West Africa WEST AFRICA

The Ford Foundation works with visionary leaders and The year 2010 marks the 50th anniversary organizations worldwide to change social structures and institutions so that all people have the opportunity of the Ford Foundation’s work in West Africa. to reach their full potential, contribute to society, have Since 1960, when the foundation established a voice in the decisions that affect them, and live and work in dignity. an office in Lagos, we have been committed

This commitment to social justice is carried out to strengthening democracy throughout the through programs that strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, and advance human region. Today, as West Africa is on the verge knowledge, creativity and achievement. of a new era of peace and prosperity, we are working with visionary leaders in civil society and government who are expanding participation in the democratic process and accelerating the pace of social change.

FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA 50 Years on the Ground We envision a future in which West Africans and their governments leverage the region’s extraordinary human and natural resources for the common good—a future in which all people have both the right and the opportunity to achieve their potential.

embracing Opportunity West Africa is one of the world’s stimulate private enterprise, with a focus by military and autocratic governments, most richly endowed regions, with on developing small- and medium-sized we stayed and our support for human in West Africa abundant agricultural land, a vast array businesses, and by supporting projects rights came to the fore. We funded Some of Africa’s most inspiring political of oil and mineral deposits; and an that advance reproductive health and emerging civil society groups that developments—historic shifts from entrepreneurial, energetic and enter- rights among young West Africans. carved out space for dialogue. The foun- military regimes to constitutional rule, prising population. Now is the moment The majority of our grants—about dation also supported efforts to control cessation of civil war in Sierra Leone to define West Africa in the 21st century 75 percent annually—support projects the spread of HIV/AIDS, largely through and Liberia, and renewed commitment by leveraging the region’s extraordinary in Nigeria, the most populous country education, at a time when a growing among diverse countries to a strong human and natural resources for the in Africa and the economic engine of proportion of West Africans were be- regional economy—have occurred in the common good and by building vibrant, the region. We believe that strengthen- coming infected with the AIDS virus. western portion of the continent. With healthy societies. We support leaders ing governance and economic oppor- We responded to widespread civil a vibrant and youthful population and in government and civil society who are tunities in Nigeria will have positive strife beginning in the late 1990s by a growing body of capable civil society embracing this opportunity. effects throughout West Africa. strengthening institutions working to organizations, West Africans are taking promote peace and security, and also by important steps toward strengthening What Ford Is Doing A History of supporting diverse voices in the media. the rule of law, tackling corruption, and As the conflicts ended and the region promoting greater transparency and The Ford Foundation is supporting Accomplishment began to return to democratic rule, government accountability. people and organizations that are The foundation’s investments in West we focused on partnerships between Yet these significant gains will committed to building a new culture Africa today build on a half-century of government and civil society to promote be lost unless West Africans develop of transparency, effectiveness and work in the region and an unwavering the kind of good governance required their fledging democracies in ways that excellence across institutions and to commitment to social change even in to sustain the peace and to significantly produce tangible benefits for the fostering democratic participation the toughest of times. Our work began reduce poverty and social exclusion. millions of people who are struggling and equal opportunity. Our grant mak- in 1958 with a grant to train government This remains our focus today. just to survive: the 135 million West ing focuses on projects that promote workers in Nigeria’s western region. Africans who, according to the United democratic values and engage citizens Since then, we have supported micro- Support for Lasting Nations, live on less than $1.25 a day; in advocating for their social and eco- finance and agricultural programs and the more than 90 percent of urban resi- nomic rights. We also fund improve- the development of key human rights Change dents who live in crowded slums with- ments in government, with a focus on and women’s rights movements in West Africa is poised to build a stable out access to clean water; the majority openness. We believe these approaches West Africa. and prosperous future. Our aim is to of young people who are unemployed will lead to an environment favorable Early on, we funded higher edu- help the people of West Africa create and have no job prospects; the many to development. cation in an effort to prepare young a region that is vibrant, healthy and girls and women who are still vulner- In addition, we are addressing the West Africans to lead their newly democratic, one in which all people able to disease and violence. root causes of poverty in two key ways: independent nations. When the young can live full and meaningful lives and by funding scalable programs that democracies faltered and were replaced achieve their potential.

2 FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA 3 SELECT STRATEGIES AND The foundation’s past and present work in INVESTMENTS IN THE REGION West Africa—a small sampling of which is offered on these pages—reflects our commitment to supporting progress over the long term. MALI WEST AFRICA

SENEGAL

THE GAMBIA

GUINEA

SIERRA LEONE

LIBERIA GHANA NIGERIA

Government Cultural Civil Service Micro Reproductive Public Justice Reform Government Transparency Heritage enterprise Education Awareness Transparency 1970 A grant to the 2000–2006 Support 1958 A grant to the 1962 A grant to the government of Ghana 1987 Support for the 1996 An invest- 1999 to present for the Lagos State Minis- 2001 A grant to the government of Western University of Ibadan funds funds policy reform and Ondo State Country ment in Action Health Investments in Commu- try of Justice funded the University of Sierra Leone Nigeria supports fiscal the collection of Nigerian training for civil servants. Women Association of Incorporated leads to nicating for Change fund establishment of Citizen builds public support management and music and art for educa- Nigeria provides busi- the development in 2003 educational program- Mediation Centres and for the country’s Truth economic planning. tional purposes. today we support ness training for rural of the National Family ming on television and Human Rights Protection and Reconciliation projects that make women to start micro Life and HIV Education radio that raise aware- Units in communities Commission. today our grants today we support governments more trans- enterprises. Curriculum for use in ness about issues, throughout the state. are helping to encourage efforts to preserve and parent and accountable to Nigeria’s schools. from maternal mortality today we fund numer- full implementation of make accessible ancient the public. today 50,000 to environmental today these innova- ous projects that engage a new Nigerian law that manuscripts and art that entrepreneurs have been today we support protection. tions have paved the citizens in the process mandates greater govern- capture the region’s rich trained across the region efforts to educate and way for projects that are of building governments ment fiscal responsibility. history. and we’re funding larger- empower youth who are today we support expanding access to the that are truly accountable scale efforts to cultivate not enrolled in school civil society organiza- courts and eliminating to the people. a new generation of and may face pressures tions that are increasing discriminatory decisions. small businesses. that put them at risk access to vital informa- of disease, unwanted tion on government poli- pregnancy and abuse. cies and practices.

4 FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA 5

WORKING ON THE FRONTLINES IN West Africa

6 7 Democratic and Accountable Government transparent budgeting and financial management are essential aspects of good governance.

Promoting Transparent, Effective and Accountable Government

our grantees are laying the groundwork for a On the Frontlines

new culture of excellence in government. Our grantees work with civil society and government to ensure that government Over the past decade as democracy replaced single-party and military decisions and practices serve the public rule, political leaders in West Africa began shaping government to interest. Projects include: serve the people. The scale and challenges of such reform cannot be overstated. New leaders inherited governments with very little infra- Collaborating with citizens groups structure and talent to address widespread poverty; rising crime; and through the Economic Community a host of other problems. Yet there are clear signs of progress. of West African States (ECOWAS) to In countries where there had been virtually no formal checks monitor government policies related on corruption within government, public agencies now regulate and to energy, mining, trade and other industries and investments. monitor procurement practices, and oversight bodies are actively on the lookout for illegal transactions. Nine countries in the region are in grantee: Social Action (Social the process of complying with the Extractive Industries Transparency Development Integrated Centre) Initiative (EITI), which aims to ensure that the vast wealth of the region’s natural resources accrues to the public, and Liberia has already Working with citizens and government officials in Nigeria to implement met EITI standards. provisions of the 2007 Fiscal Responsi- We support efforts throughout the region to make the workings bility Act. of government more transparent, effective and accountable to the public. One of our grantees is building a coalition of informed citizens in grantee: Center for Social Justice Nigeria to accelerate implementation of the 2007 Fiscal Responsibility Improving police accountability Act, which requires a new level of diligence and documentation in the through research and innovation, management of public funds. training and the development of strong We also invest in projects that raise the level of professionalism police-community partnerships. among civil servants and engage citizens in the design and delivery grantee: CLEEN Foundation of public services. For example, we support efforts to improve police community relations, both to raise morale among officers long dis- For a full list of grantees, go to couraged by low expectations about what law enforcement can accom- www.fordfoundation.org plish, and to give citizens a voice in establishing local crime-fighting priorities. In these and other projects we see the beginnings of a culture of excellence in government.

