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IISD_ENB_HLPF2023_14July23_KiaraWorth-26

Kofi Kankam

President and CEO, Elizka Relief Foundation

On behalf of the Elizka Relief Foundation, I welcome you to our digital platform—a space dedicated to the intersection of environmental restoration and socio-economic empowerment.

Our mandate is built upon the conviction that sustainable development is only achievable when we address the ecological foundations of community livelihoods. In an era defined by climate volatility, our focus remains steadfast on deploying innovative, nature-based solutions to reclaim degraded landscapes and fortify food systems. By integrating research-driven interventions with traditional governance, we aim to bridge the gap between policy and practice.

As we continue to expand our footprint in River Basins across Ghana, we remain committed to transparency, institutional excellence, and the principle of leaving no one behind. We invite global partners, government stakeholders, and civil society to collaborate with us as we localize the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, building a more resilient and self-sufficient future for all.”

O U R H I S T O R Y

From Local Convening to Global AdvocacY

Elizka didn’t start as a global policy actor. We started as local conveners, and we grew by listening to the land and the people we serve.
Our history is a series of lessons learned on the ground.

2011-2012
The Foundation of Convening

We started with a simple hunch: if you bring the right people into the same room, you can solve complex problems. Our collaboration with JIRCAS and the first Africa Summit at KNUST in 2012 taught us the logistical rigor protocol management, consensus-building needed to to host high-level summits.

2013–2018
The Reality of the Field

We moved from the seminar hall to the river basin, tackling agriculture, health, and environmental challenges head-on. Witnessing the impact of illegal mining (galamsey) on our ecosystems and communities shaped our mission and solidified our governance model with Traditional Councils. We became implementers not just conveners.

2018–Present
The “Diplomatic Sherpa” Phase

With field credibility, we turned to global advocacy. Since 2018, we’ve engaged in UN forums, including the HLPF in New York, UN Human Rights in Geneva and ARFSD in Addis Ababa. Today, we bridge local action in Ghana with global policy, ensuring our realities shape international decisions.