I Am Aware Project (IAA)
i am aware project (IAA): strengthening citizen participation and local accountability
Empowering citizens with access to data and information to demand better better public service delivery and accountability from local and national authorities. Implemented by Simba Ghana in Karaga and Gushegu.
project overview
The I Am Aware project promotes evidence-informed citizen engagement and responsive local governance. It works with community structures and public institutions to strengthen access to information, encourage participation in district-level planning and improve accountability in education service delivery.
The project is implemented in Karaga District and Gushegu Municipality in the Northern Region, bringing together community members, youth leaders, traditional authorities, Assembly representatives and relevant public institutions.
Through research, capacity-building, stakeholder engagement and advocacy, IAA seeks to ensure that citizens are better informed, their voices are heard and public institutions become more responsive to community priorities.
Project objectives
The IAA project seeks to:
Strengthen citizens’ access to information about local development plans, budgets and public services.
Improve opportunities for young people, women and community members to participate in local decision-making.
Build the capacity of community structures and local stakeholders to promote transparency and accountability.
Strengthen monitoring and community engagement around education service delivery.
Encourage more responsive relationships between citizens and local government institutions.
project locations
The I Am Aware project is implemented in two local government areas in Northern Ghana:
Karaga District: Working with communities and local institutions to strengthen citizen participation, access to information and accountability in development planning and education.
Gushegu Municipality: Supporting community engagement, local planning processes and accountability in education service delivery.
Key Project Activities
The IAA project uses a combination of research, capacity-building, community engagement and advocacy to strengthen local accountability. Key activities include:
Community research and surveys: Gathering evidence on citizen participation, access to information and education service delivery.
Capacity-building: Training community structures, youth leaders and other stakeholders to understand their roles in promoting accountability.
Public engagement: Creating opportunities for citizens to engage Assembly members, traditional authorities and public officials.
Education monitoring: Supporting community participation in monitoring schools and engaging education authorities on service delivery challenges.
Policy dialogue and advocacy: Bringing citizens and duty-bearers together to discuss development priorities and promote responsive local governance.
Evidence and Project Results
The IAA project uses community-generated evidence to identify development challenges, strengthen public accountability and inform engagement with local authorities. Findings from project surveys in Karaga and Gushegu highlight important gaps in citizen participation and education service delivery.
Karaga: Citizen Participation and Education
Survey findings from Karaga District reveal significant gaps in citizen participation in local development planning and town hall engagement. Education monitoring also highlights improvements in teacher attendance and community participation following engagement through the District Education Oversight Committee (DEOC).
75%
of surveyed residents in Karaga expressed dissatisfaction with their participation in local development planning.
65%
of surveyed residents in Karaga reported that they had not attended a town hall meeting.
66%
reported improvement in teacher attendance following engagement through the District Education Oversight Committee (DEOC) in Karaga.
75%
reported improvement in community participation in education following engagement through the District Education Oversight Committee (DEOC) in Karaga.
Gushegu: Citizen Participation and Education
Evidence from Gushegu Municipality highlights both progress in citizen participation and continuing challenges in public accountability. Survey findings show that while many residents participate in public meetings, concerns remain about institutional responsiveness and trust in local decision-making.
63%
of surveyed residents reported attending public meetings in Gushegu Municipality.
60%
of surveyed residents expressed a lack of trust in the Assembly’s ability to make decisions in the public interest.
51%
of surveyed households in Gushegu identified teacher shortages as a challenge affecting education service delivery.
91%
of surveyed households in Gushegu reported having children enrolled in school.
Community Accountability Structures
IAA works through community-based structures and local institutions to strengthen citizen participation and promote accountability in public service delivery.
Key structures and mechanisms include:
Social Action Groups (SAGs): Mobilising community members to monitor public services, access information and engage duty-bearers.
Public Relations and Complaints Committees (PRCCs): Strengthening citizens’ understanding of information access, complaints and public accountability.
District Education Oversight Committees (DEOCs): Supporting community participation in monitoring education service delivery and engaging education authorities.
Municipal Education Oversight Committees (MEOCs): Providing platforms for stakeholders to discuss education challenges, review findings and promote corrective action.
Project Partners and Support
The I Am Aware (IAA) project is implemented by Simba Ghana, with support from CDD-Ghana and funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Through this collaboration, the project promotes evidence-informed citizen participation, stronger local accountability and improved education service delivery in Karaga and Gushegu.
IAA in Pictures
Explore moments from the IAA project’s community engagements, stakeholder meetings, capacity-building activities and education accountability initiatives across Karaga and Gushegu.
Project Updates and Resources
Explore project reports, policy briefs, research findings and updates documenting the implementation, achievements and lessons of the I Am Aware project in Karaga and Gushegu.
Explore IAA project Publications
Access publications and learning resources produced through the IAA project, including:
Community survey reports
Education monitoring reports
District Education League Table findings
Policy briefs and advocacy materials
Project learning and documentation reports
Interested in the IAA Project?
Simba Ghana welcomes engagement with citizens, development partners, civil society organisations and stakeholders interested in strengthening citizen participation, local accountability and quality education.
For enquiries about the I Am Aware project and opportunities for collaboration, please get in touch with Simba Ghana.