The Centre for Climate Change and Food Security (CCCFS) says it has operated for more than a decade without external funding, relying on volunteers and in-kind contributions to continue its work on climate change, food security and environmental protection.
The organisation made the remarks while welcoming a new group of volunteers during a virtual orientation introducing them to its programmes and expectations.
Speaking during the event, the Executive Director, Engr Mahmud Mohammed-Nurudeen, said the organisation’s survival had depended more on people’s commitment than financial resources.
“Our greatest asset has never been money,” he said. “It has always been people who are willing to serve. When people are committed to a cause, they become the engine that drives change.”
Founded in 2015 and operates across the country and beyond, CCCFS is an independent non-profit organisation that works through a nationwide volunteer network. Its work focuses on climate action and clean energy, food security and sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, research and policy engagement, and community empowerment.
According to the organisation, it combines scientific research, community-based interventions, policy advocacy and climate journalism to address environmental and development challenges. Its programmes include climate-smart agriculture, ecosystem restoration, renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, early warning systems and public education.
CCCFS also runs two non-profit journalism initiatives — West African Journalists for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (WAJESHA) and Ghana Journalists for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (GJESHA). The platforms train and mentor journalists, promote collaborative and data-driven reporting, and connect media professionals with scientists and researchers to improve reporting on climate change, the environment, science, health, agriculture and food security.
The organisation says it has undertaken large-scale research across the country on climate-induced migration, the impact of climate change on traders’ livelihoods and tree-cutting practices. One of its studies on tree cutting involved more than 1,200 respondents. It says the findings have informed community interventions and policy engagement.
Among its community programmes are tree planting and ecosystem restoration, climate-smart agriculture, safe agrochemical disposal initiatives and training for farmers, health workers, teachers and religious leaders to interpret weather forecasts and early warning information.
During the orientation, volunteers received briefings on the organisation’s work before taking part in a question-and-answer session.
One volunteer, Doris Owusuaa, asked how the organisation had continued operating without external funding.
Engr Mohammed-Nurudeen said the absence of funding had never been allowed to halt its work. “If people need help today, we cannot tell them to wait because we have not received funding,” he said. “Climate change does not wait. Food insecurity does not wait. Public health does not wait. Environment degradation and pollution do not wait. Communities cannot wait.”
He said the organisation had previously come close to securing support from a development partner. “They told us they were impressed by our work and by the fact that members and volunteers were sustaining the organisation through in-kind contributions,” he said. “However, they said they could not support us because we had never received external funding before.”
He said the experience strengthened rather than discouraged the organisation. “Helping people comes with benefits that are not always measured in money,” he said. “Nature has its own way of rewarding genuine service. Even if CCCFS does not receive funding for the next 200 years, our work will continue because our mission is bigger than funding.”
Another volunteer, Ibrahim Dawuni, asked how responsibilities would be assigned after the orientation. Engr Mohammed-Nurudeen said volunteers would be deployed according to their skills, interests and level of commitment.
“Some projects require teams, while others require individuals with specialised expertise,” he said. “Your responsibilities will therefore be based on where you can make the greatest contribution.”
CCCFS’s Communications and Advocacy Officer, Mariam Musah, encouraged the volunteers to commit themselves to the organisation’s work.
“We are building something that goes beyond ourselves,” she said. “Give your time, your knowledge and your skills wholeheartedly. Every effort you make helps CCCFS reach another community and change another life.”
Volunteers also introduced themselves and explained how they hoped to contribute through research, advocacy, communication and community engagement. Abdul Rahim Mahmud, Ahmed Muzamil, Israel Ayamnoya Akaburira, Fasila Alhassan, Doris Owusuaa and Ibrahim Dawuni shared their academic and professional backgrounds and expressed their willingness to support CCCFS’s programmes through research, advocacy, communication and community engagement.
Engr Mohammed-Nurudeen outlined expectations, including professionalism, integrity, teamwork, accountability, confidentiality and respect for diversity. Volunteers were encouraged to meet deadlines, participate actively in programmes and submit periodic reports. According to the organisation, committed volunteers will receive mentorship, practical experience, networking opportunities and, where appropriate, recommendation letters and certificates.
Engr Mohammed-Nurudeen urged the volunteers to focus on service. “The impact you make in someone’s life may never make headlines,” he said. “But it will matter to the people whose lives you touch.”
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