The Women on the Rise Project is a transformative initiative addressing systemic barriers that prevent women from leadership in Ghana’s Public Service. Initiated in 2024, the project is influencing structural changes to promote gender equality, strengthen institutional commitment, and ensure sustained investment in women’s professional development in partnership with the Government of Ghana through the Office of the Head of Civil Service (OHCS) with funding support from Co-Impact.
Key Successes
Inauguration of the National Gender Diversity Taskforce
The National Gender Diversity Taskforce inaugurated on October 17, 2024 and hosted by the Office of the Head of Civil Service (OHCS) is leading institutional reforms to advocate for gender-inclusive policies, increase women’s participation within the Civil Service, monitor progress of women’s leadership in decision-making in Ghana, which is currently less than 30 percent.
The taskforce is currently chaired by the Head of Civil Service with a six(6) member composition and with representation from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection(MoGCSP), Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MoFEP), the Ministry of Health(MoH), Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Rise Women Conference (RiwoCo)
The Rise Women Conference is an annual convening championed by Emerging Public Leaders of Ghana in partnership with Co-Impact to provide a strategic platform to advance gender inclusive policy dialogue, advocate for women’s leadership and strengthen institutional collaboration in achieving Ghana’s affirmative action commitments for inclusive sustainable development.
The maiden conference was held in August, 2024 with representation from public sector organisations, such as the Civil Service of Ghana and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; Civil Society Organisations and Non-Governmental Organizations; Academia and Development Research Institutions and Partners. The 2025 conference is scheduled for August 13-14.
