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In late July, Opportunity International Canada and our partner, Sinapi Aba Trust, welcomed a delegation from Global Affairs Canada, including Melanie Raymond, Chief Economist, and Barnabé Ndarishikanye, Counsellor (Development Assistance), to Northern Ghana.
The visit provided an opportunity to meet participants in the Climate Resilient Livelihoods for Women in Northern Ghana (CLIMB) project, funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by OIC in partnership with Sinapi Aba Trust, and see first-hand how climate-smart agriculture, financial inclusion and rural enterprise are helping women build more resilient and sustainable livelihoods.
Putting climate-smart agriculture into practice
The delegation began by visiting women smallholder farmers who have accessed microloans and participated in CLIMB training over the past year.
At farms outside Tamale, the women demonstrated how they are putting climate-smart agriculture into practice. One farmer showed how she uses crop residues as mulch to conserve soil moisture and suppress weeds, helping to protect crops in increasingly unpredictable weather conditions. Another demonstrated the use of a dibbler to apply fertilizer, highlighting the application methods she uses to improve fertilizer efficiency and soil health.
The women also described how they work alongside neighbouring farmers through communal farming arrangements, enabling them to complete labour-intensive farming activities more efficiently while supporting one another during the farming season.
Strengthening local systems
The delegation also visited a community milling facility. As the only operational milling facility in the community, it provides an essential service for local households, reducing the time and physical effort required to process grain and eliminating the need for women and children to travel to neighbouring communities.
The final stop was a visit with a CLIMB-supported grain aggregator who purchases maize and legumes from farmers across several project districts before storing and selling them through regional markets. Access to finance through Sinapi Aba Trust has enabled the business to expand its operations and increase the volume of produce purchased from local farmers, strengthening market opportunities for farming communities.
An integrated approach to resilience
Each stop on this project visit showcased a different aspect of how climate-smart agriculture, financial inclusion, market opportunities and labour-saving services work together to strengthen women’s livelihoods. Through the CLIMB project, Opportunity International Canada and Sinapi Aba Trust, with funding from Global Affairs Canada, are supporting women in Northern Ghana to build more resilient livelihoods and adapt to a changing climate.