Newmont introduced a 3-year business capacity development program, the Enhanced Local Procurement Program (ELPP) for local-local suppliers and contractorswithin its supply chain at the Ahafo North, Ahafo South and Akyem sites. The ELPP strategy seeks to further enhance the capacities of existing local-local contractors & suppliers and provide opportunities for new businesses to expand and become more competitive. This will in turn improve and create potential jobs and incomes for local people. The ELPP supports Newmont’s Africa Region’s socio-economic development and procurement strategy that seeks to address community development and local content challenges through enhancing the skills and capabilities of local suppliers and contractors to be more competitive while creating the enabling environment to help diversify and sustain the local economy. The ELPP was implemented in 22 communities across the 3 sites.

In respect of collaboration and implementation of the Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation Systems (CLMRS) strategies to eliminate child labour and enhance sustainable livelihoods for cocoa farming households in Ghana.The aim of this collaboration between programme was to eliminate the menace of child labour in the cocoa growing communities which includes communities within the NCBL supply chain. Kwame was the team leader in charge of implementing the CLMRS in 200 communities in two regions of Ghana, namely Ashanti and Central.

Newmont Africa intended to introduce a programme, the Enhanced Local Procurement Programme (ELPP) to support the development of the local-local supplier base at its Akyem and Ahafo sites. The proposed ELPP strategy is to further enhance the capacities of existing local-local contractors & suppliers and provide opportunities for new businesses to expand and become more competitive. This will in turn improve and create potential jobs and incomes for local people. The ELPP supports the Newmont Africa Region’s socio-economic development and procurement strategy that seeks to address community development and local content challenges through enhancing the skills and capabilities of local suppliers and contractors to be more competitive while creating the enabling environment to help diversify and sustain the local economy. In pursuance of this objective, Newmont, commissioned a study, the Local-Local Procurement Opportunity Study at their Akyem and Ahafo sites to interrogate the following objectives: a) Investigate potential local-local procurement opportunities; b) assess existing capacity gaps; and c) confirm a high-level business case for successful implementation of the proposed ELPP.

The assignment was to assess selected key household characteristics of primary caregivers under the Christ Child Development Centers (CCDC) project in selectedcommunities in the Sunyani West and Tano North districts and the Sunyani municipality of the Bono region of Ghana. The communities were Yawhima, Chiraa (Sunyani West), Wawasua (Sunyani Municipal), Duayaw Nkwanta (Tano North0. The data from the survey was used to develop complementary economic intervention proposals to Compassion Ghana.

Opportunity International’s EduFinance Education Quality program in Ghana was designed as a low cost, self-sustaining offering to client schools to help them improve the quality of education offered through their school. EduFinance Education Quality program has three main components - School Clusters, Pathways to Excellence (P2E) and School Leadership Professional Development Program (SLPD). The objective of the external assessment was to provide a baseline towards a self-assessment by the schools. The methodology includeddirect interviewing, focus group discussions, and researcher observations. Data was collected using tablet-based technology with the protocols on open data technology.A total of 219 basic schools, located in three regions of Ghana; Greater Accra, Eastern and Ashanti were surveyed. 2,917 respondents were involved in the assessment, comprising school leaders, teachers, pupils and parents.

The Opportunity International Education Finance (EduFinance) conducted a survey of schools it currently finances on its Schools Improvement Loans in Ghana through its partner, Opportunity International Savings and Loans (OISL). The research consultant was responsible for mustering, training, and supervising a team of enumerators to visit all schools in-person to collect necessary data on the schools. The survey made use of two pre-existing tablet-based survey instruments mSchool Survey, developed by Jotbi and Open Data Kit (ODK). The survey covered 200 schools spread over seven regions of Ghana.

The assignment was to facilitate Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with clients in OIUK’s DFID-funded ‘Improving Agricultural production and incomes for 10,000 smallholder farmers in Ghana and Mozambique, benefiting 50,000 people’ project for OIUK’s local partner in Ghana, Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd (OISL). Using FGDs with specific clients, the objective was to collate information to measure the set of indicators outlined in the project’s logical framework and to determine the progress of the project indicators.

Opportunity International (“Opportunity”) is an organisation that provides financial services to the poor so that they are able to work themselves out of poverty and lead lives of dignity and purpose. Founded in 1971, it works in 22 countries, providing financial products and services to almost 5 million clients. It supports local microfinance organisations that provide innovative financial solutions to empower, people, create jobs and build vibrant communities. Its mission is to provide financial solutions and training, empower people living in poverty to transform their lives, their children’s futures and their communities. Opportunity International’s local partners in Africa have supported smallholder farmers through their agricultural finance programmes. The baseline study, conducted in Ghana and Mozambique was intended to provide the programme staff with detailed baseline data on key project indicators outlined in the project log frame, to enable changes in the target beneficiaries (women and men) to be measured over the course of the project. The data collected will was qualitative and quantitative in nature, and included information gathered on the outcome indicators in the log frame. It also provided a baseline to ascertain the cost effectiveness in the implementation of the activity (value for money). The consultant was expected to modify, add and validate the indicators already identified and make suggestions on means of verification and to additionally develop relevant practical tools and approaches for on-going project monitoring and learning.

