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CSRC
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CSRC


The Community Self-Reliance Centre works in northern Ghana, and is committed to promoting women’s rights and sustainable farming 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 (AI) under the mango tree in his own village.

AI helped establish and strengthen CSRC in 2003 and is now its main partner. CSRC now employs around twelve staff with an extensive network of volunteers.  The two organisations work together in 3 key areas: women’s rights, sexual reproductive health and sustainable livelihoods.

The women’s rights work focuses on tackling domestic violence, female genital mutilation, and works to facilitate women to have their voice heard in decision-making. Men and women are empowered to work together in harmony, and make decisions at both household and community level together. 

The women’s rights work is an important entry point for sexual reproductive health, working to promote family planning, and women’s equal participation in decision making in family planning. This work also focuses on improving women’s access to medical services, including breaking down popular myths such as, if a woman gives birth outside the family home, including in hospital or other medical centre, she has been unfaithful to her husband.

Complementing this aspect of work, in September 2011, a new Comic Relief funded project started, to improve access and registration to the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Finally, AI and CSRC work together on a sustainable livelihoods project, with the focus being farming. Both men and women are supported and some of the key components of the project are education about sustainable farming methods, promoting organic farming, education and campaigning about the misuse of agro-chemicals (pesticides) and its harmful effects, women’s access to land and livestock and finally livestock and seed distribution.