Stepping Stones for Africa Foundation

This Strategy Report is also available as pdf:
→ Strategy Report 2024-2027

This Strategy Report highlights Stepping Stones for Africa’s focus for 2024-2027. Building on years of collaboration, we’re proud to continue working closely with our partner communities in Ghana, supporting them as they pursue their unique development goals.

Our approach is centred on community-driven initiatives in eco-tourism, entrepreneurship, healthcare, sanitation, environmental sustainability, and education. Looking forward, our aim is to empower communities to build resilience, strengthen their projects, and foster partnerships that inspire lasting. Caring for the environment is a guiding principle in everything we do.

About us

Stepping Stones for Africa (SSFA) is a charity focused on grassroots development across Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Working hand in hand with local communities, we support them in reaching their development goals and enhancing living conditions. Established as a foundation in the Netherlands in 2006, SSFA has been a consistent partner to community- based associations across West Africa. In 2016, we took an important step by registering as an NGO in Ghana, which allowed us to work more effectively within local administrative structures and receive local donations, further strengthening our impact.

At SSFA, our connections in West Africa run deep, built on years of collaboration, travel, and engagement with local communities. Many of our board members and partners have over 15 years of experience working in development and tourism throughout the region, establishing trusted relationships that are central to our work. Our founders, Cindy Noordermeer and Remco Kalf, have nurtured these connections since 2006. Cindy, along with her husband Apollo Panou, also founded Jolinaiko Travel — an established Ghanaian tour operator since 2001—sharing SSFA’s values of sustainable development and community empowerment.

Our Vision and Mission

In West Africa, many communities face big challenges like limited access to healthcare, clean water, and sustainable income opportunities. Although these communities are often well-organized socially, they may lack the resources needed to create lasting change on their own. Our vision is to empower communities to lead their own development, building small-scale projects that are initiated and sustained by the communities themselves rather than imposed from the outside. Through capacity building, SSFA seeks to support these community-led initiatives and help them succeed.

Our mission is to provide essential “stepping stones”—from guidance and expertise to inspiration and funding—for grassroots projects across West Africa. Using participatory approaches, we empower communities to take charge of their development, creating meaningful improvements in quality of life while honouring and protecting the environment.

By partnering closely with local communities and pooling resources with Jolinaiko Travel, we extend our reach and impact. While Jolinaiko Travel is a commercial enterprise driven by shared values, SSFA operates independently as a non-commercial NGO with its own board and decision-making authority. Together, we combine our expertise, networks, and resources to amplify our impact while preserving the independence necessary to pursue the community development initiatives supported by external funding, including tourists.

Our Why & How

Stepping Stones for Africa shares the same core purpose, or “Why” as Jolinaiko Travel and its founders:

“To create opportunities for people and communities to reach their full potential, inspiring them to thrive in life and improve the lives of others.”

Beyond this shared purpose, Stepping Stones for Africa and Jolinaiko Travel are guided by an important principle:

“A belief in the power of responsible, community-based tourism as a means to create opportunities, enrich lives, and promote environmental sustainability.”

Our Approach

Stepping Stones for Africa (SSFA) is committed to empowering local communities to lead their own development. We focus on areas such as eco-tourism, entrepreneurship, healthcare, sanitation, environmental stewardship, and education, all while acknowledging the growing impact of climate change, which threatens livelihoods, agriculture, and biodiversity.

Our mission is to offer “stepping stones” for sustainable development. By leveraging our network’s expertise, coordinating fundraising efforts, and providing technical and organisational support, we guide communities through each stage of growth. This approach helps ensure that development is not only achievable but also sustainable.

At SSFA, we use a community participatory approach, focusing on engaging women and youth. We assist communities in identifying their most important areas for action. Through partnerships, we strengthen local efforts by bringing in external resources and expertise and creating market opportunities that help ensure the long-term sustainability of our projects.

Building Authentic Community Partnerships through Tourism

Over the years, SSFA has organically evolved into a unique and authentic NGO, grounded in powerful partnerships. At the heart of our work is a collaboration between tourism (through Jolinaiko Eco Tours and its lodges), the communities we serve, and Stepping Stones. This “wheel” of connection has allowed us to cultivate strong, trusting relationships with the communities we work with, forming the foundation of our success.

Tourism generates employment, creates revenue and pathways for development, and instils a sense of pride among community members. When tourism directly benefits people, it motivates them to take ownership of their communities and engage in discussions on how to make improvements.

