Climate change refers to the long-term changes in temperature, precipitation and other atmospheric conditions primarily due to human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation. In Ghana, climate change manifests in increased temperatures, unpredicted rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events such as floods and drought. Climate finance is the mobilization of resources to fund actions that mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, encompassing both public and private funding.
Forum
On the 27th of March 2025, there was a forum organized by Strengthening Investments in Gender Responsive Climate Adaptation (SIGRA) in partnership with Canada and Cowater Internatioanl on Climate Finance Learning for CSOs. It was attended by all CSOs in the climate change sector and Nurture Nature Foundation was represented by the Executive and Finance Directors. The key activities for the learning was to:
- Build understanding on adaptation finance in the context of national climate change policy framework in Ghana.
- Map the landscape of adaptation financing needs in Ghana.
- Identify emerging climate finance opportunities and funding opportunities for CSOs.
- Facilitate knowledge sharing and learning from climate funds and programs.
- Provide a networking and partnership platform for sharing adaptation finance investments in Ghana.
The forum was divided into three sessions. The first session aimed to discuss the state and trend of climate finance for adaptation in Ghana, the second session had a four –member panel discussion that shared knowledge and experiences from Climate Funds and Programs and the third part was a working group discussions session that centered on networking and partnerships for accessing climate finance in Ghana.
The Head of climate change division of ministry of finance, Adwoa Quansah, in her opening statement said the government has allocated a significant amount for climate change in the 2025 budget statement and that the ministry’s doors are opened for CSOs to access the funds. Honorable Issifu Seidu, the Minister of state for Climate Change and Sustainability, in his keynote address emphasized that the Government’s commitment to supporting climate change is rooted in setting –up a ministry to oversee all climate change initiatives and ensures its sustainability. Mr. Kyei Kwadwo Yamoah of HELP foundation and member of KASA Initiative, took the participants through a website that enlists emerging national and international Climate Finance opportunities in Ghana, while Harshita Bisht, the Cowater porgrams manager spoke on the “Landscape of Climate Adaptation Finance in Ghana”.
The panel discussion session had four panelists namely; Dr. Antwi Boasiako Amoah of EPA, Mr. Desmond Appiah of Clean Air Fund, Mr. Desmond Alugnoa of GAYO and Ms. Portia Adu-Mensah of Dream Hunt. Each panelist took their swipe on Donor opportunities to mobilize climate finance for CSOs and also shared their experiences and learning on best practices on accessing finance, with all of them stressing the need for CSOs to get their documentations right to access certain kinds of Climate change funds.
During the working group session, the participants were grouped into three thematic areas that discussed:
- Bankable ideas for project development
- CSOs readiness for accessing climate finance and
- Localizing climate finance, private sector engagement and innovative financing
The wrap up and closing remarks was made by Lauren Intven, SIGRA project Team Lead. She emphasized that women and children are the most vulnerable group in the Climate Change adaptation and as such it is imperative to consider women in the climate change adaptation and sustainability process.