TheWidows and Orphans Movement (WOM), in collaboration with six partner organisations, has launched a
nine-month project aimed at strengthening agroecological practices to build climate resilience and improve livelihoods for women and smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana.

The project, “Strengthening Agroecology for Resilient Livelihoods: Empowering Women and Smallholder Farmers in Northern Ghana,” was officially launched on Monday, 18th August 2026 at the In-Service Training Conference Centre in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region.

The launch was attended by the North East Regional Director of Agriculture, the Upper East Regional Director of Agriculture, and other key stakeholders from the North East and Upper East Regions.

Funded by the 11th Hour Project Food Sovereignty Fund of RSF, the initiative will run from July 2025 to March 2026 across seven districts in the Upper East and Northeast Regions. The beneficiary districts are Nabdam, Bongo, Talensi, Kassena Nankana West, Bolga, Kassena Nankana Municipal, and West Mamprusi Municipal.

Speaking at the launch, organisers said the project directly responds to growing challenges facing agriculture in Northern Ghana, including climate variability, declining soil fertility, limited access to resources, and gender inequalities in land ownership and decision-making.

The project will target 360 direct beneficiary farmers, with at least 50% being women. Other target groups include widows, youth, smallholder farmers, eight District Assemblies, eight Departments of Agriculture, two Regional Coordinating Councils, Civil Society Organisations, and Traditional Authorities.

An additional 20,000 people are expected to be reached indirectly through radio programmes in four local languages.

The initiative is being implemented by a consortium of seven organisations: WOM, Trax Ghana – The Beela Project, Bugbon Farms, Volta Sustainable Farms, Organisation for Indigenous Initiatives and Sustainability (ORGIIS), and the Centre for Ecological Agriculture and Livelihoods.

Project officials outlined four key expected outcomes. These are improved production through increased knowledge and skills in agroecology, a stronger enabling environment where policies support agroecology, stronger knowledge systems to document and share indigenous practices, and stronger collaboration among government, farmers, CSOs and traditional authorities.

The overall objective, according to the project document, is to strengthen collaboration for agroecological practices among farmers and policymakers, while enhancing climate resilience, economic viability, and food security for women, widows, youth and smallholder farmers.

Stakeholders at the launch reaffirmed their commitment to building on indigenous knowledge and local innovations to ensure sustainable agriculture and resilient livelihoods in the region.

The project aligns with national efforts under the Feed Ghana Programme to promote food sovereignty and sustainable farming systems.

Reporting by Dokurugu Alhassan for Asaase News, North East Region