The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Government of Ghana and key partners, is strengthening climate resilience in the Upper East and Savannah Regions by enhancing Early Warning Systems (EWS) and Anticipatory Action (AA) mechanisms. FAO views multi-hazard early warning systems and anticipatory action as essential for resilient livelihoods and agrifood systems, helping ensure food and nutrition security. The FAO Regional Office for Africa Resilience Team has provided technical guidance, shared regional best practices, and aligned Ghana’s initiatives with broader continental resilience efforts.
As part of the inception phase of two climate resilience projects, FAO is conducting stakeholder consultations to adapt the EWS and AA components to local needs. Funded by the governments of Norway and Canada, the projects—“Strengthening Resilience of Vulnerable Communities in Northern Ghana Through Climate-Resilient Livelihoods and Integrated Environmental Practice” and “Increasing Climate Resilience and Improving Farmers’ Livelihoods in Ghana’s Upper East Region”—equip communities with information and capacities to anticipate and respond to climate-related shocks.
Northern Ghana’s agricultural sector is highly vulnerable to climate events, with recent dry spells between mid-July and mid-August 2024 severely affecting food production for over two million people in the Upper East and Savannah Regions. Rainfed agriculture dominates these areas, and limited irrigation infrastructure combined with persistent poverty exacerbates food insecurity and livelihood loss. Women, who make up a large portion of the agricultural workforce, are disproportionately impacted due to restricted access to small-scale irrigation tools and labor-intensive water collection duties during droughts.
FAO is focusing its support on four of the hardest-hit districts: Sawla Tuna Kalba, Central Gonja, Kasena Nankana West, and Builsa South. The organization is enhancing early warning systems, training residents to interpret warning signals, and establishing early action committees with gender-inclusive participation to ensure communities can act before disasters strike.
Globally and across Africa, FAO has extensive experience strengthening multi-hazard early warning systems and anticipatory action. In 2024, FAO supported the development of 16 Anticipatory Action Protocols and implemented targeted actions valued at USD 8 million. The organization emphasizes that early warning and anticipatory action are cost-effective approaches that reduce loss and damage, providing communities and institutions with the tools to proactively manage climate risks.
Through these initiatives, FAO and its partners aim to create a foundation for long-term resilience in Northern Ghana, equipping communities with the knowledge, infrastructure, and capabilities needed to anticipate and respond effectively to future climate shocks.
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