YEFL GHANA 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

2023

ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

FACILITATING MEANINGFUL YOUTH ENGAGEMENTS FOR INCREASED YOUTH VOICE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

www.yeflghana.org info@yeflghana.org

Block B. House No: AZ 1077 Digital Address: NS - 093-2748

Table of Contents ACRONYMS

II

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

III

FORWARD

IV

ABOUT YEFL

V

OUR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

VI

PROJECT COVERAGE

VII

YOUTH POLITICAL ACTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY

08

YOUTH SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

09

ECONOMIC & LIVELIHOOD EMPOWERMENT

10

YOUTH ORGANIZING AND MOBILIZING FOR CHANGE

11

CLIMATE CHANGE

12

CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

13

FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

14

OUR DONORS

15

ACRONYMS CJs – Community Journalists CRS – Catholic Relief Services DACF – District Assembly Common Fund E4L – Empowerment for Life EC – Executive Council EOL – Education Out Loud FUYAG – Fulani Youth Association of Ghana LRI – Littoral Regional Initiative MMDAs- Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies NYA – National Youth Authority PWLD – Persons living with disabilities

YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

II

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT YEFL Ghana appreciates all donors who have kept faith in us as an organization, continue to support our growth and our drive for sustainable youth and community development.

We also appreciate the strategic and hand-holding support of our Governing Board who have walked closely with us to achieve far reaching results for the year under review.

To all staff, volunteers and interns we could not have come this far without your resilience, commitment and hardwork. YEFL Ghana is because of you.

Thank you all!!!

Tipagyia Pam!!!

YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

III

FORWARD This year has been remarkable for our organization, marked by significant achievements, new collaborations, innovative programs, and a focus on enhancing our delivery to align with best practices. In this abridged version of our 2023 Annual Report, are insights of project results and other organizational information captured through summary sheets.

At the heart of our efforts are the young people, driving our work with their dynamism across social, economic, and political domain. Our team's resilience and hard work have led to noteworthy successes, particularly in empowering over 200 rural youth with entrepreneurship training and our partnership with SNV has furthered agribusiness ventures. Our thriving youth centre initiative continues to champion youth leadership and foster community engagement.

Through our empowered Youth Networks, we have shone a light on the insufficient governmental commitment to youth development with research and facts. We've championed better funding, engaged in policy dialogues, contributed to crafting a Youth Manifesto, and leveraged community journalism to enhance social accountability and youth participation. Collaborating with Changing Lives in Innovative Partnerships has allowed us to integrate climate change into our programming, increasing the resilience of over 900 smallholder farmers and their communities in Northern Ghana to climaterelated challenges.

Moreover, we have embarked on a mission to include over 1,000 young Fulbe [Fulani] individuals, empowering them to become changemakers and leaders within their communities, thus addressing the unique challenges faced by the Fulbe in Northern Ghana's ecological zones.

Overall, we have increased our funding portfolio by over 45% of previous year, rolled out 11 Projects across the 5 Administrative Regions in the Northern Ecological Zone of Ghana and directly reached 9,548 youth beneficiaries out of which 4,785 are Females, 4,763 Males, 89 PLWDs and over 1,000 being the marginalized ethnic minority Fulbe Youth; reinforcing our commitment to Gender and Social Inclusivity in program targeting. All together, our projects have reached over 40,000 beneficiaries As the leader of this organization, I am immensely proud of our team's resilience, innovation, commitment, and the unwavering support of our executive council and donors. Together, we have achieved remarkable successes and look forward to continuing our impactful journey.

Jawol Vera Magan Executive Director YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

IV

ABOUT YEFL GHANA YEFL-GHANA is a vibrant youth-focused, woman led organization empowering youth economically, politically and socially to lead the desired change deemed fit for their societies. By empowering youth, we employ three broad approaches that guide our programming at all levels of our engagements. By approach, we employ economic empowerment, social empowerment, and political actions.

Our foundation stems from our believe in youth mobilization and organizing for change which we conceived in 2005 and launched with platforms later to be popularly referred to as the Youth Forum and Youth Centre concepts. Through out our growth period we have been supported and guided by the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) and Ghana Venskab (GV). We formalized our structures and registered with the statutory bodies as Youth Empowerment for Life (YEFL) in 2010. In 2019, we developed a new strategy for our youth programming which included rebranding and thus resulted in a change in name from Youth Empowerment for Life to “YEFL Ghana”.

