Program Quality

Peacebuilding in Ghana

Since January 2008, CRS Ghana has collaborated with the Yendi Diocese to implement a savings and internal lending communities (SILC) project in northern Ghana communities that have been historically plagued with tribal tensions. The project was designed to support existing peacebuilding initiatives in the area with access to financial services, using a group methodology. By encouraging the formation of SILC groups by members of different ethnic groups, the project aimed to build social cohesion within these communities.

The SILC project targeted 2,000 participants, 80% of them women. Women have been the subject of special focus both because they are the most vulnerable income earners and because they are better at bridging the “conflict divide” among themselves and thus bringing households closer together.

Recent field interviews confirmed that participation in SILC activities was a magnet drawing women who otherwise would not be interested in peacebuilding to become more actively engaged in discussing and acting to ensure the preservation of peace. Several factors were identified.

First, the tangible benefits of increased opportunities for savings, credit, and income-generating activities considerably raise the personal stakes of the women in the preservation of a peaceful environment. The women saw the immediate link between a peaceful environment and the continued growth of their businesses. They are therefore more aware of the stake they have in ensuring that no violent conflicts disrupts their businesses.

Second, SILC activities require regular group meetings. In the case of the Yendi SILC intervention, these meetings provide a large audience (more than 2,000 in total) in a forum that is used to create awareness of the detrimental effects of conflicts on socioeconomic development.

Third, since the SILC groups were multi-ethnic in composition, the dynamics of frequent interactions through meetings and the shared vision of promoting their economic wellbeing built trust and social cohesion between group members who would otherwise not agree to work together. The increased level of trust promoted dialogue and helped the community members to use that dialogue to peacefully resolve disagreements.

Fourth, women participating in the SILC program said that they are now so busy trying to keep their businesses going and growing.

CRS Ghana has seen tremendous potential in linking SILC to its peacebuilding initiatives and will continue to use this experience as a platform for further community development.

For more information on this initiative contact Daniel Ayungane (Dayugane@tama.gh.waro.crs.org).

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