The objective of the study was to conduct research to document and analyze agricultural finance methods and practices in the Opportunity International Africa Agricultural Finance portfolio in order to generate lessons and recommendations for future guidance and operational tools that would improve social and financial performance and reduce risk. The research process involved stakeholder analysis and participatory engagement of agricultural finance managers and staff in workshops that were part training, part participatory.

The research sought to measure the impact of Opportunity International’s agricultural plot-size specific loans on the lives of farmer households in Ghana. The objective was to be able to capture changes in farmer yield/productivity changes based on the difference in loan sizes, hoping that the study would provide understanding when such differences begin to make a tangible difference in client lives. More specifically, the research was expected to produce data regarding changes in production, productivity, incomes, child education, healthcare, household assets, food security etc.Activities undertaken included literature reviews, leading field teams, data analysis and preparation of draft and final reports.

The objective of the research was to ascertain more accuratelyhow to measureimpact of Opportunity International’s Education Finance in Ghana and what indicators appropriate to measure them and also what categories/areas to observe and measure over time. The research sought to confirm that the expected categories are indeed valid categories where impact can be measured, and also to uncover hitherto unknown/unexpected ways in which education finance might impact individuals, households, and communities. The research was thus exploratory and completely open-ended. The research covered six schools in 3 regions of Ghana who had received the loans, thus varying communities by urban, rural, region, and/or school loan type. The methodology for this research was primarily qualitative—involving interviews and analyses of the narratives captured. It also adopted the iterative approach to project management.

The objective of this study was to conduct a baseline study using client surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and farmer tracking/transactional data to establish a baseline data regarding production, productivity, incomes, child education, healthcare, household assets, food security for Opportunity clients who had received agricultural plot-size specific loans and those who received the standard loans. The objective was to be able to capture baseline data for these two sets of loan clients for an impact assessment.

Under the project, Opportunity International and its partner institutions are offering comprehensive financial services to rural communities and smallholder farmers in Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Uganda. The project was jointly funded by the MasterCard Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is implemented in Ghana by Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd. The implementation started in 2009 and cost an estimated $16 million over four years. In Ghana, the research covered four regions and four municipalities/districts in Ghana, namely Techiman municipality (Brong Ahafo region), Sehwi Wiawso municipality (Western region), Amansie West district (Ashanti region) and Dangbe West (Greater Accra).The crops covered were Cocoa, Maize and Vegetables. Opportunity International, the implementing partner, wanted to implement a final learning initiative under the project. The study, a rural household impact review project, in five project countries, sought to identify economic and social changes that farmer households had experienced with the help of Opportunity’s agricultural finance services. The data from the client impact survey was to provide the donors with information towards the success and sustainability of the project. The research was successfully concluded in August 2013.

In partnership with Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd, implemented an agricultural value chain project across the Ghana which was a multi-year agricultural input credit project designed to improve the welfare of farmers through increase in productivity and incomes. The project trained cocoa farmer groups in business skills and agronomic practices, mapped beneficiary farms using GPS and mentored several hundred cocoa farmers in the Western (North), Brong Ahafo, and Ashanti regions and facilitated a total cocoa input credit totaling USD $500,000 from 2011 - 2013.

The goal of the program was to enable 1,500 farmers within the mining concession of Kinross Chirano Gold mine in Ghana double their incomes through improved market access, enhanced agricultural productivity andacquire commercial and technical skills. Objectives included developing and strengthening farmers’ marketing capacities and opportunities;increase farmers’ agricultural incomes through agricultural productivity growth;improve farmers’ access to credit for productive agricultural purposes anddevelop efficient and effective FBOs that adapt to dynamic market opportunities. Some activities included training of farmers and FBO leaders in marketing and facilitating market linkages for farmers, training farmers in basic business skills, including modules such as leadership and conflict resolution. Agronomic training using demonstration farms was implemented. Total input loans leveraged from Opportunity Savings and Loans Ltd to TAGI beneficiaries at the end of the project was US$ 300,000.00 with recovery at 95%. The average gross margin per farmer was 65% over the period. Cumulatively, cocoa yields increased by over 200% with a corresponding increase of over 190% in average incomes per hectare for the beneficiary farmers.

