Hajia Alima Encourages Students to Learn about SBGV as part of Empowerment

Executive Director for SWIDA Ghana, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, has emphasized the importance of understanding and combating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), especially for the safety and well-being of girls.

She said this when she delivered a message to over 400 fresh students of the Agriculture Faculty at the University for Development Studies (UDS), in a session aimed to equip students with knowledge and skills to prevent and respond to SGBV incidents.

Hajia Alima highlighted the significance of searching and understanding the UDS Sexual Harassment Policy, pointing out that it serves as a guide for students to navigate safe and respectful academic environments.

By familiarizing themselves with the policy, according to Hajia, students can identify forms of harassment, understand reporting mechanisms, and seek support when needed.

The key points highlighted include:

1. SGBV Definition: Understanding what constitutes sexual harassment or violence and its impact on individuals and communities

2. UDS Policy: Familiarizing oneself with the university’s sexual harassment policy and reporting procedures

3. Support Services: Awareness of counseling and support services available on campus and SWIDA Ghana safe spaces with Tamale and Sagnarigu and Walewale.

4. Safe Environment: Promoting respectful behavior and creating a safe environment for all students

5. Reporting Incidents: Encouraging students to report incidents and seek help without fear of retaliation.

This event was coordinated by IAAS, Nyankpala Campus.

Organizations can Survive Through Partnerships, Collaborations, and Innovation – Hajia Alima

The Executive Director for SWIDA Ghana, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed shared invaluable insights as a panelist on strategic planning and organizational perspective in a changing donor environment, at the WFP Annual Partner Consultation in Rome.

Hajia Alima indicated that as a grassroots organization, SWIDA Ghana has navigated the complexities of shifting donor priorities and funding landscapes through partnerships, collaboration, innovation and relying on community based structures.

She emphasized the importance of adaptability, agility, and resilience in responding to these changes, highlighting the need for robust strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and innovative resource mobilization strategies.

Drawing from her organization’s experience, the Executive Director showcased how grassroots organizations can leverage partnerships, diversify funding streams, and prioritize community-led initiatives to drive sustainability and impact.

Her expertise offered practical takeaways for organizations seeking to thrive in a rapidly evolving development landscape.

SWIDA Ghana Honoured at Ghana Philanthropy Awards

At the 4th Ghana Philanthropy Awards-2025, organized by the Business Executive Group, SWIDA Ghana received the Outstanding Award for Innovation in Water Harvesting Technologies and Climate-Smart Agriculture Practices.

The recognition celebrated SWIDA’s pioneering work in restoring degraded lands and empowering rural women farmers to adapt to climate change.

With technical training and funding support from the World Food Programme (WFP), over two years, SWIDA Ghana introduced innovative land restoration techniques in the Karaga District, including half-moons, soil bunds, deep trenches, and eyebrow basins.

These methods effectively harvested rainwater, reduced erosion, and revitalized barren lands for productive farming.

Alongside these technologies, SWIDA trained communities in climate-smart agricultural practices such as mulching, composting, crop rotation, and agroforestry, combining indigenous knowledge with modern innovations to enhance resilience and food security.

Receiving the award, SWIDA Ghana’s Executive Director dedicated it to the women farmers and youth who turned adversity into opportunity through innovation and determination.

The Business Executive Group commended SWIDA Ghana for driving community-led climate action and aligning its work with the Sustainable Development Goals, namely, No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Gender Equality, Climate Action, and Life on Land.

The award affirmed SWIDA Ghana’s commitment to transforming drought-stricken lands into thriving ecosystems and empowering communities for a sustainable future.

Hajia Alima Delivers Keynote Address for Rural Women’s Impact

The Executive Director of SWIDA Ghana, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed delivered a powerful keynote address on transforming the lives of rural women farmers.

Hajia Alima made this delivery at the FAO Subregional Platform on the CFS Voluntary Guidelines for Gender Equality and Women’s and Girls’ Empowerment.

She highlighted the daily struggles of women like Amina, whose contributions feed our communities yet remain limited by poor access to land, finance, markets, technology, and decision-making.

She emphasized that when women receive equal rights, resources, and support, they become leaders, entrepreneurs, and catalysts for food security.

Her message was clear: “empowering women farmers is not charity—it is smart economics, justice, and sustainability.”

SWIDA Ghana Holds Focus Group Discussion for Girls

SWIDA Ghana, under UNICEF’s Power Her Potential programme, has held a Focus Group Discussion with adolescent girls in the Kpilo community.

These adolescent girls fall among the groups of girls who have either dropped out of school, or have never attended school and have no source of income.

The discussion drew the focus to the strategies of social protection initiatives to fill the gaps.

The discussion also revealed how the girls spend their time, their involvement in community decisions, their needs, and the income-generating activities they aspire to pursue.

SWIDA Ghana remains committed to creating opportunities that uplift and empower adolescent girls.

SWIDA Ghana Launches 16 Days of Activism – 2025

SWIDA-Ghana’s Kasa Advocates joined the Tamale Islamic Science Senior High School to launch the “16 Days of Activism Against All Forms of Digital Violence, placing advocacy at the center of the event.”

