About CSPS

25 Years of Social Policy

Research

Advocacy

Training

Who we are

The Centre for Social Policy Studies was established in 1996 at the University of Ghana to influence social policymaking and practice through research, teaching and advocacy. 

Through social policy research, the centre provides empirical evidence for policy interventions to improve the well-being of all people, including the socially and economically disadvantaged. 

In addition to research, the centre builds the capacity of researchers, practitioners and advocates through its teaching programs. Beginning with the introduction of the MA in Social Policy in 2007, the centre now offers a PhD degree in Social Policy, as well as a Master's of Research and Public Policy (MRPP) degree.  Our short courses and seminars extend CSPS training to the general public. 

Our alumni include ministers of state, directors of government departments, CEOs of companies, assembly members, and development practitioners, among many others. 

What we do

 

Social policy is the roadmap for social development that ultimately results in the social wellbeing of all members of the population. At CSPS, we conceive of social policy as having four main functions:  protection, redistribution, production and reproduction, and social cohesion.

 

At CSPS, our research examines the politics, processes, implementation and impacts of social policymaking. 

 

Social policy discourse and research often focuses on the sectors of education, health, employment, housing and social protection. We  focus on these central areas of social policy and other  aspects of human lives that are important for the well-being of individuals, families and communities, with special attention to frequently marginalized groups such as children, women, young people and the poor.

 

Our multidisciplinary group of researchers apply rigorous quantitative, qualitative and mixed method approaches to a wide range of social policy issues. Our expertise include social protection, poverty and inequality, inclusive development, rural development, sustainable livelihoods, child rights, youth employment, women’s empowerment, gender equality, participatory community development, intergenerational income mobility, taxation of informal workers, philanthropy and volunteerism, civil society advocacy and activism, and the politics of development policymaking. 

 

We have carried out collaborative projects and commissioned research for DFID, the Government of Ghana, Star Ghana, UNECA, UNICEF, World Bank and World Vision, among others. 

Faculty & Staff

Stephen Afranie, PhD

Associate Professor of Social Protection and Social Development

George Domfe, PhD

Senior Research Fellow; MRPP Programme Coordinator

Ernestina Korleki Tetteh, PhD

Senior Research Fellow

Kwadwo Opoku, PhD

Senior Research Fellow; MA Programme coordinator

Emmanuel Kumi, PhD

Senior Research Fellow; PhD Coordinator

Jacob Novignon, PhD

Senior Research Fellow

The Centre for Social Policy Studies (CSPS) is a leading academic and research institution dedicated to advancing social policy in Ghana. For nearly three decades, CSPS has been at the forefront of social policy research, training, and capacity building, equipping practitioners, researchers, and advocates with the knowledge and skills to drive meaningful change. Through rigorous research, the Centre generates empirical evidence that informs policy interventions aimed at improving the well-being of all people, particularly those who are disadvantaged in society. CSPS also contributes to human capacity development through its academic programmes, including the Master of Arts in Social Policy, the PhD in Social Policy, and the Masters of Research and Public Policy (MRPP). In addition, the Centre offers short courses and seminars that extend training opportunities to the broader public.

Our team comprises diverse and experienced scholars with expertise spanning Social Policy, Social Development, Development Economics, Health Economics, Social Protection, Natural Resource Governance, Public Financial Management and Reform, Political Economy Analysis, Civil Society Engagement, and Advocacy. Collectively, the team has a strong record of producing ethically grounded, policy-relevant research, conducting high-level impact evaluations, and publishing in highly respected journals. To date, CSPS researchers have authored almost 300 publications, reflecting the Centre’s sustained contribution to scholarship and policy practice.

The Centre has established strong partnerships and delivered research and capacity-building services for a wide range of esteemed national and international organizations. These include UNICEF Ghana, the World Bank Ghana Office, World Vision Ghana, STAR-Ghana Foundation, the Mastercard Foundation, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).

 

 

Selected CSPS Projects

1. Date: May –June 2024

Name of project: Beneficiary Satisfaction Survey (LEAP, LIWP, PI)

Funder: World Bank

2. Date: March 2024

Name of project: CSPS-CAPSI-Mastercard Foundation Regional Youth Convening

Funder: Mastercard Foundation

3. Date: 2021 – date

Name of project: Curriculum development and capacity-building on Child Rights Monitoring

Funder: UNICEF

4. Date: 2022 -2023

​​​​​​​Name of project: Research report on ‘Building Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Social Protection Shock Responsive Systems in Ghana’

Funder: World Bank Ghana Office

5. Date: 2020-2023

​​​​​​​Name of project: Regional capacity-building workshops for district/regional officials on services for children with functional disabilities

Funder: UNICEF

6. Date: 2022-2023

​​​​​​​Name of project: A review of the government’s response to COVID-19 in health, education and social protection and CSOs’ assessment of the impact of the response

Funder: STAR-Ghana Foundation

7. Date: 2022

​​​​​​​Name of project: Training of trainers’ workshop for an analysis on vulnerability and social protection

Funder: European Union under the Ghana Employment and Social Protection (GESP) Programme

8. Date: 2020-2022

​​​​​​​Name of project: Preparing a Report on District League Table (DLT) for Child-Responsive Inclusive Development

Funder: UNICEF & National Development Planning Commission

9. Date: 2021

​​​​​​​Name of project: Assessment of the access to essential services for the children with disabilities in Ghana

Funder: UNICEF

10. Date: 2021 to date

​​​​​​​Name of project: Gender and (digital) platform work in Ghana

Funder: Mastercard Foundation

11. Date: 2020

​​​​​​​Name of project: Assessing and strengthening budget credibility

Funder: UNICEF

12. Date: 2019

​​​​​​​Name of project: A baseline study for impact assessment for a project titled ‘Better Life for Girls’ in two regions of Ghana

Funder: UNICEF

13. Date: 2019

​​​​​​​Name of project: A review of the District Assembly Common Fund in Ghana: a pathway to equity-based disbursement

Funder: UNICEF

14. Date: 2015-2016

Name of project: Changes in the living conditions and well-being of older persons in Ghana

Funder: Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID), University of Ghana

15. Date: 2016

​​​​​​​Name of project: Prevalence and impact of child marriage on young girls

Funder: World Vision Ghana

16. Date: 2016

​​​​​​​Name of project: Rapid assessment of the impact of media placement on health behaviours

Funder: UNICEF

17. Date: 2014 -2015

​​​​​​​Name of project: Gender and Agriculture Policies in Ghana Project (GAPo)

Funder: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

18. Date: 2013

​​​​​​​Name of project: Non-State Actors (NSAs) and Accountable Social Protection in Child Protection and Livelihoods in Ghana.

Funder: Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR),