By Caleb Kuleke, GNA
Ho, July 21, GNA- The Strengthening Investments in Gender-Responsive Climate Adaptation (SIGRA) initiative, in partnership with the Department of Gender in the Volta Region, has conducted training sessions for partner districts on gender-responsive planning and budgeting.
The training focused on incorporating gender equality and climate adaptation into the Annual Action Plans and Composite budgets of the partner Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
The training also looked at the impacts of climate change on local development, vulnerability of women, children and marginalized groups, climate adaptation and resilience concepts, District-level adaptation interventions using the draft Regional Climate adaptation plan.
A total of 30 participants were trained in the partner districts including Akatsi North and Anloga District.
The three-day workshop provided the district’s planning coordinating units and stakeholders with effective and practical tools and strategies to enhance the collection, analysis and reporting of sex, age, and gender-disaggregated data.
It enhanced the capacity of participants in practical skills related to gender-responsive and climate-sensitive planning and budgeting, ensuring that the needs of women, men, youth, individuals with disabilities, and marginalised groups are more prominently acknowledged in district programmes and projects.
Mrs Thywill Eyra Kpe, the Volta Regional Director of the Department of Gender, stated in an interview with the Ghana News Agency following the event that the training was designed to equip participants with the requisite skills to review annual action plans and composite budgets to identify deficiencies and enhance inclusivity.
She asserted that the training furthermore aimed at enhancing the participants’ capacity to utilise gender and climate checklists to formulate actionable strategies for more robust district planning and budgeting procedures.
The Director stated that the programme also sought to empower participants to apply gender and climate perspectives while evaluating district plans, budgets, and climate-resilient initiatives.
She stated that the initiative is integral to the continuous endeavours aimed at enhancing the capabilities of MMDAs for inclusive governance, climate resilience, and gender equality within the framework of SIGRA Project by Cowater.
Mrs Kpe underscored that effective planning commenced with accurate data, guaranteeing equitable resource distribution and the inclusion of marginalised populations.
Madam Elham Mumuni, the Gender and CSO Adviser on the SIGRA Project, said the project was a Government of Canada-funded initiative that aimed to improve the resilience of Ghanaian citizens through increased investments in inclusive and gender-responsive climate adaptation initiatives.
She said the project was implemented by Cowater International and supported climate action and inclusive governance in Ghana, while applying GAC’s Feminist International Assistance Policy.
Madam Mumuni stated that the SIGRA sought to promote transparency, accountability and inclusion, and foster collaboration between women-led CSOs and all levels of government on the planning and execution of climate adaptation investments.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/George-Ramsey Benamba