Accra, Nov. 28, - The Adaptation
at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR) Africa-team Project has come out with
activities to enhance climate change adaptation in the Upper West region and
Koutiala in Mali as its way of giving back to society.
The activities include; Schools
Competition on climate change adaptation, Smart Water Management to strengthen
irrigation management practices for dry season farming, Women, Work and
Adaptive Capacity building, and Land Adjustment to reduce conflict associated
with land access in Mali.
This was announced at the
just-ended High level research-practitioner engagement activity in Accra to
share the key findings from ASSAR research work in semi-arid regions of Ghana,
obtain feedback on key issues emerging from adaptation research relating to
agriculture, gender dynamics, water security and natural resource management.
It also discussed the strategic
pathways to addressing barriers and supporting enablers towards transformative
adaptation for semi-arid livelihoods in Ghana as well as engaging in power
analysis to identify key players relevant to influence transformative change
for food and water security in the region.
The meeting, which brought
together a diverse group of experts from local, national, and international
institutions, including governmental and non-governmental bodies also allowed
for discussions and feedback as well as engaging in power analysis to identify
key players of change for a transformative adaptation.
It was organised by the Institute
for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), University of Ghana, global
change System for Analysis, Research & Training (START) and OXFAM GB, for
Directors of Agriculture, District Directors of Development Planning, to find
ways of incorporating ASSAR research findings in the District Assemblies’
medium term planning to ensure food security in the research areas.
Professor Christopher Gordon, Director
of IESS, University of Ghana, said the activities were in support of the
Research into use (RiU) aspects of the ASSAR project where results and key
findings from research activities are shared with relevant stakeholders who
have interest in promoting effective and transformative adaptation for food and
water security in semi-arid regions of Ghana.
He said the activity was a
component of a collaborative research project between the three institutions on
the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR) project, under the
Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA)
programme, funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
He said since 2014, researchers
and partners from the ASSAR project had been working to gain a better
understanding of the challenges and opportunities of climate change and
variability for communities in the Upper West Region of Ghana.
These challenges, he said,
include; impacts of biophysical changes such as delays in the onset of
rainfall, increased dry spells, and changes in soil moisture and fertility; as
well as socio-economic concerns related to the management of natural resources,
changes in access to and control over lands, seed and water sources, and
changes in markets and access to loans.
Prof Gordon said empirical
information on these issues obtained through research is critical for effective
planning towards maintaining livelihoods and food security of the growing
population of the Upper West Region, whilst also addressing the potential risks
of climate change.
Through surveys, interviews and
group discussions with those living in Lawra and Nandom Districts, student
researchers working with the ASSAR project have obtained evidence on how these
changes are affecting different people in different ways, he said.
The Director said the student
researchers have interacted with crop and livestock farmers from different
social groups including men, women, and youth as well as the disabled, to learn
how people were dealing with challenges in particular ways.
“The team has also studied the
role of Traditional Authorities, NGOs and government agencies in protecting
natural resources and supporting farmers. Stakeholder engagements have been
conducted with district and national level policy makers to gain a better sense
of their perspectives on these changes and how to address them, he added.
Prof Gordon said ASSAR project
bought into government policy of One District, One Factory to enable farmers
add value to their products to increase income and urged District Assemblies to
consider implementing some of the research findings in their medium term
planning to enhance the livelihood of the people as well as ensure food
security in the country at large.
The IESS is collaborating with
partners, expert institutions (START, Oxfam, and ICRISAT), including
ministries, local government and non-governmental authorities, community
leaders, humanitarian organisations, as well as the private sector.
The IESS, University of Ghana is
the host institution for the Adaptation at Scale in Semi-Arid Regions (ASSAR)
project in Ghana.
GNA
No comments:
Post a Comment