Sector: Governance and Public Sector Reform
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa
Funded by:
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Total Value: Canadian contribution: C$6.5 million
Partners and Counterparts:
In Canada: CARE Canada
In Ghana: Northern Region Regional Planning Coordination Unit (RPCU), Ministry of Local Government Rural Development and Environment (MLGRDE)
Food insecurity is a fact of life throughout Ghana, and in the rural areas of the north annual periods of food shortages range from two to five months. The situation is aggravated by high population density in some areas and difficult climatic and environmental conditions throughout the northern savannah zones. The incidence of poverty is increasing among subsistence farm families, and gender inequities are more apparent, with women dramatically less able to access resources and generate income.
Agriteam uses a community-driven development (CDD) approach to strengthen both communities and local governments at the district and sub-district levels, as well as other government and non-governmental resources that are relied upon for technical assistance related to community-driven development and food security.
Successful CDD in northern Ghana requires a keen understanding of the links among conflict, food security and access to land, natural resources and markets. Community capacity building to identify, prioritize and plan for effective food security initiatives is at the centre of this project, but the project is also developing capacity at district and regional levels to respond to community-identified priorities and initiatives.
The Community-Driven Initiatives for Food Security project is an integral part of CIDA’s overall food security strategy for northern Ghana. CIFS seeks to achieve a sustainable increase in household food security in the 10 districts of the Eastern Corridor, northern region of Ghana, by:
CIFS has two components. Component II (CIFS-II) is the budgetary support process through which funds are provided to the districts to implement food security initiatives. CIFS-II is the responsibility of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (MLGRDE). Component I (CIFS-I)—which is the subject of this report—focuses on:
Environment, gender, HIV/AIDS and conflict management are mainstreamed as CIFS’ cross-cutting themes. CIFS-I is being implemented in coordination with the Northern Regional Coordinating Unit (RPCU).
As of March 31, 2008, the accumulated results to date of CIFS activities are as follows:
Further, under component II of CIFS, the EPA completed a Strategic Environmental Assessment in all 10 districts as a reference for future planning.
Women are targeted and benefit either directly or indirectly by at least 50% of the value of CIFS’ food security initiatives. Vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities, are benefiting to a lesser degree, but efforts are being made to recognize and meet their needs. People living with HIV and AIDS have not disclosed their status in CIFS’ communities, so they cannot be targeted directly. However, they benefit by the labour-saving technologies (cartage, processing equipment) and processing activities that provide more easily digestible food.
Alex Schumacher
alexs@agriteam.ca
