African Training and Research Associates
Strengthening civil society to deliver lasting impact
ATRA is a Ghana-based civil society organisation with two decades of practice in organisation development, participatory research and social behaviour change — working side by side with CSOs, public institutions and communities across Africa.
20+
Years of collective experience across the team
5
Core practice areas, from organisation development to municipal capacity building
10
Civil society organisations assessed under the STAR Ghana / WACSI Catalyst Fund
6
Recommended for transition to the Civil Society Strengthening Fund
Who we are
We build the capacity, systems and leadership that make impact last
African Training and Research Associates (ATRA) is a local civil society organisation based in Accra, Ghana, with expertise in organisation development technical support to CSOs, participatory action media research, social behaviour change, adolescent reproductive health and municipal capacity building.
Our team brings over 20 years of collective experience, having delivered assignments for USAID, PEPFAR, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and NGOs across public health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and urban development. Our approach is defined by practical “learning by doing” methodologies, tailored to each client’s needs.
What we do
Our expertise
A comprehensive range of technical support services to strengthen civil society and community-level impact.
Organisation Development & Technical Support
Capacity assessments, structural and management system strengthening, strategic planning and technical assistance to build stronger, more sustainable local CSOs and networks.
Participatory Action & Media Research
Community-based, participatory research and media approaches that generate evidence and amplify community voice to inform programming, advocacy and policy.
Social and Behaviour Change (SBC)
Design and implementation of SBC strategies and campaigns that shift knowledge, attitudes and practices at individual, community and systems levels.
Adolescent Reproductive Health
Advocacy, communication and service delivery strengthening for family planning and reproductive health programmes focused on young people.
Municipal Capacity Building
Strengthening Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in planning, budgeting and service delivery, including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) governance.
How we work
A collaborative, data-driven process
Our success is built on a process that ensures client ownership and lasting results. We operate with unwavering confidentiality, openness and honesty, grounded in the principle that you understand your organisation’s challenges best.
01
Engage
We begin with a deep dialogue to understand your project scope, and conduct site visits to validate our understanding.
02
Analyse
We provide feedback on our findings and propose a tailored approach built around your context.
03
Collaborate
We involve your key organisational members from the outset to ensure alignment and shared ownership.
04
Implement
We proceed only when there is mutual agreement on the benefits, ensuring our interventions cause no harm.
Track record
Trusted by partners across the sector
We have delivered assignments for international donors, government agencies and civil society networks across public health, WASH, urban development and governance.
JSI Research and Training Inst.
Global Communities
Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority
FHI360
African Aurora Business Network
Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana
Inclusion Ghana
Star Ghana
City of London Business College
Ready to strengthen your organisation?
Tell us about your scope. Every engagement begins with a deep dialogue to understand what you need — and ends only when all stakeholders are satisfied.