Currently, our Zone of influence spans across the Six [6] Administrative Regions of Ghana. The five [5] regions in the Northern ecological zone where we have built trust with local communities, key stakeholders and implement direct projects and Greater Accra the capital of Ghana where we focus on policy influencing, legislation, advocacy and campaigns.

YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

V

OUR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Zakaria Issah Nabila EC Chairman

Mohammed A. Azeez Vice Chairman

Abubakari Abdallah

Mahama Bintu Member

Beatrice Biije

Member

Member Member

Abdallah Yussif

Mohammed Zakaria

Member

YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

Member

Attah Zack Member

Sualey-Oyiya Member

Abdalla Dokurugu

Member

VI

PROJECT ACTIVITIES COVERAGE Northern region - 12 MMDAs

Northern East Region - 4 MMDAs

FUNDING PORTFOLIO

Savannah Region - 4 MMDAs

Upper East Region - 3 MMDAs

2022 - 2,314,078.70

Upper West Region - 3 MMDAs

2023 - 3,373,462.09

TOTAL DIRECT PROJECT BENEFICIARIES

4763

4785

89

Through great team work, 46% resilience and partnerships, funding portfolio for 2023 increased by 46% of the 2022 fund basket. A step in the right direction for the Organization’s sustainability

TOTAL - 9,548 TOTAL PROJECT REACH

50,000+

YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

VII

SUMMARY SHEET - YOUTH POLITICAL ACTION AND ACCCOUNTABILITY 6 STATE INSTITUTIONS ENGAGED District Assembly District Assembly Common Common Fund Fund Secretariat Secretariat National Youth National Youth Authority Authority Right to Right to Information Information Commission Commission Ministry of Ministry of Youth Youth and and Sports Sports Northern Development Northern Development Authority Authority Parliamentary Select Parliamentary Select Committee Committee on on Youth Sports Youth Sports and and Culture Culture

2 RESEARCH COMMISSIONED AND COMPLETED

25 YOUTH CAPACITATED ON RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT Capacities gained Capacities gained by by youth youth utilized to utilized to gain gain information information from from the the National National Youth Youth Authority on Authority on its its appropriation appropriation from the from the District District Assembly Assembly Common Fund, Common Fund, Utilization Utilization of of its its draw down draw down and and Project Project Status Status

Comprehensive Analysis Comprehensive Analysis of of Youth Youth Development Priorities Development Priorities in in Northern Northern Ghana Ghana Comprehensive Analysis Comprehensive Analysis of of Youth Youth Financing Financing in Ghana in Ghana

2 YOUTH DEVELOPED COMMUNIQUE PRESENTED AND PUBLISHED Demand by Demand

by Youth Youth Policy Policy Champion Champion for for Increased Increased Government of Government of Ghana Ghana Funding Funding for for Implementation Implementation of of the the Ghana National Ghana National Youth Youth Policy Policy Demands for Demands for Enhanced Enhanced Central Central Government Government Commitment Commitment to Northern to Northern Development Development and and Youth Youth Empowerment Empowerment by by Regional Youth Regional Youth Networks Networks

735 YOUTH ENGAGED | BENEFITED DIRECTLY THROUGH ACTIVITIES UNDER APPROACH

380 YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

336

20 PG | 8

SUMMARY SHEET - SOCIAL ACCCOUNTABILITY

ACTIVITIES COVERAGE 5 Regions 15 District Assemblies 60 Beneficiary Communities

57 COMMUNITY JOURNALISTS TRAINED AND TOOLED 24 CJs - Focusing on Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education 33 CJs - Focusing on Social and Community Development

5 STATE AND NON-STATE ACTORS ENGAGED National Youth Authority

National Identification Authority Environmental Protection Agency Ghana Education Service RAINS

SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACTIONS 5 Virtual Youth Speak-Up held to address Youth themed challenges 36 youth produced radio discussion held across 6 districts 60 Basic School Performance Appraisal Meetings Held

