By Albert Futukpor
Lewuniyiri (S/R), Sept 12, GNA – CSD Reform, through its Promoting Rural Opportunities for the Vulnerable and Excluded (PROVE) for Sustainable Development project has strengthened livelihood opportunities for vulnerable households at Lewuniyiri in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District.
The intervention, implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana, provided vocational skills training, start-up production equipment, livestock grants and a community tricycle to the beneficiaries to improve household incomes, market access and community resilience.
At a community durbar and handing-over ceremony at Lewuniyiri, beneficiaries who underwent practical vocational skills training, received production equipment to enable them to establish and expand their businesses in soap making, dairy value addition, shea butter processing, confectionery production and soya milk processing.
They also received grants in the form of goats, sheep and pigs under a revolving livestock model intended to strengthen household resilience and extend the benefits to additional families over time.
A branded community tricycle was also handed over to the community to facilitate the transportation of agricultural produce and other livelihood products to nearby markets.
The tricycle is also to serve as a shared emergency transport facility for vulnerable community members especially pregnant women, children and persons requiring access to healthcare services.
Mr Kipo Kima Ibrahim, who represented the Saruwura Traditional Authority during the ceremony at Lewuniyiri, urged the beneficiaries and community members to protect and responsibly manage the livelihood assets as collective investments.
He encouraged them to ensure that the facilities and equipment were used for their intended purpose to sustain the benefits of the intervention.
Mr Seidu Mohammed, Director, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District Department of Agriculture pledged continued technical and veterinary support for beneficiaries especially those participating in the livestock component.
Mr Yusif Abdulai of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) commended CSD Reform and its partners for combining vocational skills development with practical livelihood support.
He said the approach addressed both the supply and demand sides of economic empowerment by equipping beneficiaries with productive skills while creating opportunities for them to access markets.
He assured that the GEA would support the beneficiaries through financial literacy, communication, teamwork, business development, problem-solving, and market linkages.
Mr Emmanuel Anyorikeya, Project Coordinator, CSD Reform expressed appreciation to UNDP Ghana and the Governments of Denmark, Luxembourg and the Republic of Korea for supporting the initiative.
He said the project was designed to benefit different segments of the Lewuniyiri community through skills training, livestock support, shared community assets, and other planned interventions.
He emphasised the importance of community ownership, accountability, and inclusion in ensuring the sustainability of the intervention.
He urged beneficiaries to protect and collectively manage the assets, participate actively in the revolving livestock scheme, and share the skills acquired through the project with other community members to extend its impact.
Mr Anyorikeya announced that the project would undertake additional activities including improved cookstove training, inclusive community dialogues, and mentorship and peer-learning sessions.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Writer’s Email: [email protected]