By developing tourism initiatives that benefit tourists, operators, and communities alike, SSFA aims to promote broader community development. The exposure that comes from tourism helps attract funding and expertise, creating a mutually beneficial cycle that supports larger development goals.

Our strategy uses this unique model to sustainably uplift communities, positioning tourism not only as a driver of economic benefits but also as a catalyst for change in these communities. The achievements in Atsiekpoe and Liati Wote are a perfect example of this.

Our Partner Communities

Since 2015, our focus has mainly been on two communities: Atsiekpoe in the North-Tongu District of the Volta Region, and Liati Wote in the Afadjato-South District of the Volta Region.

We are committed to long-term collaboration to enable the process of change. In this strategy for 2024-2027, our focus remains on these two communities. In the following two paragraphs, we will take you through our history and achievements that form the foundation for this renewed strategic plan.

Our Journey with Liati Wote: Tourism as a Path to Sustainability and Opportunity

Liati Wote has been a vibrant ecotourism destination since the 1990s, generating income and opportunities through tourism. Our partnership began in 2005 when Jolinaiko included Liati Wote in its itineraries, establishing itself as a dependable tourism partner for the community.

This collaboration took a significant leap forward with the establishment of Tagbo Falls Lodge, which boosted tourism, created jobs, and strengthened the local economy. Early on, small-scale community development projects laid the foundation for what has grown into a strong and impactful partnership.

In 2017, we collaborated with the community to create a roadmap for addressing their most pressing challenges. With the involvement of SSFA, we facilitated discussions and used various tools to identify key priorities and future aspirations: What should tourism look like in the years to come? How could this collaboration contribute to a better future for Liati Wote?

Through dialogue and a unifying process, the community prioritised environmental protection, tourism development, youth employment, and combating deforestation as the pillars of their development goals. Together, we launched the first steps of a waste value chain, starting with a waste recovery project to safeguard the environment around Mount Afadjato and Tagbo Falls. We recovered and upcycled plastic waste created by the tourism under the Clean and Green Project.

These grassroots efforts attracted external support. In 2021, the French Embassy’s PISCCA grant enabled SSFA and the community to create ‘The Green and Clean Hub’. The Clean and Green Hub is a community-led initiative designed to promote biodiversity, tackle waste management issues, and create employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, especially for women and youth. The Hub comprises three purpose-built facilities:

• Workshop: Focuses on waste management and processing plastics into valuable products.
• Shop: This store displays upcycled goods and local art branded as Nuku Arts, including sustainable souvenirs such as wood carvings and paintings.
• Awareness Center: Provides interactive learning experiences for school children, promoting environmental conservation and protection.

These buildings were completed in 2023, forming the foundation for a thriving community-run organisation were we continue to focus on in 2024-2027.

Our Journey with Atsiekpoe: Grassroots Tourism Leading to Community Health Solutions

In 2005, we began building tourism from the grassroots level in Atsiekpoe, a remote and secluded village. Collaborating with the community, we developed basic village-stay facilities, including The Cashew Village Lodge, and laid the foundation for community tourism through guiding skills training, activity development, and the creation of a small reception area and museum.

The community quickly became a key destination for Jolinaiko tours, with tourism acting as a generator of funds for community development. This, combined with local fundraising initiatives such as the development festival with auctions, clan levies, and the operation of a community ferry-boat, showed great potential. These efforts helped the community reach significant milestones, including establishing household latrines and toilet facilities for the Methodist Primary and Junior High Schools.

Unlike Liati Wote, Atsiekpoe wasn’t an established community tourism destination and lacked support from major development partners. This made SSFA an essential ally during these formative years, helping turn aspirations into achievements.

From 2015 to 2023, our development efforts reached new heights. In 2015, we partnered with the community to identify their most pressing needs. After extensive dialogue, the community prioritised healthcare delivery as their greatest need. With the support of health delivery stakeholders, we assisted with local and international fundraising efforts and project management to build a primary healthcare clinic.

The clinic was completed, furnished, and officially handed over to Ghana Health Services (GHS) in November 2022. Since January 2023, it has been successfully operating as an accredited CHPS (Community Health Planning and Services) centre, staffed with a dedicated team of nurses. The clinic now serves Atsiekpoe and nine surrounding communities in the Vome Electoral Area.

