International Development Grant

Resilient and Sustainable Livelihoods Transformation in Northern Ghana

Project Number: CA-3-A035430001

Status: Closed

Country/Region:

Ghana 100.00%

Maximum Contribution: $8,068,018.00

Start Date: August 29, 2012

End Date: July 31, 2015

Duration: 2.9 years

Project Description

The project addresses the constraints that prevent smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana from producing sufficient food to feed themselves and generate revenue and from becoming resilient to unexpected events such as droughts. It offers transformative and sustainable solutions that address the root causes behind the lack of access to sufficient nutritious food and the vulnerability to food shortages in the northern regions while also promoting community and household resilience to external shocks and stresses. Expected activities include: practical training for 21 000 smallholder farmers and service providers in sustainable cropping practices livestock production aquaculture and water management; provision of tools and services including technical assistance in climate change adaptation and disaster risk management practices to 150 communities to improve productivity; strengthening and promoting gender-responsive systems of agricultural extension and support; training for 21 000 women and men in income generating activities; and strengthening access for 21 000 smallholder famers to high-value markets in selected agricultural and non-agricultural sub-sectors.

Expected Results

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: Increased diversified and more equitable agricultural production for male and female smallholder farmers and their households; increased diversified and more equitable incomes and assets for rural food insecure men women and their household in the Northern and Upper East regions of Ghana.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved as of the end of project (March 2015) include : (1) 3 795 animal farmers (68% women) and 300 fish farmers (60% women) were trained on appropriate and sustainable crop animal and aquaculture management practices; (2) more than 7 000 farmers (about 70% women) received inputs such as seeds and equipment; (3) 121 income generation groups (between 10 and 30 members) were formed from the income generating beneficiaries. 64 village savings and loans associations have been formed from these income generation groups; (4) 1 561 beneficiaries (86% women) were trained and supervised with support from Community savings and loans facilitators by RESULT; (5) a local information and communication service for agricultural markets ESOKO was selected after a competitive process to provide market information and messaging services including weather forecasts; (6) 301 farmers (29% women) are currently registered on the ESOKO RESULT platform and have access to market information and the farmer helpline; and (7) nutrition training with cooking demonstrations has been provided in all of the 83 initial communities to 6 134 community members. These have contributed to enhanced food security and resilience for poor men and women smallholder farmers and their households in Northern and Upper East Ghana.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
Canadian Hunger Foundation

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
WGM Africa

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Basic nutrition 5%
Agricultural development 10%
Agricultural inputs 10%
Food crop production 30%
Livestock 10%
Agricultural education/training 15%
Fishery development 5%
Environmental education/training 5%
Rural development 10%

Aid Type: Project-type interventions

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP

Policy Markers
Level 1 Gender equality
Level 2 Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting)
Level 1 Climate Change Adaptation
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2012-04-01 to 2013-03-31 $8,068,018 CAD
Geographic Information
700
Project Number: CA-3-A035430001