Conclusion at CDD-Ghana
About the author: Michelle Kalu ’25 is a Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies global policy intern with the Ghana Center for Democratic Development. Michelle is studying African & Africa American Studies and International Relations at Stanford University.
As I reach the end of my time here at CDD-Ghana, I feel extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to engage with an organization such as this one. With its unique approach to advocacy and supporting good governance in Ghana and West Africa at large, I can honestly say I’ve learned so much from the key tasks and experiences that have marked my internship journey.
My reception here has allowed me to connect with a staff of every kind, hardworking individuals, each with their own expertise and role to play at CDD. I have been honored to work under my supervisor Francisca Sarpong Owusu and support her current projects. With Francisca, I have been using data from the Ghana Cities Monitor, a project that gathered information on municipalities and major metropolitan areas, to create a literature review on education services in urban Ghana. Working on this review helped me develop my research and analytical skills, as I had to integrate GCM data and existing literature into a comprehensive report. From my research, I discovered a number of challenges facing urban education, including disparities in resource constraints, accessibility, and quality. I also had the chance to read and edit final evaluation reports for the Evidence for Development projects undertaken by CDD. I was able to gain another perspective on how CDD empowers district-level civil society organizations to conduct evaluations on certain projects undertaken by their local governments. Another key experience was participating in the Afrobarometer field enumerator training. This training provided hands-on experience in data collection and survey methodology for enumerators going into the field to undertake round 10 of the Afrobarometer survey. The training emphasized the importance of accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and precision in data collection. I learned that fieldwork is about capturing the lived experiences of people and respecting the cultures from which they come while ensuring ethical data collection.
In conclusion, my time at CDD-Ghana has been an enriching experience, providing me with a wealth of knowledge and skills that I will carry forward in my academic and professional journey. Each task has contributed to my growth as a student pursuing international relations. I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to learn from and contribute to an organization that is at the forefront of promoting democratic governance and sustainable development in Ghana, and I will remember my time here fondly.