8 FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA 9 HUMAN RIGHTS

Advancing Economic and Social Rights

we support efforts that engage citizens in On the Frontlines

creating the kind of good governance that is essential Our grantees use an array of approaches for overcoming poverty and social exclusion. to promote citizen participation in securing fundamental economic and Despite West Africa’s wealth of natural resources, it remains the social rights. Projects include: poorest region of the world’s poorest continent, where the social and Addressing discrimination and economic gap is widening between rich and poor, men and women, corruption in the justice system to and young people and their parents. Economic growth over the past ensure equal access to the courts for decade has yet to generate significant new jobs; guarantee the delivery poor and otherwise marginalized groups. of essential public services such as housing, water, sanitation, health- grantee: Access to Justice care and education; or create opportunities for women and youths. In West Africa, the dividends of democracy are not yet widely shared, but Combining research, advocacy, this can change. community organizing and litigation We support organizations that engage citizens in shaping to advance economic and social rights. policies that meet the needs of ordinary people. Our grantees take a grantee: Social and Economic Rights variety of approaches to grassroots education and empowerment. One Action Center (SERAC) of the organizations we support mobilizes communities to campaign for specific rights and protections. This organization was recently Training, networking, and successful in halting forced evictions in metropolitan Lagos where disseminating information to help affordable housing is scarce. civil society promote economic Recognizing the power of information, we fund efforts to and social rights through budget safeguard freedom of the press as a tool to monitor government and expenditure tracking, monitoring and increase access to information about public policies, practices and evaluation in Nigeria. expenditures related to economic and social rights. grantee: Socio-Economic Rights We also support projects that expand access to justice, building Initiative on a legacy of work that includes start-up funding in 1999 to create Citizens Mediation Centres throughout Lagos. Popular in local For a full list of grantees, go to communities and known for providing a fair, fast and easily accessible www.fordfoundation.org alternative to the courts, the centres are inspiring examples of how civil society and government can work together to guarantee fundamental rights.

to bridge the economic gap, citizens must be engaged in shaping policies that meet the needs of ordinary people. 10 FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA FORD FOUNDATION |WEST AFRICA 11 helping women entrepreneurs succeed Economic Fairness is key to raising household incomes.

Expanding Livelihood Opportunities for Poor Households

we fund efforts to grow small rural and urban On the Frontlines

enterprises to stimulate economies and reduce poverty. Our grantees use an array of approaches to nurture business and create jobs. To be caught in the grip of poverty is a familiar experience in West Projects include: Africa. Take the example of an enterprising woman who purchases fresh fish directly from local fishermen each day to sell in her coastal Strengthening organizations such as village. Because she has no access to refrigeration, she has to smoke microfinance banks, and researching any fish left at the end of the day and sell it at a much lower price. new financial products and market Despite her hard work, she is often unable to make a profit and con- support service innovations for the tinually struggles just to sustain her household. Her children, who livestock and dairy sectors in rural already work alongside her, will inherit the same struggles. Northern Nigeria. Like this woman, the vast majority of people working in West grantee: Centre for Microenterprise Africa today—two-thirds according to the World Bank and United Na- Development tions—are part of an informal economy that is neither nurtured nor taxed. Moreover, most young West Africans are unemployed, with no Training and mentoring of low- prospects of a job regardless of their talents and education. income high school graduates in an entrepreneurial development program. In urban areas, we support programs that expand the formal economy through the growth of private enterprise. Our grantees work grantee: Fate Foundation with government to create business-friendly environments, and help emerging entrepreneurs access financing, reach new markets and Supporting policy advocacy, research manage their financial and human capital. We also support efforts to and multi-stakeholder convenings to stimulate financial product innovations strengthen rural markets, expand participation in value chains, con- for rural and urban micro-, small- and nect these markets with larger economies and help small producers medium-enterprises in Southwestern meet increased demand for their products. Throughout the region, Nigeria. thriving local businesses not only provide stable jobs and raise house- grantee: Development Initiative hold incomes but also infuse communities with optimism and new Network skill sets that spark further entrepreneurship. Our goal is to bring the best enterprise development programs For a full list of grantees, go to to scale and establish additional programs so that expanded economic www.fordfoundation.org opportunities and good jobs are not isolated events, available to only a few West Africans, but are widespread phenomena.

