—-Reinforcing Commitment To Locally Led Development And Systems Change
The West Africa Civil Society Institute
(WACSI) has officially signed the Global Partnerships Compact at the Global
Partnerships Conference held in London.
The Global Partnerships Conference was co-hosted on Wednesday 20 May 2026 by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the Republic of South Africa, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and British International Investment (BII).
The signing reflects WACSI’s continued commitment to strengthening locally led
development, systems change, and more equitable global development partnerships.
WACSI was represented at the signing by its Executive Director, Dr. Nana Afadzinu, and
the Head of Capacity Development, Charles Kojo Vandyck. They joined global leaders
and institutions from governments, civil society, development finance institutions,
philanthropy, academia, the private sector, and the technology sector.
The Compact is an initiative led by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Office (FCDO). It provides a shared framework for improving international cooperation at a time when global development systems are facing increasing pressure.
Around the world, countries continue to struggle with climate shocks, economic instability, rising inequality, debt challenges, and shrinking fiscal space, while progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals remains uneven.
Also signing the Compact, was the STAR-Ghana Foundation, represented by its Executive Director, Ibrahim Tanko. WACSI and STAR-Ghana Foundation currently working together as co-implementing partners of the Shifting the Power Programme in Ghana, a major initiative supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Comic Relief.
At the centre of the Compact is a growing recognition that many global development
systems were designed for a different time and now need to evolve. The document
highlights that today’s global challenges require more inclusive, coordinated, and flexible partnerships that place countries and communities at the centre of decision-
making.
WACSI noted that the Compact reflects an important moment for global development
reform, while also calling for stronger follow-through. “The Global Compact is an
indication to transform an international development system that is no longer fit for
purpose and is welcome. The intent is good but for WACSI we will expect it to move from intent and rhetoric into real action. We have talked enough about transforming the system. We know what to do. Let’s invest in it and do it,” the organisation stated.
The Compact strongly emphasises that development should be country-led and
community-driven. Rather than externally imposed solutions, international partners
are encouraged to support locally defined priorities and strengthen local systems and
institutions.
The agreement also recognises that no single organisation or country can solve today’s development challenges alone. It calls for stronger and more respectful partnerships that connect governments, civil society, communities, philanthropy, business, and other actors around shared goals.
For WACSI, the signing of the Compact aligns closely with its 2023–2027 Strategic Plan,
which places locally led development and systems change at the centre of its work
across West Africa. Through this strategy, WACSI continues to advance the shift of
power to local actors, strengthen institutional resilience, and support sustainable,
community driven development ecosystems.
Reaffirming WACSI’s commitment to this agenda, Dr. Afadzinu noted that the Global Partnerships Compact represents an important opportunity to transform an international development system that is widely acknowledged as no longer fit for
purpose.
“The intent is good, but for WACSI we will expect it to move from intent and rhetoric
into real action. We have talked enough about transforming the system. We know what
to do. Let’s invest in it and do it,” she said.
The Compact focuses on three key areas.
The first is financing for sustainable development and resilience. This includes encouraging countries to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation while also using development assistance, private investment, and philanthropy in ways that reduce dependency and support long-term resilience.
The second area focuses on knowledge, innovation, and digital transformation. The
Compact calls for stronger local innovation systems, responsible use of technology,
better data governance, and efforts to address risks such as exclusion, misinformation, and bias within digital systems.
The third area focuses on building more equitable partnerships. This includes reducing
fragmentation in the development sector, strengthening accountability, and ensuring
that resources and decision-making are closer to the communities they are intended
to serve.
Importantly, the Compact is designed as a living framework. Signatories are encouraged to make practical commitments over time, contribute to shared learning, and strengthen transparency and accountability across the partnership ecosystem.
For WACSI, the signing of the Compact is more than a symbolic moment. It reflects a
broader shift within international development towards recognising that sustainable
change is most effective when local institutions, communities, and leaders are trusted,
resourced, and empowered to shape their own development futures.
