The World Bank praised Solidaridad West Africa in a memorandum released at the end of 2019. This followed a supervisory mission by the bank earlier in the year.
World Bank and Solidaridad teams during a project inspection visit to the field
The mission was led by Dr Asferachew Abate Abebe, a senior environmental specialist, and two other bank staff. They reviewed the project’s progress, including its compliance with the Work Bank’s fiduciary and safeguard policies.
Team members visited some of the communities involved. They also talked to the project’s National Steering Committee and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
In the report, the World Bank highlighted:
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The training programme to improve local community awareness of climate change
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Efforts to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
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High level of understanding demonstrated by the communities on climate change and ways to reduce its impact.
The use of local radio stations and the stakeholder-based approach…helped significantly in spreading knowledge to the communities and beyond” – the World Bank
“The use of local radio stations and the stakeholder-based approach of mobilizing communities to attend training at their most convenient times helped significantly in spreading knowledge to the communities and beyond,” noted the report.
It praised Solidaridad for engaging popular rap artiste Okyeame Kwame in the project. As a climate change ambassador, he is increasing community participation in the training sessions.
Other key activities identified as project strengths included:
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Radio broadcasts
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Five episodes of a radio drama
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Quiz competitions
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External communication through social media.
About the project
The Ghana Dedicated Grant Mechanism project shows local communities how deforestation and unsustainable land-use drive climate change and its associated negative impacts. It gives them tools and awards demand-driven grants to help combat these practices.
The project’s aim is to strengthen the knowledge of 53 local communities in Ghana's Western North, Bono and Bono East regions. They learn about REDD+ processes and sustainable forest management.
The World Bank team visited a local community benefitting from the project
The Climate Investment Fund and the World Bank are key partners in the project, implemented by Solidaridad under the oversight of community representatives, who constitute the National Steering Committee.
So far, the project has helped more than 17,000 farmers to adopt climate-smart practices. It has also supplied more than 530,000 tree seedlings to farmers to support restoration efforts and improve their livelihoods.