Adult Education & Literacy
The primary purpose of this programme is to help adults and young people access information that enables
them to cope effectively with daily challenges and thrive in today’s competitive environment. Adult
education activities are delivered through study groups and mass meetings, complemented by lectures and
interactive discussions.
Target Groups
This programme is designed for individuals aged 15 years and above in both rural and peri-urban communities.
Specifically, it targets the following groups:
-
Adults with Little or No Formal Education: Primarily in rural areas, this group requires
basic literacy and numeracy skills to function effectively in daily life.
-
Vulnerable and Marginalized Individuals: Including women and out-of-school youth, who need
access to learning opportunities and empowerment.
-
Rural and Urban Poor: Aiming to equip them with skills to navigate modern life and improve
their living standards.
-
Persons with Specific Needs: Including people living with disabilities who require tailored
learning support.
Activities & Coverage
The programme is delivered through study groups and mass meetings, periodically complemented by lectures and
discussions. Specific activities include:
- Campaigns
- Mass meetings
- One-day schools
- Mobile cinema/video shows
- Group discussions
- Rallies
- Drama performances
- Puppet shows
- Role plays
- Development of community facilitation toolkits, including games, flash cards, and other interactive materials
At the district level, the Department forms groups of people with similar interests and connects them with development
partners who provide solutions to pertinent challenges. The Mass Education Programme promotes community engagement through
public education, sensitization, and awareness creation using Communication for Development (C4D) techniques.
The focus is to communicate the Assemblies’ interventions, programs, policies, and bylaws to citizens while encouraging
social and behavioral change through localized initiatives and innovation.
Implementation Approach
- Facilitators are trained to assist learners.
- Study group meetings are organized regularly.
- Mass meetings are conducted for larger community engagement.
- Focus group discussions are held to address specific issues.
- Community durbars and other local gatherings are used to reach participants.
Outcomes and Indicators
In 2024, a total of 33,149 participants were trained, comprising 13,021 males
and 20,128 females.
Extension Services
The Extension Services Programme of the Department prioritizes fostering collaboration with external
agencies to achieve shared objectives and expand the reach and impact of its initiatives. The programme
seeks to extend the Department’s core activities and technical expertise to other Ministries, Departments,
and Agencies (MDAs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), and international specialized agencies.
Through these partnerships, the Department supports capacity building, resource sharing, and the provision
of technical assistance aimed at improving service delivery and enhancing programme effectiveness.
Target Institutions
Key beneficiaries of these collaborative efforts include the following institutions:
- Ministry of Agriculture
- Ghana Health Service
- UNICEF
- World Vision International
- National Commission on Civic Education
- Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)
- Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)
- Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs)
These institutions have benefited significantly from the Department’s support, contributing to
improved outcomes across sectors such as public health, education, agriculture, and community
development. This collaborative approach ensures that the Department’s resources and expertise
reach a wider audience, promoting sustainable development and social progress.
Youth Skill Transfer
The Youth Skills Training Programme is a community-focused initiative designed to empower vulnerable young people
in rural and low-income urban communities by equipping them with practical skills that enhance employment
opportunities and support local enterprise development.
Target Groups
The programme is designed for vulnerable young men and women, including persons with disabilities, the unemployed,
and individuals seeking to acquire new income-generating skills. It also targets single mothers who lack employable
skills. The programme therefore seeks to address the challenges of unemployment and poverty by offering both formal
and informal training opportunities tailored to the needs of young people.
Activities & Coverage
Training activities cover a range of informal vocational and technical trades, including carpentry, masonry,
tailoring, hairdressing, food processing, digital literacy, auto mechanics, plumbing, electrical works,
community-based tourism, and small enterprise development. District officers of the Department provide ongoing
coaching and mentorship to participants.
In terms of coverage, the programme is being implemented across all 16 regions, with priority given to communities
experiencing high youth unemployment and limited access to training opportunities.
Expected Outcomes & Indicators
In 2024, a total of 8,271 participants were trained, comprising 2,345 males and 5,926 females.
How to Apply
Interested youth can contact their District Community Development Office or complete the online application form.
Applicants are required to provide a valid national ID and a recommendation letter from a community leader.
Women and Youth Empowerment Programme
This programme aims to promote the effective use of human and material resources to improve the quality of
life of vulnerable groups, particularly women and other disadvantaged persons within communities. It seeks
to enhance the socio-economic well-being of beneficiaries in rural and urban poor areas through targeted
interventions.
Key activities include training in income-generating activities, the promotion of Village Savings and Loans
Associations (VSLAs), and regular home visits.
Target Groups
The primary beneficiaries of this programme are women, youth, and vulnerable households in rural communities.
Activities and Outcomes
Training in Income-Generating Activities
During the period under review, the Department provided training for women and youth in various income-generating
activities. These included soap and shower gel production, groundnut paste processing, bead making, fascinator
and headband production, dry-season gardening, detergent production, snail rearing, and home and small business
management skills.
In total, 8,271 participants were trained, comprising 2,345 males and
5,926 females. A detailed breakdown of participants is presented in a table at the end of
this report.
Additional field-based activities included shea butter processing, groundnut paste processing, vegetable farming,
rice farming and parboiling, animal husbandry, and the implementation of Village Savings and Loans Associations
(VSLAs).
The VSLA scheme serves as a critical tool for economic empowerment and social development in deprived communities.
It promotes a culture of savings while improving access to basic financial services, particularly for women.
In 2024, the Department monitored 917 VSLA groups and formed 30 new groups, with
a total membership of 17,699 participants.
Home Visits
The objective of this programme is to empower women and households to improve food processing, sanitation,
and home management practices.
During the 2024 period, a total of 1,011 households were visited. Key topics covered included
home management, sanitation, personal hygiene, and income-generating activities.
Target Groups
The primary target groups are women, particularly single mothers, in both rural and urban communities across
the country.
Coverage and Participation
In 2024, over 1,786 participants were engaged nationwide through this programme.
Community Initiatives (self-help) Projects
The CIPs are initiated by the community and are joint actions that seek to enhance the well-being of a specific community.
Typically, these projects entail the participation of community members, local groups, and occasionally government
bodies collaborating to tackle needs or difficulties.
It is a response to the community's needs, through which
projects are designed and built by the communities themselves with the help of the Department’s technical team.
The objective is to improve the lives of people in the communities in terms of sanitation, education, housing, and portable
drinking water; the projects are carried out by the community’s own labor and voluntary participation under local leadership,
assisted by individual financial and material contributions.
Examples of these projects include school buildings, recreation centers, drains, hand-dug wells, and more.
Target Groups
The target groups are community members, opinion leaders, local government leaders (Assembly and unit committee members).
Coverage
This programme is being delivered in all district assemblies in Ghana.
Activities & Approach
- Engagement of target groups
- Community mobilization and sensitization
- Community durbars
