Photos courtesy of Hafsatu
Hafsatu Sey Sumani is the Head of Program, Policy and Campaigns and co-founder of Norsaac, a civil society organisation based in Ghana. With 27 years of experience in social work — from peer educator and facilitator to organisational development leader — she brings deep expertise in leadership, mentorship, coaching, networking, and collaboration.
She is a graduate of the Every Woman Fellowship and an active member of the Resilient Collective and Member Resource Hub. Here, she reflects on what the Collective has made possible for her and her organisation.
How has the Resilient Collective — through the workshops, Resource Hub, or community — supported you and your work?
I have gained significant capacity through the series of workshops I have attended. My initial workshop focused on advocacy, where I deepened my understanding of effective communication with duty bearers and policymakers — particularly learning how to strategically deliver messages, the ‘drumbeat’, to drive influence.
In addition, I have had access to valuable training resources, which have enabled me to continue building my skills. So far, I have completed two courses: one on programme effectiveness and another on communication. These have strengthened both my technical and interpersonal competencies. I am currently undertaking my third course on Gender-Based Violence, which consists of 19 modules. I am halfway through and have completed 10 modules to date.
Was there a specific moment, tool, or conversation from the Resilient Collective that has stayed with you?
There are many conversations I continue to reflect on. The Resource Hub has been a valuable tool for both me personally and my organisation. Through it, I have strengthened my networking skills, and as an organisation, we have successfully developed three proposals using resources from the Hub. We are currently awaiting feedback from the respective funders.
How would you describe the Resilient Collective to a fellow activist who hasn’t heard of it?
The Resilient Collective connects activists and grassroots organisations to the tools, knowledge, and networks they need to grow themselves, others, and their organisations. It helps turn ideas into action by supporting collaboration, proposal development, and stronger, more resilient organisations.
As the Resilient Collective continues to grow, what would you love to see added or explored?
I would love to see more structured training and workshops, especially around proposal development, fundraising, and organisational sustainability. It would also be helpful to have more direct linkages to funders and partnership opportunities within the Collective.
