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We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of a pivotal climate information sensitization event at Kpachi Community on Wednesday, July 10th, 2024. This event was designed with the primary goal of enhancing access to vital climate information for smallholder farmers, with a special focus on empowering women within the community.

The event was scheduled from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm and was meticulously planned to engage the community in a meaningful way. The program featured a variety of activities, including informative presentations, an engaging panel discussion, and an interactive Q&A session, all tailored to address the pressing issues surrounding climate change and its impact on agriculture.

We were deeply honored to have the Chief of Kpachi preside over the event as our esteemed chairman. His presence, along with that of other dignitaries and speakers, lent significant importance to the occasion. Their insights and contributions were instrumental in driving home the critical message of the day.

Throughout the event, several essential topics were thoroughly discussed, including:

The Mandate of the L4C Programme and Its Affiliation with Climate Change: We explored how the L4C program is working to align its efforts with global climate change initiatives, ensuring that local communities are not left behind.
The Effects of Climate Change: Participants were educated on the far-reaching impacts of climate change, particularly how it affects local farming practices, crop yields, and food security.
Climate Information: We delved into the importance of timely and accurate climate information, demonstrating how it can be used to make informed agricultural decisions, ultimately improving productivity and resilience.
The Role of Women in Climate Action: A special focus was given to the indispensable role that women play in climate action. We highlighted strategies to empower women farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to contribute effectively to climate resilience.

A highlight of the event was the panel discussion, which centered on strategies to support farmers in accessing and utilizing climate information. The discussion was expertly moderated by Jacob and Alhassan, who guided the panelists through a thought-provoking conversation on practical solutions for the community.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants, speakers, and partners who contributed to the success of this event. Our gratitude goes to the ALP team, Policy Link, UF4D, YEFL, SWIDA Ghana, MOFA, USAID MSR, and EPA for their unwavering support and collaboration. Your collective efforts have made this event a resounding success, and we look forward to continuing our work together to empower Kpachi Community and beyond with the climate information they need to thrive.

The alarming rate of child marriage, teenage pregnancies and spread of sexual transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV and AIDS in the Northern Region of Ghana is increasingly posing a threat to the development of young people in the region.

“Majority of young girls especially are forced to drop out of school and given into marriages. Also, teenage and unwanted pregnancies and sexual infections among young people pose a serious threat to human resource in Ghana”, Yussif Abdul-Mumim, the Executive Director for United Force for Development International (UF4D), a youth-led local organization based in Ghana said.

The UF4D is working closely with community-based structures to contribute towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ghana. The organization’s thematic area focuses on health, nutrition, education, environment, sanitation, agriculture, youth empowerment and good governance. It is achieving these through sensitization, advocacy and skills development.

Worried about the rate of forced marriages, teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortions, UF4D has taken campaign against early and forced marriages to the doorsteps of young people. UF4D provide enough information about the negative impact of forced and early marriages to the lives of young people. The campaign aimed to contribute to the reduction of forced and early marriages and sexual risky behaviours among young people in Northern Region.

“That is why UF4D has taken comprehensive sexuality education to basic schools in the Tamale Metropolis. We need to provide comprehensive sexuality education and information to young people to help them make informed decisions to avoid risky behaviours”, Yussif Abdul-Mumin said.

Aside holding school-based comprehensive sexuality forum, UF4D in the coming days will mount community-based SRHR campaigns coupled with the planned radio advocacy on SRHR.

“The health of young people is critical to national development. We need to give priority attention to this”, he added.

UF4D hopes to receive partnership from both local and international organizations including the government of Ghana to scale up its SRHR campaign to other parts of the region where teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortions are high.

Sofar over 14 school-based SRHR fora has been held within schools in the Tamale Metropolis. He encouraged teachers and school authorities to support the campaign, “the only to ensuring our young people transitioning to higher learning institutions”.

Objective: To educate and promote awareness about clean cooking technology and reduce fossil fuel usage among 50 households in the target communities.

Methodology:

– Training sessions were conducted in the Kpaligun community, with active participation from residents of neighboring communities (Gbanjon, Gbrimani, and Tali).
– Comprehensive training programs covered the benefits and techniques of clean cooking technology, emphasizing its positive impact on the environment and community health.

Outcomes:

– 150 households benefited from the training program.
– Enhanced knowledge and adoption of clean cooking technology among participants.
– Improved health and environmental benefits for community members.
– Empowered communities to drive sustainable change.

Impact:

– Contribution to environmental conservation and fossil fuel reduction in the region.
– Creation of a ripple effect, fostering sustainable practices in neighboring communities.

Recommendations:

– Expand the training program to reach more communities.
– Monitor and evaluate the long-term impact of the initiative.
– Collaborate with local stakeholders to ensure sustainability and scalability.

Conclusion:

The clean cooking technology training initiative was a success, empowering communities to adopt sustainable practices and contributing to environmental conservation and fossil fuel reduction in the region. We look forward to building on this momentum and creating a lasting impact.