Locations
Group photo of participants
Sustainable local development is essential for economic resilience, improved service delivery, and long-term prosperity. However, for development to be effective, it must be backed by strategic planning, sound investment decisions, and strong governance structures.
Recognizing this, key stakeholders from eight districts in Northern Ghana gathered to review and validate their Investment Development Strategies, marking a crucial step in strengthening local revenue mobilization and attracting impactful investments.
This workshop represents the third milestone in an ongoing initiative, jointly led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with funding from the UN Peacebuilding Fund. The initiative seeks to empower local governance institutions, ensuring that investment planning is data-driven, sustainable, and aligned with Ghana’s Medium-Term Development Plans for 2026–2029.
Speaking at the event, Fati Attahiru, UNDP Acting Deputy Resident Representative, emphasized the importance of strategic investment planning in promoting sustainable growth. “UNDP’s goal is not just to create strategies but to ensure they are practical, well-researched, and capable of transforming communities by attracting meaningful investments,” she stated.
From the right is the UNDP Ghana Acting Deputy Resident Representative delivering her remarks
The workshop brought together representatives from Chereponi, Bongo, Wa West, Bunkpurugu-Nankpanduri, Bawku West, Sissala West, Yunyoo-Nasuan, and Garu districts, all of whom have been working to formulate investment plans that will drive economic development, resource mobilization, and improved public service delivery.
This initiative is also an integral part of a broader peacebuilding agenda aimed at addressing vulnerabilities to conflict and violent extremism in the region. The active involvement of women and youth has been a priority, ensuring their full participation in local governance, economic decision-making, and peacebuilding processes.
The workshop is further supported by key partners, including the National Development Planning Commission, the National Peace Council, Center for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Ghana, Capacity Enhancement and Community Support (CAPECS), Holistic Development Organisation (HOLIDO), and META Foundation, each contributing to the strengthening of local governance structures.
For the three days, stakeholders came together to refine the investment strategies, ensuring they are comprehensive, actionable, and aligned with the specific needs of their districts. These strategies will later be presented at regional investment forums, where private sector actors and potential investors will have the opportunity to collaborate with district authorities in bringing these development plans to life.
Closing the session, Fati expressed confidence in the collective efforts of all stakeholders: “What we are building here is more than strategies. We are shaping the future of our communities, ensuring that development is not just planned but actively felt in the lives of the people especially in Northern Ghana”.
This initiative underscores a commitment to sustainable development, inclusive growth, and lasting peace. By equipping local governments with the right tools and strategies, the project is aimed at economic transformation and community empowerment in Northern Ghana.
About the UN Peacebuilding Fund:
The Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund is the United Nations' leading instrument to invest in prevention and peacebuilding, in partnership with the wider UN system, national and subnational authorities, civil society organizations, regional organizations and multilateral banks. The Fund supports joint UN responses to address critical peacebuilding opportunities, connecting development, humanitarian, human rights and peacebuilding pillars. The core principles of the Fund are being timely, catalytic, and risk-tolerant, and facilitating inclusiveness and national ownership, integrated approaches, and cohesive UN strategies.
