SUSTAINING POVERTY REDUCTION EFFORTS IN GHANA: THE CASE OF WORLD VISION GHANA

Abstract

Poverty has remained an issue which the world continues to struggle with, The high Levels of poverty, especially in sub Saharan Africa remains a major challenge for countries and their development partners. Due to the ills and deprivation associated with poverty, reducing and eliminating it has become an urgent task for most governments. For several decades, Non- Governmental Organisations have complemented governments' efforts in poverty reduction. In Ghana, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), such as World Vision, have played a significant role in poverty reduction since colonial times. In their attempt to reduce poverty, World Vision incorporates several strategies in their interventions, Whilst documented evidence suggests how successful these strategies can be, much is not known about these strategies and their effectiveness in enhancing sustainable poverty reduction. in light of this, this study looks at and assesses the sustainability of World Vision's approach to poverty reduction under its Economic Development project. This is done by examining poverty reduction interventions implemented by World Vision under its Economic Development Project, assessing the sustainability strategies incorporated in the project and also by assessing the effectiveness of the sustainability strategies in promoting project sustainability. Using triangulated methods of Focus Group Discussions, semi-structured interviews, observation and documentary analysis, primary and secondary data were collected and analysed from communities, individuals and institutions that benefitted from World Vision's Economic Development Project. Among other things, the study revealed that World Vision reduces poverty by implementing Farm Projects, Microfinance Projects, Shea Butter Processing, Handicraft and Youth Skills Development Projects. in implementing these interventions, measures such as the District-wide approach to programming, instituting microfinance organisations, inter-sectorial partnerships, ensuring community participation, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation of programmes were incorporated. The study shows that most communities slenderly benefitted from the Economic development Project due to the District Wide Approach used. More than this, the study showed that weak inter-sectorial partnerships existed among World Vision and some of its partners. This was especially worsened as most partner organisations usually sent lower staff members to represent them during meetings. Based on the findings, the study among other things, recommends that Programmes should focus on a limited number of communities rather than operating in all communities within a District. It is also keenly recommended that in partnering other institutions, World Vision (NGOs) should lay down conditions such that lead staffs would be represented during meetings. Within the context of monitoring and evaluation, the study recommends establishing a task force across all operational communities. This task force can be made up of partners and project beneficiaries. When well equipped, the task force can be very operational after a project has phased out.