Evaluation of training staff through rights-based approach: A case of Action Aid Ghana

Abstract

Good governance is a preferred system of claiming and legitimising rights that can be boosted through effective citizen-state engagement. The state often holds and controls the bulk of public resources and governments must formulate policies and decisions for distribution of such resources to ensure sustainability. While governments are built and held in power by ordinary people, their authority and decision-making mandate often put them in categories above those of ordinary persons. The new approach to rural development entreats development agencies to assist target populations to demand their rights from duty-bearers. One critical area in this direction is the depth of knowledge of employees of organisations that attempt to initiate Rights-Based Approach (RBA). This study was therefore meant to evaluate training programmes for employees of ActionAid Ghana (AAG) in RBA. A descriptive survey approach was employed for the study. Participants for the survey were employees of AAG, Community-based Organisations (CBOs) and assembly members with a total of 50 respondents. The findings from the study showed that majority of respondents had an appreciable level of knowledge in RBA. Employees of AAG and their collaborators in the CBOs found that the input of RBA on development of communities in which they were engaged was high. However, collaboration between government agencies and organisations promoting RBA was not seen to be good. Heads of some state agencies felt they were being exposed by RBA. It is recommended that all stakeholders are properly trained in RBA to help accelerate community development.