Ghana Secures $70M Climate Adaptation Boost to Build Rural Resilience

Ghana’s fight against climate vulnerability has received a significant boost with the approval of a $70 million climate adaptation project led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and backed by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The initiative forms part of over $120 million in new GCF funding that also supports projects in the Maldives and Mauritania but Ghana’s allocation is by far the largest.

The Ghana project, which includes a $63 million grant from the GCF, is targeted at strengthening agroecosystem resilience and rural livelihoods in the country’s northern regions, where climate change has intensified erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and flooding.

The project is expected to directly benefit 619,000 people across 120 communities in the North East, Upper East, and Upper West regions. These are largely subsistence farming areas heavily dependent on rain-fed agriculture and acutely vulnerable to both drought and flooding. Early warning systems are expected to reach as many as 2.9 million people.

Driving Climate Resilience through Local Action

Implemented by Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Ghana Meteorological Agency, the project will introduce a mix of nature-based solutions and infrastructure investments to enable sustainable land use and food security. Activities include:

• Restoring 28,000 hectares of degraded land to improve soil health and flood resilience,
• Establishing water storage systems to enable dry-season farming,
• Expanding access to climate data and early warning alerts,
• Promoting climate-resilient farming techniques aimed at boosting food production for 120,000 people.

Henry Gonzalez, Chief Investment Officer at the GCF, described the approval as a reflection of strong country ownership: “This investment will positively impact key areas of climate resilience. Ghana’s leadership in tailoring local responses is exemplary for the region.”

UNEP and GCF Align to Deliver Climate Impact Where It’s Needed Most

The Ghana initiative is one of three country-specific projects developed by UNEP to support nations facing acute climate threats. In total, the programs are expected to benefit more than 3.5 million people in Ghana, the Maldives, and Mauritania.

Martin Krause, Director of UNEP’s Climate Change Division, noted that these projects are a testament to UNEP’s commitment to locally led, science-based climate solutions. “We are proud to support Ghana’s journey to build long-term resilience and ensure that the most vulnerable communities are not left behind,” he said.

Regional and Global Significance

While Ghana’s project focuses on inland climate threats, the Maldives’ $25 million TRACT program addresses risks from rising sea levels, floods, and storms, aiming to safeguard half a million people with advanced early warning systems. Meanwhile, Mauritania’s $33 million project seeks to curb desertification and restore ecosystems as part of the Great Green Wall initiative.

For Ghana, however, the GCF investment is not only a financial lifeline but also a signal of international confidence in its climate strategy. With food security, water availability, and energy stability at risk, the project represents a critical step toward achieving the country’s National Adaptation Plan and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As climate threats grow more severe, such targeted adaptation investments offer a pathway for Ghana to not only protect its people and land but also lead West Africa’s transition to a more resilient and inclusive green economy.

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