UN Partners Okyeman Environment Foundation to Save the Environment, Create Jobs and Protect Lives

The UN Resident Coordinator led a delegation of UN officials from UNICEF, UNDP and WHO.  They were accompanied by the Special Advisor of the President of the Republic of Ghana on Sustainable Development, Dr. Eugene Owusu.

The Joint programme, “Fostering Reforestation, Environmental Sustainability and Tourism in the Okyeman Area (FOREST Okyeman): Accelerating the SDGs through a multi-stakeholder, community-based approach to sustainable livelihoods and wellbeing”, will build on existing initiatives of the Okyeman Environment Foundation in the region.  It will focus on environment, health and education with a strong livelihood and empowerment component. It will be jointly implemented by five UN agencies, namely UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, UNEP and UN Volunteer, together with the OEF.

Supported by the UN Human Security Trust Fund with a grant of 1 million dollars, the implementing UN agencies will co-fund the programme with additional 1.3 million dollars. It is expected to benefit 1.3 million people particularly women and youth.

In a passionate message on the environment, the King of the Royal Ofori Panin Palace of the Akyem Kingdom of Ghana, His Majesty, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II reiterated the power and knowledge of local people and traditional leaders to drive their own agenda on the environment. He advised that “unless we come to understand that for sustainable development to be effective, the process and ownership, should be left with the local people.”

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