About Us

Ecumenical Association for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development is a decentralized network established in 1991 and operational in 7 regions of southern and Middle Ghana (Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti, Volta, Western, Central, Eastern Region and Greater Accra). It is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit-making organization.

Mission statement
ECASARD network seeks to reinforce and enhance the effort of its member organizations in SARD activities through gender sensitive networking, capacity building and advocacy in collaboration with other stakeholders

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:
Our ultimate goal is to enhance increased food production and reduce rural poverty by promoting technologies that are economically viable, socially just and, cultural accepted and ecologically sound.

Objectives:

To enhance capacity of members to adopt participatory approaches and promote SARD technologies and income generating activities
To promote co-operation and partnership between members and other stakeholders.
To promote scaling-up of successful experience in SARD by advocacy for favorable framework conditions.
To facilitate the development of ECASARD into a democratic and decentralized organization

Membership:
Our 163 members consist of NGOs (both church and non-church) as well as well-defined CBOs (Community Based Org.) and FBO’s (Farmer Based) who wish to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development. Interested Organizations pay annual dues as follows: NGOs-Gh 20/ year, CBOs- GH 10/ year & FBOs-Gh 8/year. Application forms for membership are available at our regional officers.

ECASARD is NOT open to individuals.

ECASARD does NOT restrain its members from joining other associations or networks and will NOT substitute its programmes of activities for that of its members. It is NOT a donor agency. But may link members to donors where appropriate

ECASARD is a loose umbrella network. We do not substitute development programmes of our members which shall be done at the lowest possible level (subsidiary). We facilitate contacts and connect members, but they are responsible for further implementation.

ECASARD is an ecumenical organization providing services on the basis of social teaching of the Christian doctrines.

Fields of activities:

Encouragement for farmers establish and strengthen commodity based organizations
Promoting of food security by providing training in organic farming, introduction of off-farm activities, reduction of post-harvest- losses and other appropriate technologies
Advocacy policy making and lobbying by small scale producers
Capacity building leadership training, documentation, micro-finances

Farmers Organizations

ECASARD facilitates the building of community based civil society organizations and empowers them through development, education and leadership. This is the foundation for political, social and economic action to improve small scale farmers’ livelihoods.
Its supports and facilitates the establishment of commodity based farmers’ Organizations in the 7 regions.

Organization and Administration
Each operation region has an elected executive committee (REC) and one coordinator on voluntary basis. The NEC is elected by the bi-annual AGM and has to supervise and direct the activities of the NATIONAL SECRETARIAT in charge of implementing programmes and administration. 10 Permanent staff includes 2 programme officers and coordinator and his counterpart.

ECASARD’s National Resource Group (NRG) comprises selected members with expertise in various fields. They give advice and technical support to the National Secretariat.

Our main funding partners are 2 development organizations of German Evangelical (EED) and Catholic Churches (MISEREOR). We co-operate with governmental bodies and many national and international networks and organizations e.g. CARE int, SNV, Heifer int, GTZ, ECLOF, IFAP, and IFDC-MISTOWA. With whom we share information, resources and expertise to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development.

ECSARD BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DR R.R.P NFODJO                -          CHAIRMAN
MRS MAVIS BOAKYE          -          VICE CHAIRMAN
MR ALBERT ARTHUR           -          MEMBER
MRS COMFORT ATTAFUAH

ECASARD MANAGEMENT TEAM

DR KING DAVID AMOAH            -           NATIONAL COODINATOR
MR GEORGE KWAME OFOSU         -          PROGRAM OFFICER
MR MANU RAPHAEL AGYARKO       -          PROGRAM OFFICER
MRS MARGARET ACHEAMPONG      -         ACCOUNTANT
MS SIMIA ADAKEY SALAW               -         SECRETARY