Eighteen civil society organisations and non-governmental organisations operating along the Black Volta Basin are set to receive funding support to implement community-driven projects aimed at restoring degraded ecosystems, improving livelihoods and strengthening climate resilience.
The initiative, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme, comes with a total grant allocation of $457,000 (approximately GH₵5 million).
The beneficiary organisations, drawn from the Savannah, Bono and Upper West Regions, will implement projects focused on addressing environmental challenges while promoting sustainable economic activities within communities along the Black Volta Basin.
The support forms part of the eighth Operational Phase (OP8) of the GEF Small Grants Programme, which officially commenced with the signing of grant agreements between UNDP and the selected organisations.
The projects are expected to contribute to biodiversity conservation, restoration of degraded landscapes, sustainable agriculture, improved food security, low-carbon energy access and better management of chemicals and waste.
They will run from July 2026 to mid-2028, with beneficiaries expected to work closely with local communities to develop solutions that protect natural resources while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Speaking at the grant agreement signing ceremony, Dr Abdul Razak Saeed, Head of Environment and Climate at UNDP Ghana, said innovative financing was becoming increasingly important in supporting locally led development initiatives.
He explained that programmes such as the GEF Small Grants Programme were helping to move beyond traditional development approaches by empowering civil society organisations to become key drivers of environmental and socio-economic transformation.
“Innovative financing is transforming the way development is delivered. It is shifting us beyond traditional aid models and positioning civil society organisations as strategic partners that connect communities to sustainable development outcomes and long-term impact,” he said.
Dr Saeed noted that the selected projects covered several priority areas, including community-based biodiversity conservation, protection of threatened ecosystems and species, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable land and forest management, wetland restoration and climate change adaptation.
He said the projects would also support communities to reduce pressure on natural resources while developing alternative livelihood opportunities.
As part of the programme launch, UNDP organised an inception workshop for the 18 beneficiary organisations to equip them with knowledge on project implementation procedures, financial management, monitoring and reporting requirements, communication guidelines and accountability standards.
The workshop was designed to strengthen the capacity of participating organisations to effectively deliver their projects and achieve measurable environmental outcomes.
Representing the beneficiary organisations, Mr Loius Kuuyebir, Finance and Operations Manager at the Tuna Women Development Project, expressed appreciation for the support and pledged the commitment of the organisations to implementing impactful community-based interventions.
He said the partnership would enable local actors to contribute meaningfully to environmental protection while improving the livelihoods of communities dependent on natural resources.
The UNDP said the initiative would reinforce national efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to climate action, environmental sustainability and poverty reduction.
