ANNUAL REPORT YEFL FROM AUGUST 2015 TO AUGUST 2016
INTRODUCTION
This report covers the period from August 2015 to September 2016 It will look at the changes that have also occurred in YEfL during the period in terms of programmes, policy issues, partnerships, financial status, challenges and prospects for further growth of the organization.
PROGRAMMES
The reporting year have seen YEfL implementing five (5) main projects which includes our regular core activities and new projects that were won during the period of reporting. The Empowerment for Life (E4L) phase III in partnership with GV and GDCA. Youth Speak – Up (YSU) – with RUMNET & HOPin, MyWorld Survey mini grant project, Promoting Youth Representation and Civic Engagement (PYRCE) - IBIS I & II, Malshegu Youth Centre Project and very recently Play it On from Denmark.
BRIEFS ON EACH PROJECT
Empowerment for Life Phase III: This is a core project of YEFL focusing on empowering the youth socially, economically and politically. This is consolidated by Advocacy on Youth Policy issues of concern. This programme will run for the next three years and it’s being implemented in five districts currently. It is mainly funded by DANIDA
Youth Speak Up (YSU): The project focuses on using radio and new media to address social injustices against youth and the development of the community. YEfL is in partnership with GV in Denmark and locally with HOPIN and RUMNET. The YSU is implemented in four districts (Saboba, Karaga, Kumbungu and Savelugu).It is funded by Danish Ingathering, it will run for the next one (1) and half (1/2) year
My World Survey: A six months project focusing on collecting online and offline votes from youth in Ghana on their priorities to influence the formulation and prioritization of the SDGs. YEfL was the only organization that won this grants from Ghana to implement this project using both online and offline strategies to collect votes from both educated and un-educated youth in Ghana. This started in April and ended in July 2015.Funded by MFA through Africa Youth Panel (AYP)
Promoting Youth Representation and Civic Engagement (PYRCE) - IBIS I & II: The project is focused on Youth and Civic engagements in ensuring that youth are represented in key community and district structures. Advocacy on favourable employment opportunities and conditions are the heart of this project. The PYRCE project is based only in Sagnerigu district currently and will be running until March Next year. It is funded by IBIS Ghana
Malshegu Youth Center Project: A construction of a Youth Center that will serve as the common meeting place of all youth in the district to meet, learn, share ideas and address community issues by themselves. Funded by,SHS Student Volunteers from Denmark.
PLAY IT ON
This is a new partner to YEfL, this was made possible by a YEfLB board member who visited Denmark in 2015.Play it On is focused on supporting youth related sporting events using Volunteers from Denmark. The partnership therefore will facilitate the supply of variety of sports materials for sports events at our respective Youth Centers. We therefore as an organisation use this opportunity to appreciate and thank Mr.Amadu Zulyadeen for the giant step in connecting the organisation with this opportunity.
PROGRESS/ RESULTS UNDER EACH PROJECT
The year has seen YEfL experiencing significant progress in each of the respective projects. This is expressed below.
EMPOWERMENT FOR LIFE- (E4L)
The youth empowerment component of the E4L programme is led by YEfL. This means that issues relating to developing the appropriate strategies, advising and monitoring the implementation of the appropriate strategies. It is also for this role that the technical adviser for Youth and Advocacy and Gender is placed in YEfL. The progress made so far in terms of programmes under the E4L is as follows:
A clear youth strategy have been developed for use by the district teams to guide implementation A youth advocacy strategy and plan have also been developed to guide the youth advocacy in the programme.
The YEfL entrepreneurship “Boot Camp” model has been revised to further enhance its adaptability by other interested organisations
Boot Camp Training:
A total of 15 E4L staff were trained in Boot Camp model and 24 youth from Mion district also benefitted from this training in August. Each of these 24 youth now has well-defined business ideas and also some 5 steps to take immediately after the camp.
Generally, the focus of the programme in building the Technical Capacity of youth in the target disricts is worth noting.
The change in the skills, knowledge and attitude is reflected in the way some of the youth group organize their own meetings with clear agenda to be discussed and the need to focus on specific youth issues that has a long term effect on the community at large. Also, youth ability to identify
an issue, identify the relevant stakeholders, engaging the stakeholders and achieving some results from these engagements have improved in the first year of the programme. The change is also evident in the way the youth groups’ just do not work as single groups but collaborate with other CBOs in their respective communities to address a common issue that is of benefit to the entire community.
In the area of youth empowerment, there have been improved levels of youth ability to identify issues and engage the relevant duty bearers on various thematic areas, for instance in area of education some youth groups especially Senate Parliament have promoted the revamping of a vocational training institute in Pong-Tamale and have also advocated and supported the establishment of a wing school in Zaazi and some graduate students in Bakundiba have offered to teach voluntarily in the basic school in their community which is currently lacking teachers. This has been possible with the engagements of the GES, DA and rally on the support from TAs and the entire community.
In the area of health, youth groups are taking active parts in sanitation activities in their respective communities by organizing clean up exercises and promoting good sanitary practices. In a related development, youth groups together with the community and TAs are engaging the DCE, GHS, MP on the provision of community health center in the community. Also, some youth groups have also advocated and promoted the decentralization of the registration process of the NHIS to the respective communities in the district. This has reduced the stressful, crowed and time spent at the usually centralized registration process.
In pursuit of enhancing the opportunities for creating jobs for youth and the entire community, a youth group has collaborated with farmer groups, Traditional Authorities, District Assembly and MoFA and this has resulted in the rehabilitation of Dam at Libga to support dry season farming. This has since opened up opportunities in terms of irrigation farming for the youth and the rest of the community.
In other related community development efforts by youth, youth have engaged in different community durbars on different issues eg, poor road networks, teenage pregnancy, girl child education and so on in their respective communities. As a result of these engagements, a youth group have been able to raise funds up to Gh1000 and building materials from the MP and DCE to construct a youth office in the community.
In terms of advocacy, various youth groups together with other CBOs have taken up different issues and engaged the relevant duty bearers to act on the issues at various levels This triggered the reshuffling of teachers in some schools and setting up a taskforce and formulation of bye –laws by the Chief and elders to punish culprits of teenage pregnancies in attempt to the prevalence rate in the district. After a long delay in the release of the 2% share of the common funds to disability, a youth group advocated and engaged DA on it and the funds have since been released to the disability group in Kumbungu.
The above changes that have occurred within the year especially with the youth groups in the programme, means that youth have become active part in addressing community issues that goes just beyond youth specific to affect the entire community.
The level of response from duty bearers in the various issues identified and presented means youth voices are being heard and that they are recognized as legitimate voices for youth and community development.
Again, the self-initiative ability of the youth in the programme area has also been improved. As many of the issues identified and addressed are solely by their own initiative, this means that youth are not waiting on external hands or influence in choosing issues for them but choosing it by themselves and solving it with their own efforts is a change worth noting.
In terms of organisational developments support to YEfL within the reporting period the following is worth noting
The YEfL Board process was strengthened during the period. For instance an induction workshop on the programme was organized for its board members, the Board manual was developed and reviewed, while its Board governance process was reviewed and a restructuring process assessed and recommendations provided for implementation.
YEfL reviewed its strategic plan and following the review, developed a youth volunteer strategy to empower youth through volunteerism and developed a budget control reporting format in collaboration with GVAs part of its strategic direction, YEfL also renewed its National Youth Authority (NYA) and Department of Social Welfare certificates.
Staff as part of the organization’s capacity building process, had their capacities built on ICT and web base documentation.
Reviewed all the Current YEfL administrative manuals (Financial, administrative manual and the YEfL board manual to reflect the learnings from our experiences
YOUTH SPEAK UP
The YSU has run for the first one year and has also recorded significant progress from its operations. With the very complimenting role played by our partners both GV, RUMNET and HOpin the following are noted.
A total of Twenty Four (24) community journalist have trained in the respective districts with a total of Ninety Six (96) Listeners Club members across the implementing districts. A series of capacity buildings in relation to news gathering, feature writing, whatsapping, twitting, blogging, radio programming and hosting, facebooking, resource mobilisation and strategy development among others.
YSU has developed an Idea Platform dabbed LOMIO: It is an online interface that discusses burning topical issues and engaging key stakeholders to address the issues. It had virtual (online) and physical sessions which created an opportunity for youth to further campaign on development issues discussed on the radio. So far three events have been held on three different topics with over forty (40) young person’s brought together to participate in each of the events.
A big relief for commuters on Pishegu-Karaga road on sight: Before and After ( Sep 2015 and August 2016)
As at September last year,the Pieshugu Karaga road was cut off and unmorable,CJs in karaga reported and discussed this issue and engaged duty bearers to act,below are the evidence.
The Kumbungu District Assembly has paid 2% from its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) into the Accounts of the Federation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the district. The Assembly did this after issues of PWDs, especially the mandatory allocation of 2% of the District Assemblies share of their DACF to PWDs were raised and highlighted by a Community Journalist (CJ), under the YSU Project in the district. Before this, the Federation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the district were not receiving their share of the Fund, but only received it when the issue was discussed on SMILI Radio with the chairman of the Federation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the district as a panellist
Portable water projects have been initiated in Wapuli and Zieng Saboba abd Karaga district respectively.
The National Health Insurance Registration process has now been decentralized from the district capital to individual community levels. This was after the registration exercise was discussed on SMILI Radio by Community Journalist’s (CJs) on the YSU Project. The CJs raised the issue as a topical issue on radio and followed up to the District NHIS Manager after people in the district complained about the length of time it took to get registered onto the NHIS Scheme, which was done only in Kumbungu, the district capital under very deplorable conditions. This and many more attached in the annex success stories.
MY World Survey (2015)
Exactly 20 young persons were trained as trainer of trainers to sensitize the public on My World Survey.
Through the use of radio programs, 700,000 people in the Northern Region of Ghana were sensitized on My World Survey and how individuals can participate in it.
10,500 hardcopies of My World Survey forms printed and administered
10,448 forms entered into MS excel spread sheet and later uploaded onto the UN website via AYP website
1,500 students voted on line using mobile phones
Mobile phone software was successfully installed on computers to upload the field data.
30 T- shirts printed for field staff to enhance their legitimacy and promote awareness on the global survey.
PYRCE IBIS I
Having piloted the PRYCE for the six months under the IBIS partnership, the project has engaged with Six (6) youth groups with an average of 30 members in each group on series of activities. With the support, YEfL disseminated information on the YEA act to youth and stakeholders in Sagnerigu district.
The project also educated Youth on their civic rights and responsibilities in collaboration with the NCCE, which is the state institution responsible for educating citizens on their rights and responsibilities.
Support youth to organise monthly radio discussion on active citizens;
YEFL facilitated over 30 young persons to process the online application for various YEA modules. Out of the 30, 25 young persons were illiterates whilst the rest were literates. So far two persons have been called for interview for the Community Health workers awaiting final selection to enrol on the module.
The Social Services Sub-committee led by the PM of the SDA agreed to support youth selected by YEfL in the SDA to be included on the YEA district committees when the committees are inaugurated. The PM assures YEfL together with members of the subcommittee YEfL should submit a list of at least five suitable young persons from their groups for consideration by the district Assembly. The youth groups the general public under the project have been made aware of their civic rights and responsibilities. The education on civic rights and responsibilities for the various youth groups revealed that most of the youth did not know that their rights and responsibilities are enshrined in the Ghanaian constitution.
YEfL through this project has established links with FOSDA at the National level and joined a network of youth organisations at the National Level (GYEDEP).
The opportunity to input into the current Youth Bill yet to be put before parliament for passage was significant to the results of YEfLs engagements with IBIS Ghana.
MALSHEGU YOUTH CENTER PROJECT
For the past four years of our contact and partnership with Marsilisborge Gymnasium with support from the Chief and entire community of Malshegu, a conference hall, two workshops, a summer hut, a football pitch and demarcated volley ball pitch, water and Electricity have been put on the site. Regular maintenance work has been done to keep the center in good condition. They have indicated to us that a team of two (2) teachers and nine (9) volunteers will again visit Ghana, more specifically Malshegu in October 2016 for another three (3) weeks.
UPDATES FROM YOUTH CENTERS
SABOBA YOUTH CENTER:
The Saboba Youth Centre has established a Youth Parliament. One member of the YC benefited from a training from British Council and have since been engaged by the training company.
KUMBUNGU YOUTH CENTER: Nwudua and Tibung youth groups have registered their groups with the Kumbungu Youth Center for the mutual benefit that can be derived from Networking and alliances. The groups become conscious of the need to network and partner with other groups / associations and therefore took the steps to register with the youth centre. E4L staff facilitated the registration process by linking the CBO with the youth centre in Kumbungu.
SAVELUGU YOUTH CENTER; Have been allocated an office space for use by the YC
KARAGA YOUTH CENTER
Have written a proposal for funding on embarking on a peace project in the district. KYC has planned to re-launch the YC in the district next month. Plans are underway to raise funds for this event.
BIMBILAYOUTH CENETR: After a training in VSLA in the year 2013, have formed over40 groups in the district.
YEFLS ADMINISTRATION (2015/2016)
The Tamale Office still remains the secretariat for YEfL in coordinating the daily running of the organization. The period of reporting has seen YEfL experiencing ups and downs in its administrative operations.