12 FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA 13 Sexuality and Reproductive Health and Rights

Policies and Programs for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health

our grantees are promoting reproductive On the Frontlines

health and improving life outcomes among the most Our grantees use a variety of vulnerable adolescents. approaches to promote reproductive health among adolescents. Projects Sexual and reproductive health and rights in West Africa have include: improved significantly over the past 25 years, and we have supported Using empirical evidence about many of these advances. Yet life outcomes for many girls growing up what works to shape more effective in poverty have yet to improve. Nearly 80 percent of young women in reproductive health policies and northeast Nigeria, for example, are married before age 18. The high programs. maternal mortality rate among young West Africans suggests that grantee: Action Health Incorporated roughly 1 in 10 of these girls will not survive into adulthood. Other (AHI) risks of being female in West Africa today include genital mutilation, violence, HIV infection and being forced into sex work. Combining education with Our grants fund efforts to scale up the best programs and to reach programming that helps girls in Nigeria the most vulnerable teens: those who never attended school or who develop self-esteem and build other dropped out, either because they married early or because school was a life skills. luxury their families could not afford. grantee: Girls’ Power Initiative One of our grantees operates four community centers in southern Nigeria that overflow on Sundays with girls, many of whom are not en- Using culturally sensitive approaches rolled in school. This organization also educates adolescents through to reach adolescents in northern radio, television and Girls’ Power, its quarterly newsletter. The organi- Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim zation’s lessons about how to reach and change lives are influencing communities. sexual and reproductive health programs across Africa. grantee: Adolescent Health and Another priority is supporting policies and programs that connect Information Projects reproductive health with economic opportunity, because young people with jobs have more freedom to make good choices about their own For a full list of grantees, go to lives and about the quality of life in their communities. www.fordfoundation.org

programs that bring girls together provide camaraderie to help them cope with the challenges of adolescence. 14 FORD14 FOUNDATIONFORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA 15 Cultural Heritage conservationists are using digital technology to make manuscripts available to researchers globally.

Cultivating West Africa’s Rich History and Heritage

in addition to the four initiatives described in this brochure, we support institutions entrusted with preserving the region’s cultural heritage.

Ancient manuscripts, traditional art forms and historical monuments provide keys to the past for West Africans today. This knowledge— which often challenges conventional assumptions about Africa and Africans—and the pride it engenders are especially important for younger West Africans who are growing into leadership positions in the public and private sectors. The restoration of manuscripts in Timbuktu, Mali, for example, debunks the widely held belief that African societies had no written or scholarly traditions before the colonial era. This project and others like it are creating jobs and cultivating a new generation of conservationists skilled in the age-old arts of calligraphy and bookbinding, as well as the latest digital technologies to make manuscripts available to researchers around the world. We support efforts to modernize museums to protect their col- lections and make them more accessible to the public. For example, a grant to the Arts and Business Foundation is helping to fund the construction of a conservation laboratory and temperature-controlled storage at the National Museum of Lagos for irreplaceable textiles, wood sculptures and other art. We also fund professional development for museum staff in Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone through a grant to the British Museum. And we are supporting renovations to the House of Slaves in Goree, Senegal—one of the region’s most important historical monuments. These investments help ensure that West Africans can move into the future with a clear knowledge of the experiences and accomplishments of their ancestors and that visitors leave with a better understanding and appreciation of the region.

16 FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA FORD FOUNDATION |WEST AFRICA 17 Issues, Initiatives and Grant Spending IN WEST AFRICA

2010 2009

TOTAL GRANT SPENDING TOTAL GRANT SPENDING $7,178,332 $9,300,000

Promoting s onomic

and Accountable Go Ec

Tr Promoting ansparent, Ef 25 s onomic dvancing and Accountable Go Ec 32,0 A and Social Right Tr $1,2 ansparent,vernmen Ef fective ISSUE INITIATIVE $2,099,0 25 dvancing 32,0 A t and Social Right 25 $1,2 vernmenfective Democratic and • Promoting Transparent, Effective and $2,099,0 t Accountable Government Accountable Government 25

Human Rights • Advancing Economic and

Social Rights Expanding Livelihood 2010 Opportunities for GRANT SPENDING BY INITIATIVE Poor Households $9,300,000 Expanding$2,050,000 Livelihood Economic Fairness • Expanding Livelihood Opportunities 2010 Opportunities for GRANT SPENDING BY INITIATIVE Poor Households for Poor Households $9,300,000 $2,050,000 Policies and Programs for Adolescent Sexual and25 Reproductive$1,200,0 Health Policies and Programs Sexuality and Reproductive • Policies and Programs for Adolescent for Adolescent Sexual and25 Reproductive$1,200,0 Health Other Health and Rights Sexual and Reproductive Health (Global $1 78 ,2 Tr 50 avel and Learning F Other (Global $1 78 ,2 Tr 50 avel and Learning F und)

$2, und)

