BRACE Story
Communities have a right to have a say in decisions about the land, forests, water and natural resources on which their lives depend. But across Ghana's extractive landscapes, communities continue to face loss of land and livelihoods, environmental degradation, pollution, inadequate compensation and limited opportunities to influence decisions that affect them.
BRACE was created to help change this.
The Building Resilient and Active Communities in Extractive Landscapes in Ghana (BRACE) project works to strengthen communities and local stakeholders to understand and defend their environmental rights, access justice, engage duty bearers and participate meaningfully in natural resource governance.
Our Goal
To contribute to sustainable and equitable environmental management and good natural resource governance by communities, government and private extractive sector actors in Ghana.
What We Do
Empower communities — Building the knowledge and capacity communities need to document violations, advocate for their rights and demand accountability.
Connect people to justice — Supporting Community Paralegals, legal practitioners, Community-based Courtroom Advocacy and the Legal Access Fund to make legal redress more accessible.
Influence policy and practice — Using evidence, advocacy, media and stakeholder engagement to promote stronger environmental rights and accountable natural resource governance.
Strengthen local governance — Supporting CREMAs and communities to strengthen local environmental protection and sustainable natural resource management.
Advocacy That Leads to Change
BRACE contributed to civil society advocacy calling for the repeal of LI 2462, which had created a framework for mining in Ghana's forest reserves. The regulation was subsequently repealed — a significant milestone for forest protection and an important example of the power of sustained advocacy for stronger environmental governance.
Where We Work
Eastern | Ashanti | Western North | Western | Ahafo
Through this work, BRACE seeks to build resilient, informed and active communities that can participate in decisions affecting their natural resources, demand accountability and seek justice when their rights are violated.
Project duration: 3 years
Funded by: European Union
Lead: A Rocha Ghana
Partners: Nature Development Foundation | Wacam
Learn More
See how BRACE puts this work into practice across Ghana's mining-affected communities.