Meet Eric Anorrey, a proud member of ACA’s Sora Kaufman Fellowship. Born on 19th July 1987, Eric holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Development Education from the University for Development Studies and has been working with several non-profit-making organizations for about ten years, giving him a vast experience in Ghana’s civil society space.

He currently acts as the Project Manager for the Livelihood and Environment Ghana (LEG) and leads the STAR Ghana Volunteerism Project, which aims at empowering community volunteers to participate and influence the utilization of mineral revenues for sustainable development in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region of Ghana.

Besides, he provides consultancy services for Savana Signatures, a Tamale-based NGO, as a Grievance Redress Officer on a World Bank-funded project titled “Transport Sector Improvement Project (TSIP)” where he manages an online grievance redress mechanism to address human rights and all land-related issues pertaining to a road construction in the Bono East Region.

Eric is also the Founder of Global Youth Innovation Center (GYIC), a registered NGO in Ghana promoting youth development and participation in decision making and community volunteerism, and empowering youth to engage in community-driven initiatives, amplifying voices of rural vulnerable populations and fostering participation and self-help development.

Over the last decade, he has I have worked on various impactful initiatives supported by organizations such as UNICEF, USAID, OXFAM, the World Bank, Safe Abortion Action Fund, Global Greengrants, STAR-Ghana Foundation, Plan International, among others, especially those related to health, human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, education, youth and women economic empowerment improving livelihoods among vulnerable populations in deprived communities through a combination of advocacy, awareness campaigns, education, and capacity-building and training interventions.

“I work towards a just society where resources and opportunities are distributed, and the populace are recognized as the key actors in their own development rather than passive recipients of commodities and services. My community work has been guided by empathy and compassion, accountability, integrity and transparency, respect for diversity and inclusion, cultural sensitivity and self-reflection and continuous learning”, he says.

Eric has special interest in youth development that fosters skilled youth population, inclusive governance, and empowers communities and vulnerable women for decent employment and improved livelihoods that protects their human rights and dignity, as well as rural development and environmental management and sustainability.

Integrating knowledge from fellowship

According to Eric, he aspires to apply the knowledge gained from the fellowship to his community development activities and at work.

“The emphasis would be on how to use leadership and collaboration, innovative problem-solving skills, inclusive and sustainable development, community empowerment, networking, and advocacy skills.”

“With improved skills and team-building skills, I will create a more collaborative and inclusive environment for my team and community, fostering participatory decision-making and respecting varied viewpoints.”

He further says he would introduce a more innovative problem-solving strategy to empower communities to participate in and solve development challenges and promote active citizenship across communities. Focus on community-driven initiatives and sustainability by advocating for active citizen participation in local governance and development processes.

“The skills and knowledge I obtain during the fellowship will be utilized in organizing capacity building workshops for my team, other civil society organizations, and communities to help them take a more community-driven approach to development, leadership, and project management for social impact. It is my goal to promote both personal and collective growth, resulting in a more equitable and sustainable societal impact.”

Proposed plans going forward

“The Global Youth Innovation Center (GYIC) has a 5-year Strategic Plan that outlines a strategy for addressing challenges in youth skills development and livelihood initiatives for mining host communities, promoting youth volunteerism and self-help community development, environmental sustainability and climate justice, and providing access to quality health and education services, all of which contribute to the well-being and resilience of the communities we serve.”

“My leadership, sustainable development, networking, and skills in project management would be employed to help implement this five-year strategic plan. This will encourage a more innovative and collaborative team and build a dynamic team and organization to adopt community-driven and sustainable development initiatives.”

He hopes to lead his organization in implementing interventions in its strategic plan for broader social impact, advocating for and building alliances and robust community movements for communities to have a voice to participate in decision-making, and leading community interventions for long-term impact.

Congratulations, Eric! ACA welcomes you warmly to its flagship program that seeks to establish a network of African leaders and practitioners in the field of community-driven development and advocacy, the Sora Kaufman Fellowship.