Non-initia

$2,

Non-initia

18 FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA 19

ford foundation board of trustees

New York Beijing

Cairo New Delhi Mexico City

Lagos Nairobi Jakarta

Rio de Janeiro Santiago Johannesburg

IRENE HIRANO INOUYE ANKE A. EHRHARDT YOLANDA KAKABADSE N.R. NARAYANA MURTHY our offices AFRICA AND ASIA LATIN AMERICA Chair of the Board Vice Chair for Academic Senior Adviser Chairman of the Board and worldwide MIDDLE EAST AND CARIBBEAN Washington, D.C. Affairs and Professor of Fundación Futuro Chief Mentor CHINA Medical Psychology Latinoamericano Infosys Technologies Ltd. UNITED STATES EASTERN AFRICA International Club ANDEAN REGION LUIS A. UBIÑAS Department of Psychiatry Quito, Ecuador Bangalore, India Rahimtullah Towers, Office Building AND SOUTHERN CONE President College of Physicians and HEADQUARTERS 12th Floor Suite 501 Mariano Sánchez New York, N.Y. Surgeons ROBERT S. KAPLAN PETER A. NADOSY 320 East 43rd Street Upper Hill Road Jianguomenwai Dajie, Fontecilla 310 Columbia University Professor of Management Managing Partner New York, N.Y. 10017 Nairobi, Kenya No. 21 Piso 14 KOFI APPENTENG Practice East End Advisors LLC Beijing, China 100020 Las Condes Director Partner Harvard Business School New York, N.Y. MIDDLE EAST AND Santiago, Chile HIV Center for Clinical The West Africa Fund Boston, Mass. NORTH AFRICA INDIA, NEPAL and Behavioral Studies CECILE RICHARDS Tagher Building AND SRI LANKA BRAZIL Partner New York State Psychiatric Senior Director President 1, Osiris Street 55 Lodi Estate Praia do Flamengo 154 Constant Capital Institute The Goldman Sachs Planned Parenthood Garden City New Delhi 110 003 8° Andar Redding, Conn. New York, N.Y. Group Inc. Federation of America Cairo 11511 India CEP 22210-030 New York, N.Y. and Planned Parenthood Egypt Rio de Janeiro, R.J. AFSANEH M. BESCHLOSS JULIET V. GARCÍA Action Fund INDONESIA Brazil President and Chief President THURGOOD MARSHALL JR. New York, N.Y. SOUTHERN AFRICA Sequis Center, 11th Floor Executive Officer University of Texas at Partner 5th Floor, Braamfontein Jl. Jend. Sudirman 71 MEXICO AND The Rock Creek Group Brownsville and Texas Bingham McCutchen W. RICHARD WEST JR. Centre Jakarta 12190 CENTRAL AMERICA Washington, D.C. Southmost College Principal Founding Director Emeritus 23 Jorissen Street Indonesia Emilio Castelar 131 Brownsville, Texas Bingham Consulting National Museum Braamfontein 2001 Colonia Polanco Group of the American Indian Johannesburg, 11560 Mexico, D.F J. CLIFFORD HUDSON Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. South Africa Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer RICHARD MOE WEST AFRICA Sonic Corporation President Emeritus Ten 105 Close Oklahoma City, Okla. National Trust for Historic Banana Island, Ikoyi Preservation Lagos, Nigeria Washington, D.C.

TO LEARN MORE about the Ford Foundation and our grant making, visit www.fordfoundation.org TO APPLY FOR A GRANT, visit www.fordfoundation.org/grants/grant-inquiry/west-africa where PHOTO CREDITS: Cover: Bruce Paton/Panos; p. 1: left, Jacob Silberberg/Panos; p. 1: right, George Osodi/Panos; pp. 2-3: left to right, William Daniels/Panos; George Osodi/Panos; Jacob Silberberg/Panos; pp. 4-5: (map) left to right, Jacob Silberberg/Panos; Ami Vitale; Jacob Silberberg/Panos; Marcus Rose/Panos; you will find a Grant Application Guide that describes our process and an online form you may Jacob Silberberg/Panos; Tim A. Hetherington/Panos; Jacob Silberberg/Panos; Jacob Silberberg/Panos; pp. 6-7: Akintunde Akinleye/Twenty Ten/Panos; use to submit a grant inquiry. p. 9: Jacob Silberberg/Panos; p. 11: Jacob Silberberg/Panos; p. 12: George Osodi/Panos; p. 14: Jacob Silberberg/Panos; p. 17: Ami Vitale

20 FORD FOUNDATION | WEST AFRICA Ford Foundation 320 East 43rd Street Ten 105 Close New York, N.Y. 10017 Banana Island, Ikoyi USA Lagos, Nigeria www.fordfoundation.org [email protected]