The objectives of the assessment were to determine the status of local suppliers after the end of the Ahafo Linkages Program, with emphasis on strengths and weaknesses, paying attention to implementation of the recommended interventions under the ALP-LSD. It was also to assess the growth or otherwise of businesses that were not mentored under the ALP and also to support the Local Contractors and Suppliers Department of the Ahafo mine of NGGL to remove non-performing businesses in their MSME database. Another objective was to make specific recommendations that, based on the results of the assessment, will provide a framework for further development of selected businesses after the closure of the ALP and as a means of further promoting the gains of the ALP.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) developed the Ahafo Linkages Program (ALP), to maximize opportunities of local SMEs within the 13 communities around the NGGL Ahafo mine and to seek ways to increase incomes through specific support for local businesses to participate in the supply chain of the mine and to seek ways of generating other income opportunities. The program had two components: • Local Supplier Development Component • Local Economic Development Component The Local Supplier Development Component (LSD) of Ahafo Linkages program was to “support the development of local businesses as potential suppliers and providers of goods and services to the mine, and ultimately to other local and foreign mining and non-mining companies in Ghana”. TechnoServe was chosen as the implementing partner of the LSD and started the program in October 2007. Specific outputs included conducting a screening exercise, business diagnostics, and development of business improvement plans and provision of technical assistance. At the end of the program 42 businesses had been successfully mentored generating total sales of US$ 12,934,453.11 and employing a total number of 137 persons and paying US$ 303,244.37, in salaries. The business accessed an amount of US$ 495,973.94 from financial institutions.

The Local Economic Development (LED) component of the ALP was to support the development of local non-mining businesses to help develop a diversified local economy outside of the mining sector by maximizing opportunities for local micro, small and medium scale enterprises. The ALP was implemented for 32 months; from October 2007 to May 2010. TechnoServe Ghana was selected as consultant to carry out the implementation of the combined Local Supplier Development (LSD) and Local Economic Development (LED) components. At the end of the program 44 businesses had been successfully mentored, generating sales of GH¢1,822,178.00 and employing a total number of 71 persons. The businesses accessed an amount of GH¢ 116,191.00 from financial institutions in the program area.

The World Food Programme (WFP) in 2003 embarked on an iodine initiative project to increase the availability and supply of iodated salt to vulnerable populations in Ghana, especially in the northern regions of Ghana. Part of the project approach was to develop and implement programs that will build the capacity of selected small and medium scale enterprises (SME’s) engaged in salt production, cottage producer groups and community-based women’s groups. Part of the project approach was to develop and implement programs that will build the capacity of selected small and medium scale enterprises (SME’s) engaged in salt production. A business capacity building program for two salt producers, the program had two components-Business Training and Technical Assistance.The business training covered modules such as Entrepreneurship, Costing and Pricing, Business Planning, Business Accounting, and Business Finance. Technical assistance covered the production areas such as preparation of production plan and production budgets, brine management, structure of the labour force and remuneration.

Objectives of the project was to promote efficient business and salt iodization practices among small, medium and cottage scale salt producers in Ghana and increase production of iodised salt by 25,000 MT per year. The overall goal was to contribute to the achievement of USI as a strategy adopted by the Government of Ghana to control/eliminate IDD by 2010 The project sought to build the capacity of the salt industry to produce and assure the quality of iodized salt by providing technical and business assistance to selected salt producers to build their capacity to produce and market 100% iodised salt. It also sought to develop and strengthen the capacity of three (3) Women’s groups in UNWFP-assisted communities in Northern Ghana to repackage and sell iodized salt in smaller, more affordable units to increase the use of iodized salt among households.

Greenhaus is a management support services firm offering specialised and tailored business management solutions to micro, small and medium enterprises in Ghana. Research proved thatthe lack of well- planned office management systems and well-designed business management solutions is a major obstacle that hinders the smooth operation and growth of companies and institutions in Ghana. The company offers services to MSMEs to enhance the running of their businesses through the adoption of proper management structures and systems. Some clients of Greenhaus Concepts included: WaterAid Ghana JCS Investment Ltd Reroy Cables Ltd Trump Construction Ltd PAD-EVA Limited Epiters Epilage Heinz Integrated Systems Ltd Global West Ltd Accounting Solutions Ltd Belmaps Ltd Joshob Trading Enterprise Thomas Security Ltd Atakora Brothers & Sons Ltd Emi GH Ltd White Westinghouse Ltd Paramount Distilleries The Methodist Church, Dansoman Circuit The Victory Bible Church, Accra All Needs Ltd SS Electricals Ltd Tri- Domino Ventures

John Murphy Ltd is a civil engineering company based in Accra. As the general manager Kwame, was responsible for the day-day management of the company, reporting to the managing director. He managed a staff strength of about 50 administrative and site workers. Kwame’s schedule also included the design of the strategic contract profiles, project mobilization, material schedules and procurement, labour recruitment and remuneration, expatriate staff schedules, accounting etc Some of the projects Kwame handled during the project were: Project Client Construction of Esiama Substation - VRA/Holec/MEM/ECG Mobil Fuel Depot - Mobil/Teberebie Mines Asawinso Substation - VRA/ECG/MEM Earthworks - Resolute Amansie Mines - Resolute Amasie/PW GH Ltd Other clients of the company were PW (Gh) Ltd, Plant Pool Ltd, Aboadze Thermal Plant, and Amansie Resources Ltd.