Accra: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through its Small Grants Programme, has initiated support for 18 civil society and non-governmental organizations operating along the Black Volta Basin in the Savannah, Bono, and Upper West Regions. These efforts are aimed at tackling significant environmental issues while enhancing livelihoods and strengthening community resilience.
According to Ghana News Agency, the funding, which totals $457,000 and is provided by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), will back projects that emphasize community-based conservation, sustainable agriculture, fisheries, food security, low-carbon energy access, and the management of chemicals and waste. These initiatives align with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The eighth Operational Phase (OP8) of the GEF Small Grants Programme has officially begun, marked by a grant agreement signing ceremony. This milestone allows the community-driven environmental projects across the Black Volta Basin to move forward.
The supported projects, scheduled for implementation by July 2026 and completion by mid-2028, aim to restore degraded landscapes, conserve biodiversity, improve food security, enhance climate resilience, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities within the communities of the Black Volta Basin.
An inception workshop was also held, gathering all 18 selected CSOs and NGOs. The workshop aimed to enhance participants' understanding of project implementation, monitoring, reporting, fiduciary responsibilities, and communication guidelines to ensure effective delivery and accountability.
Dr. Abdul Razak Saeed, Head of Environment and Climate at UNDP Ghana, highlighted the role of innovative financing in bolstering community-led development and sustaining grassroots environmental action. He emphasized that initiatives like the GEF Small Grants Programme are crucial for fostering local leadership and solutions that yield long-term environmental and socio-economic benefits.
Dr. Saeed noted that the selected projects cover a wide range of strategic areas, including biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and species conservation, landscape restoration, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable land and forest management. Additionally, aspects of food security, climate change mitigation, wetland and riparian ecosystem restoration, and low-carbon livelihood development will be addressed.
Participating organizations will collaborate with communities to restore landscapes, protect habitats, promote sustainable agriculture, enhance ecosystem stewardship, and create livelihoods that alleviate pressure on natural resources.
Mr. Loius Kuuyebir, Finance and Operations Manager at the Tuna Women Development Project, representing the beneficiary organizations, expressed gratitude for the support and reaffirmed the commitment of the organizations to delivering impactful, community-driven environmental solutions.