3,941 YOUTH ENGAGED | BENEFITED DIRECTLY THROUGH ACTIVITIES UNDER APPROACH

2,089

YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

1,852

35

PG | 9

SUMMARY SHEET - ECONOMIC AND LIVELIHOOD EMPOWERMENT

Village Savings and Loans Association Established

1

10

Women Migrated From Informal to Formal Financial Sector

2 Small Holder farmers Provided Business Support Services

183

3

250

Membership of Spraying Gang Established

4

10

Progress of Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Beneficiaries

Not Operating Business 15.7%

Total Trained

Male

Beneficiaries operating business Operating Business 84.3%

Beneficiaries not operating business

Snap Analysis

Female

0

100

84%

200

300

400

Percentage of beneficiaries who initiated and currently operating business after YEFL Ghana entrepreneurship Bootcamp Instructive to note that more females have been empowered economic through our bootcamps

1,393 YOUTH AND WOMEN BENEFITED DIRECTLY THROUGH ACTIVITIES UNDER APPROACH

599 YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

794

5 PG | 10

SUMMARY SHEET - YOUTH ORGANIZING AND MOBILIZING FOR CHANGE

450

800

80

1000

YOUTH CENTER MEMBERSHIP 450 young people mobilized across the Karaga, Mion an Savelugu Youth Centers to take community actions and operate social enterprises

REGIONAL YOUTH NETWORK The Regional Youth Networks in Northern, North East and Savannah Region have mobilized approximately 800 membership base to lead political and social accountability actions

DISTRICT YOUTH PARLIAMENT With support from IMEM, the Youth Parliament of Nanton and Tolon currently boast a membership of 40 Youth Parliamentarians each

FULANI YOUTH ASSOCIATION OF GHANA With support from YEFL Ghana, FUYAG have established regional associations in Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper West and Upper East Regions and mobilized over 1,000 Fulbe youth to rise against marginalization and champion peace building and social cohesion

SUMMARY SHEET - YOUTH ORGANIZING AND MOBILIZING FOR CHANGE

700 streetlights installed in Savelugu and Tamale Parliament Select Committee to set Team to Monitor Utilization of 5% DACF to NYA Bush burning prevention by-laws established by 2 communities Night Patrols commenced by Police Service in Nanton to monitor drug use at youth gatherings and nighclubs Imams dedicating sermons to fight against drug abuse 10 dual desks donated by community to Chenoweeyat Primary school in Nanton 10 community self-help initiatives carried out 1 community [Kunyevila] secure land from Chief to construct Community Clinic

2,330 YOUTH MOBILIZED TO TAKE ACTIONS THROUGH ACTIVITIES UNDER APPROACH

1,235 YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

1,095

29 PG | 11

SUMMARY SHEET

CLIMATE CHANGE

4

48

DISTRICTS 24 Communities covered

FARMER GROUPS

128

YOUNG FARMERS

Established

Mobilized as Youth Environmental Brigades

4

60

Beneficiaries

Drilled

For large scale irrigation farming

20

1

1100

960

SMALL HOLDER FARMER

MECHANIZED BOREHOLES ACRES FARM LAND SECURED

YOUTH CLIMATE REPORTERS

Trained in Basic Journalism, Social Media Advocacy and Climate Reporting

YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

CLIMATE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT Conducted for 4 Project Districts

TOTAL DIRECT BENEFICIARIES

440

660

PG | 12

SUMMARY SHEET - CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

VIA UNIVERSITY NURSES EXCHANGE PROGRAMME The year 2023 saw YEFL-Ghana receive a total of 17 Young Danish Nurses from VIA university in Denmark who were placed for internship under the Ghana Health Service within Tamale Metro and the Sagnarigu District. Affording participating students the exposure to the different cultures and service delivery methods and practices in the health care system of Ghana Within the first batch of 11 student nurses recieved, YEFL Ghana hosted our 100th Danish student nurse.

SILKERBORGE HIGH SCHOOL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME

YEFL continued our ever-flourishing partnership with the Silkerborge High School in Denmark; facilitating and coordinating Cultural Exchange Program for high school students from Denmark to the City of Tamale and its environs in Northern Region of Ghana. This year Thirty [30] high school students with Two [2] Teachers were hosted.

YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

PG | 13

SUMMARY SHEET - FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

46%

Through great team work, resilience and partnerships, funding portfolio for 2023 increased by 46% of the 2022 fund basket. A step in the right direction for the Organization’s sustainability

YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

PG | 14

OUR DONORS

YEFL GHANA | 2023 ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARY SHEET

PG | 15

FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.yeflghana.org info@yeflghana.org Block B. House No: AZ 1077 Near the Malshegu Youth Centre Digital Address: NS - 093-2748