A new French-funded joint Food Assistance Program has been launched to improve food security and nutrition for asylum seekers and host communities in Northern Ghana. The initiative was inaugurated on September 26, 2024, in the Bolgatanga municipality of the Upper East Region, in collaboration with the World Food Program (WFP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
During the launch at the GNASS Hotel in Bolgatanga, UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Charles Abani emphasized that the program, themed “Enhancing Food Security, Nutrition, and Resilience,” aims to support the most food-insecure and vulnerable communities in the Upper East and Upper West regions. This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2025, which focuses on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, equitable access to quality social services, governance, durable peace, and security. These pillars are essential for sustainable development, particularly for vulnerable populations in northern Ghana.
Mr. Abani also highlighted that the program contributes to strengthening food systems in Ghana, a key transition outlined at the 2023 SDG Summit for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Additional transitions include promoting social protection, transforming education, addressing climate change, advancing energy transition, and encouraging inclusive digitization. The program aims to drive sustainable change through policy reforms, the development of bankable projects, establishing financing partnerships, and building capacity.
UN Initiatives in Northern Ghana
The UN’s commitment to leaving no one behind is reflected in this program, which aims to create pathways for vulnerable populations to transition from crisis to self-reliance. UN agencies, including UNHCR and UNDP, work closely with local authorities to protect refugees and promote sustainable development. The UN Peacebuilding Fund supports peace and stability in Northern Ghana through initiatives focused on conflict resolution, women’s empowerment, and social cohesion. IOM’s projects also enhance sustainable agriculture and climate resilience in the region.
The program will be implemented in several key districts in the Upper East Region, including Bawku Municipal, Binduri, Pusiga, Bawku West, and the Nabdam district. It aims to ensure safety, community resilience, and peaceful coexistence by providing necessary support to host communities facing food security challenges. The UN utilized existing food security and nutrition data and conducted an initial rapid assessment across 83 communities in six border districts to identify the needs of beneficiaries and design an integrated response. Improved access to diverse foods, higher incomes, and increased social protection services will help communities live amicably and safeguard their safety.
Program Objectives and Expected Outcomes
According to Mr. Abani, the program addresses immediate food needs while also enhancing long-term resilience for host and vulnerable communities. It focuses on food security through cash assistance and nutrition education, livelihood support via sustainable agriculture and aquaculture, and health services to prevent malnutrition. Key expected outcomes include enhanced community resilience, reduced malnutrition, and improved social cohesion between host communities and asylum seekers, thereby minimizing potential conflicts over resources.
The program is expected to directly benefit 10,200 individuals, including 2,000 asylum seekers and 8,200 members of host communities, while indirectly reaching up to 20,000 people.
Ms. Christine Battesti, Political Councillor of the French Embassy, emphasized the project’s focus on vulnerable pregnant and breastfeeding women, adolescent girls, and children under two years. She pointed out that food security is not just about nutrition; it is a cornerstone of health, education, and economic stability. In times of instability, women and children are the most severely affected. She encouraged host communities to maintain peaceful relations with refugees despite current challenges.
Porbilla Ofosu Apea, Health and Nutrition Officer for UNICEF, reiterated that the program aims to improve the nutritional status and food security of vulnerable pregnant and breastfeeding women, adolescent girls, and children under 24 months among both asylum seekers and host communities. The project will enhance the capacity of the health system to provide quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health services. It also aims to improve care for children with severe acute malnutrition and train health workers on nutrition in emergencies and infant feeding practices.
Target beneficiaries will include 300 health workers, 100 community volunteers, 2,800 children, 2,000 adolescent girls, and 1,000 pregnant women, with over 20,000 indirect recipients across the Upper East and Upper West regions.
Source: mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Ayuureneeya