In an effort to address water challenges, we partnered with Project Maji to install a solar- powered river water filtration system, providing the clinic and the wider community with clean drinking water.

While these accomplishments demonstrate the power of grassroots tourism development, October 2023 brought a tragic setback. A major Volta Dam spill caused widespread flooding and destruction in Atsiekpoe and neighbouring riverbank communities. Sadly, The Cashew Village Lodge, a cornerstone of our tourism efforts, was completely destroyed. The lodge had become a beloved hub for hosting day and overnight guests, and its loss is a significant blow to the community’s tourism potential.

Despite this, our journey with Atsiekpoe continues as we focus on advancing ongoing development projects in primary health care delivery, portable water supply and community tourism development (See focus 2024-2027).

Our Operating Partners

Jolinaiko Travel

Jolinaiko Travel is a tour operator established in 2001^*, specializing in creating memorable travel experiences across West Africa for over two decades. However, Jolinaiko sees itself as much more than just a tour operator. Their expertise lies in fostering authentic, respectful, and inspiring exchanges through consciously and responsibly organized trips. These experiences aim to minimize environmental impact while creating opportunities for people to improve their lives.

^* Jolinaiko will change its name from Jolinaiko Eco Tours to Jolinaiko Travel in March 2025.

Jolinaiko’s core mission is clear:

“Creating opportunities for people to grow into their full potential, inspiring them to prosper in life and improve the lives of others.”

Jolinaiko Eco Tours partners with SSFA because many of their travellers are keen to share their expertise, support projects, and assist with fundraising or donations. To ensure transparency and objectivity, SSFA facilitates these contributions by acting as an independent intermediary. Additionally, some community initiatives require SSFA to independently apply for assistance, ensuring broader support for local development. On a practical level, Jolinaiko often supports SSFA with transport, overheads, and other operational needs, demonstrating their commitment to the success of these initiatives.

Tagbo Falls Lodge

Tagbo Falls Lodge, founded by the same visionary team behind Jolinaiko Eco Tours, is a serene retreat nestled in one of Ghana’s most breathtaking natural areas. It offers a space for relaxation, connection, and inspiration while embracing responsible tourism practices that minimize environmental impact and foster community development and personal growth.

The lodge operates under a clear and consistent guiding principle:

“Creating opportunities for people to grow into their full potential, inspiring them to prosper in life and improve the lives of others.”

By collaborating with Jolinaiko Eco Tours, Tagbo Falls Lodge ensures a steady flow of travellers, creating exposure for our community-driven development and entrepreneurial initiatives in Liati Wote. Whether through sharing expertise, supporting development initiatives, or contributing to fundraising efforts, the lodge facilitates impactful exchanges.

Together, Stepping Stones for Africa, Jolinaiko Eco Tours and Tagbo Falls Lodge form a partnership rooted in shared values of sustainability, empowerment, and meaningful connections. Their collaboration with SSFA ensures that every contribution—whether through expertise, time, or resources—translates into measurable benefits for the communities they serve.

Other Key Stakeholders

Ghana Health Service (GHS)

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is a stakeholder in ensuring the success of Atsiekpoe’s Clinic. Established in 1996 under the Ministry of Health, GHS is dedicated to providing equitable access to healthcare through disease prevention, health promotion, and Universal Health Coverage.

Our partnership with GHS has been instrumental in the successful operation of the Atsiekpoe CHO Clinic. Since the clinic’s handover in 2022, GHS has taken responsibility for care delivery, staff management, licensing, and accreditation. They also provide ongoing training and oversight, ensuring that the clinic serves not only Atsiekpoe but also eight neighbouring communities with professional and reliable healthcare services. This partnership highlights the importance of collaboration in delivering reliable healthcare and supporting community development.

Project Maji

Our partnership with Project Maji has brought sustainable access to clean drinking water to Atsiekpoe and its surrounding communities. Project Maji’s innovative, solar-powered water filtration system and kiosk have transformed water access in Atsiekpoe and Vome, addressing long-standing health challenges tied to unsafe drinking water.

Beyond technology, Project Maji engages with the community to promote effective water management and resilience. Their commitment to expanding their impact in the area ensures the long-term benefits of safe drinking water for residents.

This collaboration aligns seamlessly with our mission at Stepping Stones for Africa to implement initiatives that elevate the quality of life while ensuring community ownership and sustainability. Our strong ties with communities, built through tourism initiatives, provide Project Maji with a solid foundation of collaboration and trust within these communities to establish and expand their water programs effectively.