Through engaging discussions and awareness creation, the students were made to understand digital violence, to speak up against online abuse, and promote safer, more respectful digital spaces. Our advocacy efforts aimed to empower young people to become change agents within their school and communities.

Together, we continue to push for a digital environment where everyone especially girls and young women can participate confidently and without fear.

SWIDA Ghana Creates Safe Spaces through the UCare Project

Under the UCare Project, SWIDA-Ghana continues to make meaningful progress as our registered Gender Model Families hold their neighbourhood meetings.

These gatherings provide a safe space for families to share their experiences and reflect on the Family Action Plans they developed; plans aimed at redistributing household responsibilities and reducing the workload traditionally placed on women.

It is inspiring to see what is working for the women, the positive changes taking place, and the growing commitment to gender equality at the household level.

SWIDA Ghana Executive Director Honoured Among the 100 Most Influential Persons in Ghana 2025

SWIDA Ghana Executive Director Honoured Among the 100 Most Influential Persons in Ghana 2025

The Executive Director of the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana), Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, has been honoured as one of the 100 Most Influential Persons in Ghana 2025 at a prestigious ceremony held at the Accra International Conference Centre. The recognition, conferred by the esteemed Business Executive Group, celebrates her remarkable leadership, advocacy, and transformative impact on women, youth, and community development across the country.

Hajia Alima’s inclusion among Ghana’s most influential personalities is a testament to her two decades of dedicated service in gender equality, social protection, peacebuilding, agribusiness empowerment, and governance reforms. Through SWIDA Ghana, she has championed initiatives that have empowered thousands of women, strengthened community structures, and advanced inclusive development in some of the most vulnerable regions of the country.

Her leadership has extended beyond project implementation to shaping national conversations on women’s rights, digital inclusion, climate resilience, and preventing violent extremism. Under her guidance, SWIDA Ghana has become a force for change, supporting over 300 women’s groups and leading innovative mentorship programmes for young women.

The award reinforces her influence as a national trailblazer and her commitment to building a more equitable, prosperous, and peaceful Ghana.

SWIDA Ghana Honored as Outstanding Youth Leadership and Mentorship Organization of the Year

The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA Ghana) has been adjudged the Youth Leadership and Mentorship Organization of the Year at the 2nd Edition of the Northern Ghana Business Awards and Conference, held on October 18, 2025, at the Modern City Hotel in Tamale.


Organized by the Business Executive Group, the annual awards recognize outstanding institutions and individuals contributing to socioeconomic development, innovation, and leadership excellence across Northern Ghana.


The award acknowledges SWIDA Ghana’s exceptional work in youth empowerment, mentorship, and leadership development, particularly through its flagship Female Leadership and Mentorship Academy (FLMA), which has mentored over 750 young women across various Ghana for the past five years.

The organization’s efforts to nurture confident, skilled, and purpose-driven youth leaders have made significant impacts in promoting gender equality, civic participation, and community development.


Receiving the award, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, Executive Director of SWIDA Ghana, expressed profound gratitude to the organizers for the recognition, describing it as an encouragement to continue investing in the potential of young people.


“This award is dedicated to all the young women and men we work with who are breaking barriers and transforming their communities and our funders who believed in our capacity to show results. SWIDA Ghana remains committed to building leadership that drives inclusiveness, resilience, and sustainable change,” she stated.


The event brought together government officials, entrepreneurs, civil society leaders, and traditional authorities to celebrate innovation and collaboration in driving Northern Ghana’s growth.


SWIDA Ghana’s recognition reinforces its position as a leading civil society organization dedicated to empowering women, youth, and vulnerable groups through leadership training, mentorship, and social enterprise development for sustainable livelihoods.

SWIDA Ghana Holds Dialogue on Policy for Agriculture, Others

A stakeholders’ dialogue has been held by SWIDA Ghana and partners, aimed at examining government’s existing policies on agriculture and its related economy.

Held in Tamale, the stakeholders’ engagement was also aimed at discussing and making recommendations on how women in the agribusiness space can have access to resources, and market opportunities.

These opportunities, the engagement found to be crucial to the development of the woman farmer, as it enhances the value chain and makes the venture more attractive to women, as well as helps to improve the economic well-being of the rural communities.

Emphasizing on the need for women’s interests to be a key part of the discussion on agricultural and economic policies, Executive Director for SWIDA Ghana, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed indicated that even with the challenges, the numbers of women involved in rural farming have increased significantly over the years, thereby making it imperative for the patching of policy gaps to achieve gender-sensitivity.

The dialogue sought to strengthen the collaboration between local authorities and women-led groups, contributing to amplify the voices of women in policy discussions.

Some of the women farmers who spoke during the dialogue expressed satisfaction with the direction of affairs, after indicating some of the challenges they face in their activities as farmers, especially in the rural areas.

This engagement is part of the activities under SWIDA Ghana’s advocacy initiative, “Strengthening Women’s Voice and Leadership in Agricultural Policy and Economic Justice in Northern Ghana,” being funded by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF).