Reform-LBG Brings Stakeholders Together for Lewuniyiri's Peace and Prosperity
The Centre for Social Development (CSD) Reform-LBG has held a stakeholder engagement in Lewuniyiri, a community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region, to strengthen partnerships and promote collaboration towards improved livelihoods and social cohesion. About 85 participants, including women, youth, and persons with disabilities, attended the engagement on [CONFIRM: date].
Community Ownership of Peacebuilding Initiatives
The engagement, part of the Promoting Rural Opportunities for the Vulnerable and Excluded (PROVE) for Sustainable Development Project, aimed to foster community ownership of peacebuilding initiatives and promote skills development for direct and indirect beneficiaries. Executive Director of CSD Reform-LBG, David Yiridong Issaka, said the initiative was designed to build stronger partnerships among local actors and establish a shared understanding of their roles in implementing the project.
The project prioritises vulnerable groups, including women, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and smallholder farmers. According to Mr. Issaka, the presence of these groups at the engagement demonstrated the project's commitment to promoting vulnerable empowerment and inclusion.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Representatives from various stakeholders, including the Savannah Regional Peace Council, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District Assembly, Ghana Enterprise Agency, Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, Association of Persons with Disabilities, Veterinary Services Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and traditional authorities, participated in the engagement. Organisers used the forum to introduce the project, outline its objectives and expected outcomes, and gather feedback from stakeholders to improve implementation.
Participants expressed strong support for the initiative and reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring its success, particularly by promoting the active participation of women, youth, Fulbe communities, and persons with disabilities throughout the project cycle.
Community-Led Development
The project seeks to strengthen relations between farmers and herders, improve livelihoods, and enhance social cohesion and stability in Ghana's fragile border communities through community-led development. According to Reform-LBG, the stakeholder engagements reflect its commitment to participatory development that places communities at the centre of decision-making while ensuring that no one is left behind.
The Lewuniyiri engagement forms part of a broader series of consultations under the PROVE project, which runs from June 1 to November 30, 2026. The programme aims to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders while reducing economic vulnerability and promoting peaceful coexistence in the community.
The beneficiaries are expected to benefit from the Governance, Rule of Law, and Peacebuilding for Sustainable Development Flagship Programme, which is being implemented by CSD Reform-LBG in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding support from the governments of Denmark, Luxembourg, and South Korea.
The success of this initiative will depend on the continued commitment of local stakeholders and the effective implementation of the project's objectives. As the project moves forward, it will be crucial to monitor progress and address any challenges that may arise, ensuring that the needs and concerns of all stakeholders are addressed.
Source: Joy Online
