Ghana

Project overview

Natural resource-based sectors such as agriculture, forestry and aquaculture are central to livelihoods in Ghana, particularly in rural areas, supporting over 70 per cent of the population. Key value chains, including cocoa, maize and aquaculture, play an important role in food security, employment and economic growth.

However, agricultural productivity is declining due to land degradation, climate change, illegal mining and competing land uses. Unsustainable practices, including deforestation and poor land management, are degrading ecosystems and reducing long-term productivity. At the same time, aquaculture systems face challenges such as poor water quality, disease outbreaks and weak management practices.

Food systems are further constrained by weak extension services, limited coordination across sectors and low community participation in natural resource management. These challenges contribute to food insecurity, low incomes and increased pressure on forests and biodiversity.

In response, the project supports the transformation of food systems through an integrated landscape management approach that links sustainable production, forest management and value chain development. It aims to improve productivity, strengthen livelihoods and reduce environmental degradation while delivering global environmental benefits such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved ecosystem health.

Our approach

The project adopts an integrated landscape approach to transform food systems by strengthening governance, production systems, value chains and knowledge. It improves institutional capacity and coordination through multi-stakeholder platforms, spatial planning tools, and strengthened policy frameworks to support the sustainable management of cocoa, maize, and aquaculture systems.

The project promotes sustainable production and restoration at the landscape level by supporting climate-smart agriculture, rehabilitation of moribund cocoa farms, restoration of forest and riparian ecosystems, and improved aquaculture practices. It provides training, extension services and inputs to farmers and fishers, and supports community-led watershed management and restoration activities.

It also strengthens value chains and market access by supporting farmer and fisher organizations, improving post-harvest management and promoting sustainable aquaculture and crop production systems. Alternative livelihoods and income-generating activities are supported to reduce pressure on natural resources and enhance resilience.

Knowledge generation and learning are central, including monitoring systems, knowledge products and participation in national and global FSIP platforms to support scaling and long-term impact.

Sites

The project is implemented across multiple districts in Ghana’s Cocoa Forest Landscape and Northern Savannah Ecological Zone. This would include scaling up some interventions under the GEF 7 FOLUR project districts.