Promoting Volunteerism for Change Through Alternative Livelihood Skills Development (Volunteer 4 Change, V4C II)
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Cewefia, in partnership with STAR-Ghana Foundation and with support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, is implementing the second phase of the Volunteerism for Change project from 20th November 2025 to 30th June 2026. The project forms part of a national effort to strengthen civil society and promote active citizenship through volunteer-driven community development, accountability, and inclusive governance.
The Volunteerism for Change II (V4C II) project builds on the successes of the first phase, during which 10 volunteers were trained and equipped with practical and community facilitation skills to support development initiatives. These same volunteers will be re-engaged in Phase II, ensuring continuity, sustainability, and deeper community ownership of the interventions while expanding their roles as peer educators and mentors.
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V4C II seeks to strengthen and expand a sustainable volunteer network of skilled artisans who will train and mentor youth and vulnerable women in fisheries-dependent communities, particularly in the Central Region of Ghana. The project focuses on providing market-driven, environmentally friendly, and gender-responsive alternative livelihood skills that reduce dependency on declining marine resources while improving household income and economic stability.
Through advanced technical skills development, entrepreneurship and business management training, digital literacy support, enhanced market access, and strong partnerships with local authorities and private sector actors, the project will improve the employability and productivity of beneficiaries. These interventions are designed to promote economic diversification, resilience, and long-term socioeconomic empowerment in coastal communities.
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The project also contributes to strengthening women and young people’s voices and participation in governance processes, peace and security initiatives, and community-based natural resource management. Volunteerism is used as a catalyst to foster leadership, civic responsibility, and inclusive development, enabling community members to actively engage in shaping local development priorities.
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All activities under V4C II are guided by Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) principles, ensuring that women, youth, and other marginalized groups are meaningfully involved in project design, implementation, and monitoring. The project adopts a pro-poor approach and integrates value-for-money practices to ensure optimal use of resources for maximum community impact.
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Strong accountability and transparency mechanisms underpin the implementation of the project. These include results-based planning, clear financial and procurement procedures, safeguarding and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) standards, data protection compliance, and regular narrative and financial reporting. This ensures responsible stewardship of resources and high-quality delivery of project outcomes.
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Through the Volunteerism for Change II project, CEWEFIA continues to demonstrate its commitment to community empowerment, gender equality, and sustainable development. By strengthening volunteer networks and equipping youth and vulnerable women with practical, relevant, and environmentally responsible livelihood skills, the project contributes to building resilient coastal communities that are economically diversified, socially inclusive, and better prepared to adapt to changing environmental and economic conditions.