By Florence Afriyie Mensah
Kumasi, July 13, GNA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the Small Grants Programme, has formalized support for 18 selected civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations working along the Black Volta Basin across the Savannah, Bono and Upper West Regions to address critical environmental challenges, while improving livelihoods and strengthening community resilience.
This support is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with a total grant allocation of $457,000 (approximately GH₵5 million).
The initiatives will promote community-based conservation, enhance sustainable agriculture, fisheries and food security, low-carbon energy access and strengthen local to global coalitions on chemicals and waste management, to advance national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The implementation of the eighth Operational Phase (OP8) of the GEF Small Grants Programme, officially commenced with a grant agreement signing ceremony, paving the way for the community-led environmental initiatives across the Black Volta Basin.
As implementation begins, the supported projects are expected to contribute to the restoration of degraded landscapes, conservation of biodiversity, improved food security, enhanced climate resilience and the creation of sustainable livelihood opportunities for communities across the Black Volta Basin.
The projects are expected to be implemented by July 2026 and end mid-2028.
The event also featured an inception workshop that brought together all the 18 selected CSOs and NGOs.
The workshop strengthened participants’ understanding of project implementation modalities, monitoring and reporting requirements, fiduciary responsibilities, communication and visibility guidelines to ensure effective programme delivery and accountability.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Abdul Razak Saeed, Head of Environment and Climate at UNDP Ghana, emphasized the importance of innovative financing in strengthening community-led development efforts and sustaining environmental action at the grassroots level.
“Innovative financing is transforming the way development is delivered.
It is shifting us beyond traditional aid models and positioning civil society organizations as strategic partners that connect communities to sustainable development outcomes and long-term impact.
Through initiatives like the GEF Small Grants Programme, we are investing in local leadership and solutions that will continue to deliver environmental and socio-economic benefits for generations to come, he assured”.
Dr. Saeed explained that the selected projects spanned a broad range of strategic intervention areas, including community-based biodiversity conservation, conservation of threatened ecosystems and species, landscape restoration and sustainable land management, climate-smart agriculture as well as sustainable land and forest management.
Again, food security, climate change mitigation and resilience, wetland and riparian ecosystem restoration, and low-carbon livelihood development will be tackled under the project.
Participating organizations will work with communities to restore degraded landscapes, protect critical habitats, promote sustainable agricultural practices, strengthen ecosystem stewardship, and create livelihood opportunities that reduce pressure on natural resources.
Mr. Loius Kuuyebir, Finance and Operations Manager at the Tuna Women Development Project, who represented beneficiary organizations, welcomed the support and reaffirmed the commitment of participating organizations to delivering impactful, community-driven environmental solutions.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Florence Afriyie Mensah