National and regional scale vulnerability analyses agree that in Ghana, vulnerability especially to drought effects has geographical patterns and socioeconomic associations, with the three northern regions being the most vulnerable. Similarly, the adaptive capacity of these regions is the lowest nationwide due to low socioeconomic development and heavy dependence of local economies and livelihoods on rain-fed systems such as agriculture and forestry. Decreasing annual rainfall and increasingly erratic rainfall patterns, due to climate change, are adversely affecting rural livelihoods in these areas. Communities are facing increasing challenges in dealing with extreme weather events, drought and flooding. Water is highly relevant to the thematic priorities and cross-cutting issues of Ghana’s development agenda, but is increasingly becoming a scarce resource in northern Ghana due to climate variability.

The project aims at addressing climate change induced decreases in the availability and increasing unpredictability of water resources, and the associated negative impacts of these trends on the livelihoods of rural communities in the three northern regions. The main objective of the programme is therefore to enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity of communities to climate impacts and risks on water resources in Northern Ghana. This will be achieved through improvement in water access and increased institutional capacity and coordination for integrated water management to support other uses of water resources especially for the diversification of rural livelihoods This will be done so by delivering the following three complementary outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Improved planning and management of water resources taking into account climate change impacts on surface and groundwater sources
• Outcome 2: Climate resilient management of water resources by communities in Northern Ghana
• Outcome 3: Enhanced diversification of livelihoods of communities in northern Ghana.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

1.  In order to increase resilience to climate change through better access to water resources, the project is constructing boreholes and rehabilitating dams/dugouts in the pilot districts. The rehabilitation of 8 dams/dugouts (Takpo, Goli, KO, Kesiase, Adaboya, Tamalgu, Bugubulle and Lamboya) was completed. The rehabilitation of 5 additional dams (Bongo-Dua, Tarsaw-Kulfour, Welembelle, Kpelewega and Nabugajan) was initiated and is currently at 15% completion. 45 additional boreholes were drilled and made operational.
2. 46 local NGOs/CSOs have been partnering with the project to enhance diversification of livelihoods in at least 50 communities:

•  Agricultural processing schemes: 24 established.
•  Fish Farming: 9 community fish farms established, benefitting at least 200 people (60% are women). Introduced 1000 fish stock per cage per community.
• Dry Season Gardening: 21 additional schemes have been established. 640 people (60% women) are expected to benefit from this intervention
• Bee-keeping activities: 8 additional beekeeping schemes have been established. A total of 1,146 beneficiaries (60% women) are expected to benefit.