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Although Ghana is now considered a middle income country, northern Ghana continues to experience cumulative and increasing poverty. Climate change takes a toll on agricultural livelihoods -- the main income for 85% of northern Ghana’s farming families -- leaving families and children without adequate food, access to basic necessities, or a path to prosperity.
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FOOD INSECURITY
Poverty is on the rise as more families, 85% of whom rely on agriculture, are unable to meet their basic needs. Women struggle the most as their access to good land is restricted and they lack the means to participate fully in agricultural activities.
LOW QUALITY EDUCATION
Lack of access to schools, teaching materials and qualified teachers prevents many Ghanaian children from getting a good education. Many adults have little formal education and lack literacy and numeracy skills to help their children or to fully develop their own economic potential.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Increases in temperatures, unpredictable rainfall and ongoing soil erosion is expected for Ghana’s northern regions over the next 15 years, increasing already high levels of food insecurity, malnutrition and povertyamong Ghana’s rural farm families and their children.
SUSTAINABLE
AGRICULTURE
Training in climate adapted agriculture systems, tools, and technologies such as contour plowing and use of climate adapted seeds are building resilience and agricultural productivity so that Ghana’s smallholder farmers can earn a better living from the land. Initiatives include cascading training from agricultural experts to community-based agricultural extension volunteers and on to farmers though the use of demonstration plots and farmer field days.
Read more about how sustainable agricultural programs grow not just food but love.
WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
When women are fully integrated into agricultural activities, given access to training, and involved in leadership and decision-making structures, their children, families and communities thrive. We empower women to participate in and lead their own and their communities’ agricultural and non-agricultural development activities.
Read how aquaculture, led by women, is bringing economic growth to Northern Ghana.
CHILDREN’S EDUCATION
Northern Ghana lacks many of the basics required for quality education: infrastructure, teachers, and good governance for primary schools. We support teacher recruitment and training, assist in infrastructure development, and distribute learning materials and equipment that provide Ghana’s children with safe spaces to learn and grow.
INCOME GENERATION
Income-generating initiatives such as basket weaving, soap and shea butter processing, and bee-keeping increase and diversify family income sources and improve food security year-round by ensuring that parents earn enough money to supplement the food they can grow. Village savings and loans associations enable people to save and borrow money to cushion them during lean months without having to sell assets like livestock. They also boost community resilience by linking people to local and regional government and market supports.
RESULT
Through training in climate-smart agriculture, the Resilient and Sustainable Livelihoods Transformation (RESULT) project (2012-2018) strengthened poor rural communities in the Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana. RESULT increased and diversified what is produced on farms, building on existing sources of income, and established new income opportunities. Generously funded by the Government of Canada. Read more about RESULT.
CHANGE
CFTC’s Climate Change Adaptation in Northern Ghana Enhanced (CHANGE) project in Northern Ghana (2013-2015) provided smallholder farm families with training, resources, support and agricultural inputs to build resilience and improve yields, and achieved its goal to improve food security for thousands of families. Generously funded by the Government of Canada. Read more about CHANGE.
More than 900 farmers attended climate-smart farming training, increasing their productivity, incomes and community resilience.
Farmers received agricultural inputs, including drought-resistant seeds, tools and livestock.
Over 1,300 people (97% women) are earning income in 54 income-generating groups and VSLAs.
500+ people have been trained on nutrition and food utilization, leading to better dietary diversity and health for children and families.
Nine communities have established fish farms (aquaculture) as a source of protein in local diets and family income. 70% of participants in fish farming are women.
140 communities have volunteer community livestock and agricultural agents helping farmers.
REGIONAL ADVISORY INFORMATION & NETWORK SYSTEMS (RAINS)
RAINS works in Ghana’s Northern Region, supporting productive livelihoods, access to education, and climate-smart agriculture by providing grassroots capacity-building in the sustainable use and management of natural resources.
TRADE AID INTEGRATED (TAI)
TAI seeks to help the productive poor to create and manage viable ventures for sustained poverty reduction and wealth creation. Based in the Upper East Region, TradeAID is involved in promoting sustainable rural livelihoods, helping to strengthen off-farm alternative livelihoods and climate-smart farming activities.
The team for Ghana
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Greater access to education through improved infrastructure, teacher training and recruitment, greater community engagement. |
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Food security, dietary diversity and better family nutrition through training on climate-resilient agricultural techniques and alternative livelihoods (especially for women). |
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Higher school attendance, retention and graduation rates; equity in good educational outcomes between boys and girls. |
The modern farming techniques we learned have greatly improved on the volume of our harvest and we harvest all year round. This was not the case before. Our crops last the whole year now and give plenty of food to my children as well as providing household income.rebecca, FARMER in ghanaHow you can help
MAKE A DONATION
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SPONSOR A CHILD
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