Progress Report for Policy Outreach Component

The Ghana Wildlife society is taksed with the execution of the outreach and Advocacy component of the project of B4C project.  The goal of the outreach programme is to develop a terms of reference to provide policy makers in Ghana with relevant climate change adaptation knowledge to build capacity to tackle climate change issues and formulate national development policies. The projects also seeks to deepen awareness on climate change issues and empower local communities to implement climate change adaptation measures through sensitisation programmes. 

The strategy will focus on communicating climate change and climate change adaptation in the four thematic areas of the project which include;

• climate change and food security
• climate change and biodiversity
• climate change and water resources
• climate change and human health

Study areas were identified for information gathering towards the development of a communication strategy. These include;

• Coastal wetlands: Muni-Pomadze Ramsar sit adn its surrounding communities in the Winneba; Densu Delta in the Accra Metropolis and Songor Ramsar sit in the Damgbe East District.
• Forest Zone: Communities sourrounding Subri, Bonsa and cape three points reserves.
• Transition zone: Communities surrounding Digya National Park, particularly Atebubu-Amantin district side of the park.

A preliminary assessment was conducted to guide the development of the terms of reference of the output. This became necessary in order to ensure a well targeted study to avoid duplication of actions.

The following findings are expected to guide the development of the terms of reference:

The Danish Development Coorperation's 2007 study on climage change risks and development interventions. The study recomended the following areas of focus:

• Climate proof design, implementation and maintenance of derinking water supply or environmental sanitation facilities, roads and bridges
• Climate risk assessment of adaptation options in the business sector programmes
• Climate change adaptation through integrated water resources management

Agriculture and Food Security: The Food and Agriculture Development Sector Development plan (FASDEP II) which is the sector policy upon which all other plans and strategies are drawn made little provision for climate change effects and climate change adaptation for its six objectives namely: Food security and emergency preparedness; improved growht in incomes; increased competitiveness and enhanced integration into domestic and international markets; sustainable management of land and environment; science and applied technologyapplied in food and agriculture development; improved institutional coordination.

THe National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) which is currently under review has mainstream climage change considerations into its key thematic areas including ex-situ and in-situ conservation, Agro-biodiversity conservation and management of Alien Invasive Speicies. The NBSAP advocates cross-sectoral approach to biodiversity conservation which also provides a strong inter-sectora approach to climate and climate change adaptation.