DANIDA CUTS BY 26 %
DANIDA our main donor, announced a cut in its development aid budget by 26% with effect from the year 2016.This was unexpected, but YEfL and its partners had to immediately take measures to absorb the cuts, which also meant that the entire programme funds received from Danida was going to be reduced by 26%. A drastic restructuring was commissioned by the two boards and programme heads. This resulted in restructuring the management level and implementation level. The programme exited two districts and laid off about sixteen (16) staff. In effect YEfL lost two (2) staff that is the Accountant and the Administrative Officer.
SPECIAL AUDITS OF AYF AND AYD
The year also started with the YEfLB and GV commissioning a special audit into a suspected mis -appropriation of funds in the rollout of both activities. The special audit went on for a period of two months. The final report of both audits were shared with board and partners.
YSU RADIO CONTRACTS
At the tail end of the AYF and AYD investigations, the YEfLB again commissioned a committee to investigate an alleged case of misconduct/mishandling of the radio contract with Simli Radio most especially. The committee upon completing the investigations proved that there was misappropriation of funds in the dealings with Simli radio. This outcome led to the dismissal of the Programme Manager and the Projects Coordinator for YSU in March 2016.
EMPLOYMENT OF NEW STAFF
Due to the Danida cuts and the dismissal of the Programme Manager and the YSU projects coordinator. There was need to employ a new Finance and Administrative Officer, a YSU PC, a Director and a Technical Adviser for Youth and Gender. The board as at the June 2016, had employed a new FAO, YSU PC, Director and a Technical Adviser. All team members are duly at post and performing their task and duty as duly assigned.
STAFF STRENGTH
The staff strength of YEfL stands at Eleven (11), with two (2) females and nine (9) males. Three (3) out of the 11 forms the key management of YEfL that is the Director, TAAGY and the FAO.
REVIEW OF ADMIN MANUALS
The reporting period experienced YEfLB and management reviewing some of the administrative manuals to reflect the organizations learning over the period. The Finance and Administrative Manual were reviewed. Notable reviews were reflected in the organogram and the logo of the organization.
SALE OF VEHICLE
The only official vehicle for YEfL that was purchased in 2010, was auctioned within the year due to its high cost of maintenance and running. The returns have since been deposited at in the programme accounts.
OFFICE SPACE
Within the reporting year, YEfL as part of the cost cutting measures gave out two office spaces for rent to other organizations. We have had new Tenants occupying the two offices. ProLite Ghana and SIGL Ghana both are local NGOs.
For future purposes, YEfLB tasked a small committee of management and board to engage with Malshegu Youth and Community for the possibility of YEfL relocating its secretariat to Malshegu. This is still work in progress, as the initial visits have been made by the committee to the youth groups, chief and Elders of the community, key Opinion leaders and many more. They have accepted YEfLs request but has indicated that we developed a joint MoU together as a binding
document to offset future occurrences. YEfL and the community is currently working on an MoU with the community. The process is on course.
YEFL AND GV MOU-YEFL UNDER ADMINISTRATION
YEfL and GV signed an MOU in the month of April, 2016 as part of the process of restoring trust and between the two partners, this became necessary after special audits were conducted on AYF, AYD, simli radio contracts and anonymous letter to GV on cases of corruption in YEfL. Both partners therefore agreed to this MOU to work towards stabilizing the partnership. Below are the key points under the MoU
YEfL’s organizational budget balanced by the beginning of 2017.
Continue to implement the planned activities under the E4L and YSU projects.
Comply with the anti – corruption policy at all times.
Rebuild trust and confidence with GV
The details of the status are attached in the status of the MoU with GV. Meanwhile the YEfL Leadership (YEfLB and Mgt) are currently engaging GV on lifting the condition under administration considering the progress we have made in the couple of months. The last meeting with GV was very positive.
GV VISITS TO GHANA
Within the reporting period, GV our main partners have visited Ghana and YEFL for about five times. Main issues that have been addressed or taken place during these visits are;
YPG and HAL EGE high school held youth Rallies with Savelugu and Kumbung/Dalun Youth Centers on bridging gaps using social media.
Members of YPG, Brigitte and Phuc visited some YCs and trained them on activity planning.
Inger and Lise came for their usual monitoring of programme activities and held the first YSU partner meeting with the YSU partners in Ghana. This trip was also used by both partners to employ a new PC for the YSU project.
GV board chairperson and General Secretary Visited, for mainly Bilaterals discussions with partners, several meetings were held with YEfLB and GV board this resulted in the MOU signed. This was to affirm their commitment to keeping the partnership growing.
