ABOUT US

The Presbyterian Development and Social Services-North (PDSS-N) is a Church based Non-Governmental Organization with Registration No. DSW/9332 under the Department of Social Welfare and Company Limited by Guarantee, with Registration No. CG067922017.

VISION STATEMENT

To be Christ centered, Self-Sustaining and growing Development work

MISSION STATEMENT

To promote quality healthcare, equitable and sustainable income and food security and inclusive development in Northern Ghana through the provision of integrated rural health, agricultural initiatives and inclusive development for the core vulnerable in society.

Overall Objective

To develop and strengthen organizational structures systems and links with other institutions so as to ensure that the various social institutions(Agricultural stations, Health projects and Community Based Rehabilitation projects and other social intervention initiatives  implements core activities in a way that will achieve the espoused vision.

The Presbyterian Agricultural projects has, for more than 30 years, worked in Northern Ghana to support smallholder farmer livelihood enhancement. Over this period its strategy has evolved from focusing on improving the productivity of farmers through extension support, to facilitating access to markets for their produce. The PDSS-N is well familiar with terrain and understands the geographic dynamics of Notrthern Ghana. The PDSS-N is the development wing of the Upper Presbytery which consist of the following development entities:

  • Four Presbyterian Agricultural Stations at Sandema, Langbinsi, Garu and Tamale Mile7,
  • One Presbyterian Go Home Programme for Gambaga witches camp,
  • Two PresbyterianCommunity Based Rehabilitation (CBR) programme at Sandema, Garu, and Bolga
  • Eight Presbyterian Primary Health Care Programmes located in Bawku, Garu, Sandema, Tongo, Langbinsi, Worinyaga, Bolgatanga and Namologo
  • One Presbyterian Hospital at Bawku (Presbyterian Bawku Hospital),
  • One Presbyterian Regional Eye Centre in Bolgatanga providing specialized eye services
  • One Presbyterian Nursing Training College in Bawku.

The following project attest to the experience and expertise of the Presbyterian Development and Social Services-North:

  • The Presbyterian Agricultural Station received funding from Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) to serve as a Technical Training Service Provider in the Commercial Development of Farmer Based Organisations (FBOs) under the MiDA project to build capacities of FBOs in West Mamprusi in Northern Ghana. Below are the achievements:
    1. Facilitated FBOs better understanding of the need to work and stay as FBOs, approach farming as a profit making venture, how to mobilize funds for activities earmarked through their group action plans and how to grow as an FBO and have the opportunity to have one voice, developed business plans for 55 FBOs and linked them to Banks for support. Facilitated the value chain development of maize, rice and soya beans
    1. Successfully trained 33 producer and 5 processor groups, developed bankable business plans for 33 producer and 5 processor FBOs, and linked them to financial institutions and buyers for credit support and their products respectively. Increased the yield of farmers in rice, maize and soybeans between 30-50%
  • The Presbyterian Agricultural Stations in collaboration with the Innovations for Poverty Action implemented Graduating from Ultra Poverty project as rural development oriented programme. Increased rural household’s productivity through capacity building of MED groups and the intensification of animal traction technology, Improved incomes of farmers by offering them business development services and Strengthening the existing institutions (Credit Unions) to deliver the required financial service products to the target clientele (peasant farmers). The project supported 1,500 direct and 12,000 indirect beneficiaries with 60% being women.
  • Project Location: Northern, and Upper East Regions – East Mamprusi, Garu, Builsa, East Gonja districts including the peri-urban areas of Tamale Metro.
  • Deliverables/Outputs: At the end of the project over, 1,500 direct beneficiaries improved their crop productivity per unit acre (maize and soybean); increased small ruminants stock per households from 2-10goats and sheep; improved incomes from the sale of small ruminants and the use of bullocks to plough to other farmers; linkages between the project beneficiaries and the financial institutions strengthened and Increased adoption of good animal husbandry practices.
  • The PDSS-N implemented the Food Security and Environmental Facility (FSEF) with grants from Canadian International Development Agency through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for various food security intervention such as small ruminants.
  • The PDSS-N facilitated the implementation of the Zai technique where organic fertilizer is buried in a hole and the seed planted on the covered portion and compound mango project. The project was implemented in four districts – East Gonja and East Mamprusi Districts in the northern region and Garu and Builsa Districts in the Upper East region. The actual services provided under this project included building the capacity of beneficiaries in using ZAI method of farming and other sustainable soil management practices to increase yield of maize and vegetables, trained beneficiaries in appropriate small ruminant rearing practices, capacity building in post-harvest management practices, supporting farmers with inputs to increase productivity and building the capacity with support for communities to undertake household tree growing. Some of the remarkable results achieved on this project include:
    1. Increasing the yields of beneficiaries from an average of 3 bags per acre to about 10 bags per acre,
    2. Increase in small ruminants numbers from 2 per beneficiary to about 8 per beneficiary
    3. Reduced post-harvest loses (storage loses) from 40% to 15%
    4. Increased tree growing practices among beneficiary communities and currently some communities have started harvesting mango fruits among the trees planted and thus improving household nutrition
  • The PDSS-N are in partnership with Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in the implementation of building the capacity of rural FBO’s to enhance food security and also negotiate for good prices for their commodities.
  • The Presbyterian CBR Projects have also received funding from Christian Blind Mission (CBM) to support persons with disabilities to establish dry season organic vegetable farming in the Upper East Region. Currently 45 survival yards gardens have been established and the impact is enormous in Builsa North, Builsa South, Kassena Nankana Municipal, Kassena Nankana West District and Garu Tempane Districts in the upper East Region.
  • The Presbyterian CBR Project received funding from the Presbyterian World Services and Development (PWS&D) to support People with Disabilities, to engage in small ruminants and crop production in the Upper East Region. The Project has established a revolving small ruminants and seed production system where retrievals are made to new beneficiaries every year.
  • Agricultural Stations have over the years collaborated at different levels with Northern Rural Growth Programme in facilitating the establishment of the District Inter-Professional Bodies and the District value-chain committees.
  • The Presbyterian Development and Social Services facilitated the implementation two commodity value-chains in women’s crop (Boabab and Shea) and fruits and vegetables (Pepper, tomatoes and Onion). The PDSS-N successfully established a sustainable value chains and market linkages for producers thereby increasing the profitability and income levels of farmers. This intervention was funded by IFAD
  • The Presbyterian Development and Social Services-North, has over the years since 2015 collaborated with Global Shea Alliance in facilitating a sustainable shea initiative project with funding support from USAid. This was a matching grant project and PDSS-N contributions facilitated in building processing centres and community warehouses for women groups in Northern Ghana
  • The Presbyterian Development and Social Services-North in 2019 received funding from the French Embassy to promote shea for Environment and Biodiversity Conservation in Northern Ghana. Under this initiative a total of 200 households and 100 youth have received capacity building training in shea tree planting and processing.