Strategy 2024 – 2027

Our aim for the near future is to focus solely on our two partner communities and assist them in achieving their broader development goals, which were previously identified through our participatory approach. Furthermore, we commit to rebuilding and growing their potential as eco-tourism destinations.

Objectives for the Next 4 Years

1. Scaling up community development initiatives: We aim to support our partner communities in advancing the initiatives formulated and launched during the first project cycle. Our goal is to help them achieve their broader community development objectives by scaling up these efforts.
2. Advancing tourism opportunities and infrastructure: We will mobilize and guide communities to identify, develop, and enhance local tourist attractions. This includes supporting the development of the necessary infrastructure and organizational capacity to ensure tourism becomes a sustainable driver of growth.
3. Fostering social entrepreneurship for resilience: Recognizing the need for diversified income streams, we will help communities identify and develop social entrepreneurship opportunities. This effort includes creating the infrastructure and systems necessary to complement eco-tourism, build resilience, and foster sustainable livelihoods.
4. Building strategic partnerships: By facilitating connections with organizations and institutions, we aim to secure additional resources, expertise, and support. These partnerships will help communities accelerate progress toward their development objectives.
5. Advocating for environmental and biodiversity preservation: We will support advocacy and educational initiatives focused on preserving the environment and biodiversity, emphasizing sustainable practices as key to ecological health and long-term community development.

Strategy

At the heart of our strategy lies a structured project cycle designed specifically for community development initiatives. This approach ensures that our efforts address immediate challenges while contributing to the long-term goals of the communities we serve. By adopting a dynamic framework, we maximize impact, foster resilience, and promote sustainable development.

Key Elements of Our Strategy (2024–2027)

1. Collaborative eco-tourism development: All eco-touristic activities are developed in collaboration with our tourism partners and our expert partner in the region. This partnership ensures:
   • Identification of promising destinations and experiences.
   • Sustainable, cost-efficient, and innovative development.
   • A consistent stream of tourists to the communities.
   • Access to established marketing channels.
2. Community-development project cycle: Each initiative follows the SSFA community development project cycle (Fig. 1). This ensures:
   • Communities actively participate as equal partners in decision-making.
   • Projects are tailored to local needs and aspirations.
   • Community ownership is fostered, leading to lasting impact.
3. Participatory rural appraisal (PRA): Using PRA methods, we facilitate a process where communities identify the most urgent areas for development and intervention. PRA ensures inclusivity by:
   • Involving diverse community voices, regardless of age or gender.
   • Using visual tools like pictures and symbols for effective communication.
   • Empowering communities to design and plan initiatives that address their unique challenges.
4. Monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive Learning: Every project includes tailored
   monitoring and evaluation measures, depending on its scope and design. This process ensures accountability, tracks progress and enables adjustments for optimal outcomes.
5. Commitment to continuous learning: As a learning organization, we embrace a culture of reflection and adaptation. By regularly monitoring, evaluating, and discussing outcomes with stakeholders, we build on successes and refine our approach for future projects.

Financing Strategy

The funding model for our projects is designed to maximize efficiency, leverage local resources, and ensure sustainability. It relies on partnerships, community contributions, and external funding, structured as follows:

1. Support from Jolinaiko Travel:
   • Operational Efficiency: Jolinaiko Travel provides office space, utilities (internet, electricity, etc.), and contributes to the salary of a part-time Operations Manager for day-to-day activities.
   • Project Kickstart: The initial phases of the project cycle (identification, prioritization, planning, and design) are funded by Jolinaiko Travel, ensuring cost-effective development in tourism destinations.
2. Volunteer contributions and community support:
   • SSFA board members serve on a voluntary basis.
   • Partner communities support projects by hosting events and meetings where possible, reducing administrative costs.
3. External funding and grants:
   • Funding is secured through digital fundraising (social media campaigns and crowdfunding).
   • Proposals are submitted to sector-specific calls to access grants from development agencies and organizations.
   • These funds are allocated solely for direct project costs, including implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
4. Community contributions:
   • Partner communities contribute significantly to project costs, either in cash or kind.
   • These contributions are raised from eco-tourism revenues or local initiatives, ensuring local ownership and commitment.
5. Local fundraising initiatives:
   • Communities are assisted in raising at least 25% of the project budget locally through activities such as festivals, proposal writing to local government bodies, corporate sponsorships, and engagement with local NGOs and philanthropists.
6.  SSFA and external partners:
   • The remaining 75% of the project budget is raised through crowdfunding campaigns and applications to (inter)national development agencies and other external funding mechanisms.

