By Mildred Siabi-Mensah, GNA
Axim (WR), May 27, GNA – The Nzema East Municipal Assembly has joined Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action in driving climate solutions in the communities.
The Municipality (Axim) was among 300 cities competitively selected across the globe to receive funding and technical assistance to spur out a groundswell of youth-driven climate action.
Mr. Herbert Kuah Dickson, the Municipal Chief Executive of Nzema East Municipality officially announced the project during the First Orrdinary Meeting of the 3rd Session of the 9th Assembly.
He said the Assembly had been selected to join the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Youth Climate Action Fund.
The fund would provide capital and build capacity that would support municipalities in mobilizing young residents aged between 15–24 to design and implement climate-related solutions aligned with citywide priorities.
The scale-up since its launch in 2024, builds on results across 34 countries, where 98 municipalities had delivered tangible benefits for residents and improved trust in city authorities, helping a new generation believe in government again.
As part of the programme, the Assembly would open innovation competitions, invite ideas from young people, select the strongest proposals, fund them with $40,000, and provide technical assistance from Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The Assembly would also assign staff to support the implementation from start to finish, helping young residents to implement their plans for creating public space, strengthening infrastructure, mitigating disasters, and building resilience.
The programme offered municipalities that moved quickly to deploy their initial funding to receive an additional $50,000 to support more youth-driven projects and expand participation.
“For us, this $50,000 is more than a grant. It is an opportunity to position young people at the centre of local climate leadership, innovation, and community resilience. Through this partnership, we have the opportunity to support youth-led initiatives that are locally relevant and capable of delivering measurable community impact in our municipality,” the Municipal Chief Executive said.
Madam Patricia E. Harris, the Chief Executive Officer of Bloomberg Philanthropies, said the Youth Climate Action Fund helped city halls around the world work alongside hundreds of thousands of young people to act on city climate challenges and improve upon their communities.
He said: “They are showing how local government can be a partner on issues youth and residents care deeply about – and they are building trust along the way. We look forward to expanding on these efforts and inspiring a new generation of civic leaders.”
She said a survey research of the programme indicates that youth participants showed that their trust in local government leadership rose from 61% to 83%—a 22 percentage point increase, while confidence in their own ability to address environmental challenges increased from 65% to 90%.
The research also indicated that participating in local governments also changed how they worked. More than half established new, formal structures—such as youth councils, advisory boards, and participatory budgeting processes—to sustain young people’s engagement.
She said to date, more than 300,000 young people across five continents have taken part in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund—working with their city authorities to create over 1,600 green spaces, plant over 1.8 million plants and 235,000 trees, develop nearly 5,000 gardens, launch 268 composting stations.
It has also collected more than 405,000 pounds of trash and recyclables—producing visible improvements in their communities and bettering quality of life for residents worldwide.
Madam Harris said as part of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ longstanding work to strengthen local state capacity through its Government Innovation programme, the Fund also provided municipalities and their mayors with a model that extended beyond climate, galvanizing partnerships with stakeholders citywide to advance progress on pressing problems and opportunities for the people they served.
She said Bloomberg Philanthropies has invested in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people.
The organization focuses on creating lasting changes in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world.
In 2025, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $4.3 billion.
As part of the Youth Climate Action Fund, the NEMA will launch an open call [ https://nema.gov.gh/youth-in-climate-action-fund-ycaf-nzema-east/ ] in late June 2026 for new and ambitious climate efforts led by young people.
Young residents aged 15 – 24 years are encouraged to visit the webpage here [ https://nema.gov.gh/youth-in-climate-action-fund-ycaf-nzema-east/ ] in late June 2026 to learn more about the Youth Climate Action Fund, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, and how to submit ideas for the opportunity to receive funding.
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Mildred Siabi-Mensah
[email protected]