International Development Grant

Supporting the Green Economy of Ghana

Project Number: CA-3-P008970001

Status: Operational

Country/Region:

Ghana 100.00%

Maximum Contribution: $10,000,000.00

Start Date: August 23, 2021

End Date: August 30, 2025

Duration: 4.0 years

Project Description

This project contributes to strengthening Ghana’s ability to respond to the economic and social impacts of climate change by supporting female and male small and medium-scale entrepreneurs to develop profitable and locally-appropriate solutions to mitigate or adapt to climate change. It also increases public awareness of the green economy and helps to improve the policy environment to effectively contribute to Ghana’s transition to a safer healthier more equitable and more prosperous low-carbon green economy. Project activities include: (1) providing proof of concept grants and business advisory services support to small and medium-scale enterprises through the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre’s (GCIC’s) business incubator; (2) delivering the Women Entrepreneurs’ Transformation Program to support women entrepreneurs to overcome gender-specific business-related challenges more effectively; (3) engaging on the green economy with entrepreneurs and stakeholders through various awareness-raising initiatives; and (4) advocating for a gender and climate-sensitive fiscal policy adapted to the green economy. The Project expects to directly benefit 240 small and medium-scale entrepreneurs (of whom 50% are women) and thousands of Ghanaian households indirectly.

Expected Results

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased and more equal participation among male and female climate-smart entrepreneurs in managing and scaling-up profitable and sustainable green businesses; and (2) government policies in Ghana more purposefully and meaningfully respond to the obligations of both government and the private sector for climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved as of April 2024 include: (1) 44 entrepreneurs (22 women and 22 men) in cohort six and seven graduated from the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre business incubation program. (2) Women-led businesses also received tailored support to address gender-related barriers such as self-empowerment self-leadership and work-life balance and after completion of the program reported being confident of holding their business negotiations with banks suppliers and customers; (3) 6 climate and gender sensitive policy constraints and alternative papers were completed/developed published and disseminated within the reporting period; (4) the incubation program saved a total of 584 085 metric tons of carbon

Key Information

Executing Agency:
Ashesi University LBG

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
WGM Africa

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Women's rights organisations and movements and government institutions 5%
Business support services and institutions 25%
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) development 45%
Environmental policy and administrative management 15%
Environmental education/training 10%

Aid Type: Project-type interventions

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Department-Initiated

Policy Markers
Level 1 Gender equality
Level 2 Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting)
Level 2 Climate change mitigation
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2021-04-01 to 2022-03-31 $10,000,000 CAD
Geographic Information
485
Reference ID: 103