This multi-faceted financing approach ensures not only financial sustainability but also the active participation of all stakeholders, fostering accountability, ownership, and long-term impact.

Focus for Atsiekpoe-Bator (2024-2027)

SSFA has successfully completed the first project cycle in Atsiekpoe, culminating in the establishment of a clinic for primary health care. This achievement represents a significant milestone toward the ultimate goal of creating a fully operational basic health care facility under the Community-Based Health Planning Service (CHPS) approach. Through partnership with the local government, this initiative is set to greatly enhance primary health care services for Atsiekpoe and its surrounding communities.

Objectives for Atsiekpoe (2025-2027)

1. Establishing a Nursing Bungalow: The construction of a nursing bungalow on the clinic premises will enable the community to host nurses and midwives, ensuring access to 24/7 medical care.
2. Achieving CHPS Model Milestones: SSFA will assist the GHS and the local management team to meet all milestones outlined in the National Implementation Guide for CHPS, aiming to establish Atsiekpoe as a model CHPS facility in the North Tongu District.
3. Reviving Tourism Infrastructure: To restore tourism as a vital income stream for community development, SSFA is focused on:
   • Training tour guides.
   • Developing engaging tourist activities.
   • Constructing small-scale infrastructure to meet current tourism demands.
4. Rebuilding Community Tourism Accommodation: After severe flooding caused significant damage, efforts are underway to rebuild the Cashew Village Lodge and other community tourism accommodations. This will allow the community to host tourists again, ensuring a sustainable source of income.

Together, these initiatives reflect SSFA’s commitment to enhancing health, livelihoods, and community resilience in Atsiekpoe.

Focus for Liati Wote (2024-2027)

The Clean and Green Hub is a community-led initiative designed to promote biodiversity, tackle waste management issues, and create employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, especially for women and youth. The Hub comprises three purpose-built facilities:

• Workshop: Focuses on waste management and processing plastics into valuable products.
• Shop: This store displays upcycled goods and local art branded as Nuku Arts, including sustainable souvenirs such as wood carvings and paintings.
• Awareness Center: Provides interactive learning experiences for school children, promoting environmental conservation and protection.

These buildings were completed in 2023, forming the foundation for a thriving community-run organisation.

Objectives for Liati Wote (2025-2027)

1. Establish independence:
   • Transition the Green and Clean Hub into a fully independent and self-
     sustaining organization managed and operated by the community.
   • Boost sales of upcycled products and local art to provide consistent income for at least five women and five artists, enhancing economic empowerment.
   • Incorporate small initiatives and entrepreneurial social businesses to diversify income streams for the Hub.
   • Develop the Hub into a tourism attraction, catering to individual tourists, school groups, and offering amenities like a campsite.
   • Secure funding to sustain environmental education and skills training programs.
2. Upgrade technical skills training:
   • Expand training programs in areas such as IT, sustainable farming, and waste upcycling.
   • Design and implement innovative courses that combine technical and practical skills to empower community members and enhance employment opportunities
3. Create a long-term roadmap:
   • Collaborate with partners to formulate a strategic roadmap addressing sustainable land use, eco-tourism development, conservation efforts, farming practices, and deforestation management.
4. Complete the waste value chain:
   • Strengthen waste management by streamlining processes to collect, sort, and upcycle waste into marketable products.
   • Explore sustainable waste disposal methods for materials that cannot be
     upcycled.
5. Address the growing concern of portable drinking water:
   • Partner with Project Maji or other drinking water providers to define and finance solutions for the lack of portable drinking water, which is hampering community health.

These objectives aim to position the Green and Clean Hub as a model for sustainable community-driven development.

Emergency fund for community-tourism destinations

Furthermore, SSFA will continue providing emergency assistance for community or eco- tourism activities as needed, driven primarily by requests from our partner, Jolinaiko Travel (and its travellers or local community partners), or in response to critical situations such as fires, flooding, or other disasters impacting local communities. For example, we have supported the northern community in Katimenga by supplying water through borehole drilling and repairing their dam, which is essential for agricultural activities during the dry season.