim, Organizational Development means crafting policies and repositioning the organization, in order to focus its attention on specific projects and activities as against the resources and how to manage them.
“What I have seen during the workshop is a road map towards FoRD-Ghana being able to gather some data that will lead them to developing some policies”, and the policies would include developing their programs and shaping up the policies that they have, and being able to look at their vision and mission”. He stressed
He also promised to groom and contribute more to FoRD-Ghana’s growth and give the necessary support needed for building the capacity of the staff and board members.
Organizational Development consultant, Mr. Mohammed Hafiz who is also a member of FoRD-Ghana’s Board of Trustees, disclosed in an interview with the press, that he is passionate about the development of organizations, hence his acceptance of the task to develop the strategic plan for the organization.
According to Mr. Hafiz, “I need to assist them to come out with a strategic plan, which is something that is lacking in the organization, so I am bringing on board my experience to help them strategically position themselves for the future”.
He also stressed on the need for the organization to have the strategic plan related directly with its vision and mission, as he commended FoRD-Ghana and its stakeholders for having carefully crafted their core values, which he said are directly linked with the goal, objectives and mission and vision.
As part of the formulation of ideas for the preparation of the strategic plan, groups were formed to discussed and raise ideas on some of the issues that are likely to pose threats to the growth of FoRD-Ghana, as opposed to some of the opportunities available that could help the organization grow.
The engagement between the consultant and stakeholders under the capacity building project for FoRD-Ghana, is supported by Star Ghana Foundation (SGF) and the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), with funding from Comic Relief and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO).