The face to face interactions with our partners makes our understanding of each other much easy and deepens our commitments to the partnership.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
This reporting year witnessed the most turbulent period in the growth challenge of the organization. There was a serious conflict involving key actors of the organization. The conflict put us in a very bad light and so GV and GDCA had to intervene and helped us to hire the services of a consultant to mediate and propose a lasting solution to the perennial conflict among actors in the organization. The consultant’s work was highly appreciated by both management and board and have come up with an action plan demonstrating clearly how the recommendations of the consultant will be implemented.
STATUS OF CONSULTANTS RECOMMENDATIONS
The proposed constitutional amendments to the YEfL constitution were raised and discussed both at the YEfLB meeting and AGM, all recommendations on the constitution were accepted except for the proposal of Five (5) elected and six (6) coopted. YEfLB reviewed it to Seven (7) elected and four copted.
The subcommittees were restructured and Research and OD added on to the task of a subcommittee.
On the need to rebrand YEfL, efforts are made now by all actors of YEfL to paint a positive picture of the organization. Management have therefore also developed a Plan of action and a communication plan to rebrand YEfL. This has been reviewed and approved by YEfLB in their third quarter meeting in 2016.
NEW PROJECTS AND PROSPECTS
PYRCE 2-YEFL in the month of July this year signed a new partnership with IBIS Ghana for the next one year as a renewal of the first pilot project we implemented in 2015/16.
OXFAM_IBIS- EU JOINT PROPOSAL
YEfL and IBIS jointly developed an EU proposal with OXFAM and six (6) other organisations in Ghana. But we regret to report that this has not yielded our desired expectation. . But we have kept contact with these organizations to enjoy a comparative advantage in future prospects.
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES (CRS)-GHANA
YEfL is currently working a joint project on Youth Empowerment and Livelihoods in the Northern region. YEfL has passed through the scooping stage and we are now discussing content for project. The indications are positive that by beginning of 2017 we will have a new project with CRS.
EQWIPS GHANA- YOUTH
ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORT
It is a Canadian funded organization working on graduate employment issues. YEfl has initiated discussions with them for possible collaborations.
YEFL GOVERNANCE
The reporting year started with Nine(9) elected board members and two coopted, making at total of Eleven (11). The board has held six quarterly meetings to discuss a myriad of organizational issues that has contributed to the growth of the organization within the year.
Notable among them are the revised administrative manuals for use by the secretariat, a board manual to guide the boards operations, a new organogram and a logo.
The current YEfL board brought new leadership structure into the governance of the organisation. The chairpersons of the various subcommittees formed what is termed as YEfL B leadership. The leadership has direct contact with the YEfL Director and discuss relevant issues even before it gets to the entire board. This system can have challenges, if care is not taken. It could leave many
board members feeling left out. It is also important because, it reduces and fast tracks decision making between management and board.
The board and management in partnership with GV have been working within the approved budget and seek to keep the budget balanced. The operational cost and the income must at all times be in balance. We have observed significant improvements in financial discipline from all actors within this period.
The board and management have worked to streamline and strengthen YEfL membership. This is just the beginning and will have to be highly prioritized. For the first time only registered and paid up members voted at the AGM. This is the beginning of true ownership and sustainability.
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE
As it stands, the future is bright for YEfL to position itself to take up the opportunities that come our way and instill in all actors a sense of commitment to this development course we are pursuing.
The secretariat is poised to instill financial discipline in the organization to strengthen our economic status as an organization. For next couple of years we will work towards the following
Re-Branding And Marketing YEfL
Donor Diversification
Re-Energising Members By Rebuilding Membership
Resource Mobilisation
CHALLENGES
Dormant Youth Centers continue to weaken our strength in the communities and district levels
Logistics –Vehicle: This has hindered our efforts to move out more frequently to explore other opportunities; a bit challenging.
Inadequate Staffing- No funds to Employ
Recommendations to the New Board
As indicated earlier, YEfL is under GDCA’s administration. This is a GV decision. A decision that has truly affected the growth of this organisation. It is strongly recommended that the current board engage GV to return YEfL’s administration back to YEfL’s management.
The Consultant’s reasons for increased co-opted membership are amongst others to co-opt individuals with certain degree of influence and know how to add value in terms of knowledge and resources to increase the organisational growth. As no female board member is elected, it is important that at least two women are co-opted into the board.
The board require members to honest speak out their minds on critical issues. In many cases it has been hard to determine the position of certain board members.
The board should have, at all times, oversight over financial performance of the organisation. This periodic check on financial records. This has been the weakest score on the performance of the board.
Continue to improve on the membership register and give more power to members of the organisation. This clearly shows the difference between beneficiaries and owners.