Accra, Ghana - December 2024: In a significant step toward enhancing resilience to climate-related disasters, a three-day workshop was organized in Accra from December 10-12, 2024. It was, co-organized by the Government of Ghana and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and sought to foster integration between disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA) and national development planning.
The three-day event brought together 50 participants (17 female), representing key stakeholders such as the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana Hydrological Authority, Ghana Meteorological Agency, Ghana Statistical Service, the UN Resident Coordinator's Office Ghana, as well as non-state actors including the Red Cross Society and the University of Ghana.
The workshop was inaugurated by Ms. Charlotte Norman, director for CCA and DRR at NADMO, who emphasized the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing. "The challenges of climate change and disasters require an integrated response," said Ms. Norman. "This workshop is an important step toward aligning our efforts and building a resilient Ghana."
The CEO of the Ghana Hydrological Authority, Dr John Kissi, further noted: "The impacts of climate change are here, sea level rise and coastal erosion are happening. We must work together, across institutions, to address them as we cannot do it alone".
Peter Aidoo, representing the UN Resident Coordinator's Office, echoed this sentiment, noting, "Sharing activities among stakeholders and breaking down institutional silos is critical to encourage joint planning and implementation".
Participants at the workshop explored several critical themes, including:
- Strengthening national institutional frameworks: Presentations and discussions highlighted Ghana's disaster and climate landscapes, with NADMO emphasizing the need for multi-sector coordination and EPA showcasing the integration of disaster preparedness in the upcoming National Adaptation Plan (to be published in Q1 2025). Discussions also underscored the importance of aligning DRR and CCA within the National Development Policy Framework, particularly the upcoming mid-term development plan and its sub-national development strategies.
- Data and statistics: The Ghana Statistical Service presented the challenges and opportunities in national climate and disaster-related data collection. Participants stressed the importance of standardized methodologies and a joint database to improve data availability on climate change and disaster-related risks and impacts.
- Coordination and stakeholder engagement: Presentations from NADMO and EPA outlined current institutional arrangements and the necessity of enhanced coordination among agencies. Participants emphasized the role of platforms like the National DRR Platform in facilitating collaboration.
- Role of Nature-based Solutions (NbS): Participants also discussed the importance of nature for resilience (including through concepts such as nature-based solutions) and how to increase linkages with nature across national planning instruments for disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and biodiversity.
- Financing for DRR and CCA: The discussion on finance was based on a presentation on budget tagging by UNDRR and a presentation of the Ministry of Finance on the Global Shield Process and relevant COP processes, including on upcoming opportunities for funding and technical assistance on loss and damage through the Santiago Network and Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. The discussion highlighted the need for cross-institutional funding mechanisms and collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and joint proposal writing.
A roadmap for integrated planning and implementation
The workshop concluded with the development of a joint roadmap by the various participants with prioritized actions to strengthen a comprehensive risk management approach (see attachment). These included:
- Developing a joint implementation plan for the upcoming NAP and DRM Strategy;
- A joint coordination mechanism through the expansion of the climate change committee to integrate both DRR and CCA;
- Develop a centralised database based on the one developed by the Ghana Hydrological Authority, to include all climate and disaster-related data and statistics;
- Develop a joint resource mobilisation strategy for implementing DRR and CCA in a coherent way (i.e. the to-be-developed joint implementation plan mentioned).
Further targets related to strengthening early warning systems, various capacity-building measures, biodiversity and nature-based solutions including through NBSAPs and leveraging Indigenous and traditional knowledge of nature for resilience.
Its operationalization in the future will be further promoted by the efforts of UNDRR and global partners, including the Global Shield, the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Ghana and UNEP as the lead agency on the NAP process.
This workshop highlights Ghana's commitment to addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change and disaster risks and strengthening integrated resilience-building.
Editors' recommendations
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