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Community Managed Funds to uplift Local Economic Activities in Ga Mashie, Accra, Ghana

Ga Mashie initiative involved slum upgrading and poverty allevistion that was built around strong community participation and empowerment through integration of a community fund to support economic activites for youth and women.

Community Managed Funds to uplift Local Economic Activities in Ga Mashie, Accra, Ghana

CROSS-CUTTING SECTORS

Financing, Urban Poor, Youth, Gender, Community-Led, Public service delivery

ORGANISATION(S)

Participatory Slum Upgrading Programme (PSUP), UN-Habitat

PROJECT OVERVIEW 

Ga Mashie initiative involved slum upgrading and poverty allevistion that was built around strong community participation and empowerment through integration of a community fund to support economic activites for youth and women. As part of activities under the PSUP project implemented within the Ga mashie community, a community fund has been established to assist with the development and upgrading of the community. The Ga Mashie Development Committee (CDC) have introduced a microfinance to support the teaming traders within the community. The microfinance aims at providing formal financial services to poor and lower-income businesses as well as others who are systematically excluded from the financial system. The support to local businesses is to ensure that there is financial inclusion of all working age adults having access to credit, savings and insurance from formal financial services. Community Managed Funds (CMF) was initiated to enable community groups apply for grants to implement projects in the settlements and setting up of micro-finance guarantee facility with local bank for affordable business loans to benefit youth and women. This has grown to Micro-credit with more than 5,000 members Over 5KM of alleys paved with blocks (locally made with local labour) resulting in improved public space, safety and flooding for over 100, 000 residents 7 CMF projects implemented by more than 300 youth and women resulting improved garbage collection, water access and public spaces Community and AMA partnership improved with devolution of upgrading activities to neighbourhoods. Find out more here.

RELEVANCE TO THE CALL TO ACTION ON SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH

These examples have been chosen because of their relevance to the Call to Action, as shown by the direct quotes provided below. To view the Call to Action click here.

  • “Sustainable urbanisation demands collective action – genuine multi-level governance – to empower, enable and support cities and their citizens.” 
  • “Sustainable urbanisation requires a commitment to good governance, integrated planning, effective service delivery together with fiscal and political empowerment.” 

THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY

UN-Habitat: https://unhabitat.org