Plan International Ghana has launched a 9.4 million Canadian dollar initiative to strengthen women’s rights organisations and women human rights defenders across the country.

The Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Ghana Project is funded by Global Affairs Canada and Plan International Canada.

It will support up to 120 local and national women’s rights organisations, youth-led organisations and women human rights defenders through direct grants and capacity development.

Speaking to Joy News at the 2026 media training at Koforidua, held under the theme Journalism with Purpose Reporting Responsibly on Children, Gender Equality and Vulnerable Communities, Project Manager Theodora Asare said the intervention is timely.

“As of 2022, Ghana ranked 130 out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index and 134 on the Gender Development Index,” she highlighted.

She noted that women and girls in Ghana continue to face harmful traditional practices and entrenched gender norms.

Many also struggle with limited access to education and economic opportunities. Women remain underrepresented in decision making spaces.

“Women’s rights movements are key drivers of legal and policy change to address gender inequality, yet only one percent of official development assistance goes to women’s rights organisations worldwide,” she stated.

Despite these challenges, Theodora said women’s groups in Ghana have played critical roles in shaping pro women legislation.

“Women’s rights organisations have contributed to laws such as the Domestic Violence Act of 2007, the ratification of the Maputo Protocol and the Affirmative Action Bill,” she said.

The six year project, which will run from March 2025 to December 2031, will be implemented in all 16 regions of Ghana. Out of the total 9.4 million Canadian dollar budget, 4.5 million Canadian dollars has been allocated directly to grantees.

She explained that the programme will provide multi-year core funding, fast-responsive grants and influencing grants to support advocacy and institutional strengthening.

The ultimate goal, she said, is to increase the enjoyment of human rights by women and girls in all their diversity while advancing gender equality nationwide.

Beyond the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Project, Plan International Ghana continues to implement other initiatives including the Youth Accelerator for Change Project, the Education Outcomes Project, the IPADEV and Soapeya projects, the Digital Skills Project and the Rooting for Change Project, all aimed at strengthening child protection, youth empowerment, education and community resilience.

Plan International has operated in Ghana since 1992 and works in more than 80 countries globally, supporting children particularly the most marginalized to exercise their rights and reach their full potential