IBIS WEST AFRICA - An introduction -

1. IBIS WEST AFRICA- An introduction -

2. IBIS’ interventions FOCUS AREAS EDUCATION • IBIS seeks to empower poor and marginalised adults and children and their organisations to promote, claim and achieve their individual and collective rights to relevant quality education. GOVERNANCE • IBIS seeks to empower the impoverished to be engaged in decision-making processes and to be representing themselves. Interventions mainly through thematic programmes (TPs) • A TP is a “strategic space” of opportunities which enables IBIS and partners to plan and pursue a number of interlinked activities within a common theme. • TPs are based on comprehensive analyses of the political space and rights, stakeholders and power-relations as well as IBIS’ former experiences. • The aim of TPs is to bring about change through rights-based development. • Projects have a shorter lifespan than a thematic programme and the programme is more flexible than projects usually are.

3. Alliances INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE – Alliance 2015 • A partnership of seven like-minded development INGOs; • IBIS (Danish); CESVI (Italian); CONCERN (Irish); HIVOS (Dutch); People in Need (Czech); ACTED (French); and Welthungerhilfe (German). • To fight poverty effectively through coordination and collaboration. • campaign-, fundraising- and communication work in the North and programme work in the South. • Most actively cooperate in Latin America and Asia with more than 40 joint activities, however efforts are being scaled up in West Africa • The presidency of the alliance rotates biannually between the member organisations. • In West Africa, the Alliance cooperation is ongoing in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

4. IBIS Strategies and policies EDUCATION FOR CHANGE STRATEGY • The aim is to constitute strategic spaces that empower poor and marginalised to claim their right to education. • Quality education is seen as a cornerstone in the fight against poverty and in democratic development. • The main effort of IBIS’ support is therefore to introduce alternatives and quality improvements in education by emphasising change and transformation instead of reproduction. CITIZENS’ RIGHTS IN GOVERNANCE STRATEGY • The aim is to empower the impoverished to be representing themselves by promoting understanding and respect for citizens’ rights and support civil society’s participation in, influence on and reform of government structures. • The strategy is two-pronged by supporting both citizens and the government and the dialogue spaces between them, but the popular organisations are considered crucial for taking into account the needs of underprivileged people.

5. IBIS Strategies and policies PARTNERSHIP STRATEGY • IBIS’ partnerships and the interaction between the partner organisations are decisive for IBIS’ work. • IBIS enters into partnerships with change agents that have potential to contribute to social and economic justice. • IBIS establishes partnerships with three types of organisations: • Constituency-Based Organisations (CBOs) • Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) • Government institutions ANTI-CORRUPTION POLICY GENDER POLICY EXTRATIVE INDUSTRI POLICY

6. IBIS Strategies and policies - V FUNDRAISING STRATEGY • Frame funding, other donors, private funds; IBIS’ target of 50% funding from Danida, 40% at regional level and 10% own fundraising in DK. • Examples: face2face, telemarketing, Gifts that Benefit, OD. • At present most funding from Danida, private funding from members, foundations etc. as well as other donors such as EU: App. 160 million DKK (30,6 million USD) in donor funding yearly (2007). • Strategy • “Own house in order” – optimise IBIS’ fundraising procedures, knowledge and cooperation internally. • “Making money” – maintaining, handling and developing existing fundraising activities and opportunities. • “Sail away” – be creative to utilise IBIS’ unique capacity and high quality work in the invention of new and original fundraising activities.

7. IBIS West Africa HISTORY • 2000: IBIS decided to start programmes in Ghana. • 2002-2007: The portfolio of programmes in Ghana expanded incrementally. • 2005: Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) was established in Liberia. • 2006: Complementary Rapid Education in Primary Schools (CREPS) was established in Sierra Leone. • 2009: Small education project in Burkina Faso, Governance and Education programmes in Sierra Leone, YEP in Liberia. • 2009-: Activities in Sierra Leone and Liberia are expanding, including development of thematic programmes. • Future: Francophone countries?

8. IBIS WA OrganisationalStructure

9. IBIS West Africa Strategy THE STRATEGY IS BASED ON • IBIS’ Global Vision 2012. • IBIS’ global strategies and policies. • IBIS’ experiences from working in Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone. AIM OF STRATEGY • Inform IBIS WA’s present programmatic work, strategic framework and collaboration with partners. • Guide the development of future thematic programmes and possible regional expansion. STRATEGIC APPROACH • Networking and learning between partners. • Capacity building and other forms of support for partners.

10. Intervention area: Human Rights REGIONAL: West Africa Human Rights and Democratisation (WAHRD) (2006) • Focus on underlying structural causes of conflicts in the region, believing that human and social development can only be achieved if peace and justice are perceived to be closely interrelated. • IBIS provides technical assistance and funding to partner organisations (WANEP, MFWA and FOSDA) through regional network activities and capacity building on rights-based approach and gender mainstreaming. • Addresses the contextual issues of conflict, human rights violations, control of small arms as well as fostering and deepening of democracy in the WA sub-region. • Focus on the Manu River countries as well as Ghana and Togo.

11. Regional Challenges and perspectives CHALLENGES • Security and political stability in the West Africa region. • Working in fragile states. • Commitment from development partners (donors) and governments. • Fundraising in Denmark (10%). • Global financial crisis. PERSPECTIVES • Expansion of activities in Liberia and Sierra Leone. • Increase local fundraising. • Strengthen regional interventions. • Influence structual causes of poverty at international level. • Identify new programme country.

12. Thank you!