The Ford Foundation has reiterated its commitment to strengthening civic space, advancing democratic resilience, and empowering civil society across West Africa at the 3rd West Africa Civil Society Week (WACSW) 2025 in Accra.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Regional Director for West Africa, Onyinye Onyemobi, Program Associate at Ford Foundation, Office of West Africa, emphasised the Foundation’s long-term investment in strengthening civic ecosystems through its Weaving Resilience programme, a multi-year effort to strengthen the long-term adaptability, power, and sustainability of civil society ecosystems in the Global South.
She reminded participants that sustaining democracy begins with empowering the people who defend it.
“There is no democracy without an empowered and resilient civil society. If people lose hope in the systems meant to protect and include them, democracy becomes fragile.
“But when civil society is strong, when people are organised, connected, informed, and able to hold power accountable, hope is restored, and democratic resilience becomes possible,” she said.
WACSW brought together over 300 civil society actors, activists, and youth leaders from across the region, co-hosted by the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and Spaces for Change, with support from the Ford Foundation, to address challenges such as shrinking funding, rising insecurity, and political uncertainty.
Dr Nana Afadzinu, WACSI Executive Director, opened the conference with a call for renewed civic energy grounded in innovation, solidarity, and grassroots mobilisation.
She noted that despite funding cuts and political pressures, citizens across West Africa continue to demonstrate strong democratic activism.
“Citizens across West Africa continue to show remarkable courage and activism despite funding cuts and political pressures. This is the energy we must build on,” she stated.
Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Ghana’s Deputy Chief of Staff, underscored the central role of civil society in sustaining democratic norms.
“Civil society is the heartbeat of democracy. Our region needs ethical, community-driven engagement and stronger civic-tech strategies,” she said.
Again, Onyemobi praised the leadership of WACSI, Spaces for Change, and the broader ecosystem of civic actors working to protect rights and strengthen participation.
“We are proud to stand with you. We are proud to invest in this ecosystem,” she affirmed.
The WACSW 2025 shifted focus from diagnosis to redesign, challenging attendees to build new civic architectures that can withstand political shocks and misinformation, particularly by embracing youth movements, civic-tech builders, and grassroots networks.
The Ford Foundation proudly invested in this effort, committing to help “power the resilience that will define the future of civic life and democratic possibilities in West Africa.”
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