Community-led conservation

of migratory birds and biodiversity

The Development Institute (The DI) is a Ghanaian non-governmental, not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering civil society organizations and communities while strengthening linkages between grassroots and national development processes across Africa. Guided by her mission to support communities to address development challenges with commitment to social stability and environmental stewardship.

The DI envisions a secure and just world where individuals and communities can realize their full potential. Its work is grounded in a community-centered development philosophy that promotes collective vision, local capacity building, and transformative action.

OUR VALUES

Sustainable Livelihoods based on eco cultural values

Inclusive Restoration and conservation

Environmental education

OUR VALUES

Sustainable Livelihoods based on eco cultural values

Inclusive Restoration and conservation

Environmental education

Conservation succeeds not by enforcement alone but by awakening care of communities. Through the Community Resource Management Areas (CREMA) mechanism, communities once on the margins of protection efforts are becoming the strongest defenders of migratory birds and the fragile ecosystems they call home.

By Ken Kinney, Executive Director, The Development Institute(The DI)

The DI implements integrated programs across human, environmental and economic securities, reinforced by policy research, advocacy and strategic partnerships. Its interventions include natural resource conflict transformation, inclusive governance, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, sustainable local economy: – enterprise development and financial literacy through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs). With over 20 years of institutional experience, The DI collaborates with national and international partners, government institutions and global networks and has accreditation to UN ECOSOC, UNEA and the GEF NGO Network, working with local authorities, traditional leaders, civil society groups, farmers, fishers and youth and women groups to advance sustainable and inclusive development in Ghana and beyond.
The DI and Otter Fonds have maintained a collaborative win-win partnership for “Nature and People” since November 2024 to promote community-led conservation of migratory birds and biodiversity in Ghana’s Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site (AKLCRS). This strategic alliance between a Ghanaian sustainable development organization and a Netherlands-based conservation foundation aims to strengthen local resource governance, protect biodiversity and enhance sustainable local economy in coastal communities. Now entering its second phase, the partnership builds on early successes to further deepen community engagement, stewardship and conservation impact.

About The Development Institute

The Development Institute, incorporated in December 2003, is an African Ghana based non-government, not-for profit development organization with the goal of empowering individuals, organization and communities to facilitate the linkage between micro and macro levels of society for sustainable development. The DI emerged out of the passion to contribute to Sustainable Human and Environmental Security in Ghana and Africa in general. This passion has been identified as the pre-requisite for sustainable development and confirmed by Development Practitioners in the preparatory forum towards the participation of Civil Society groups in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (commonly referred to as Rio+10), in Johannesburg South Africa in August, 2002.

www.thedevin.org