United Nations in Ghana launches a joint program to enhance food security, nutrition and resilience in the Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana

Funded by the Government of France, the Food Assistance Program aims to improve food security and nutrition for pregnant and breastfeeding women, adolescent girls, and children under 24 months among asylum seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities. It is part of the Gulf of Guinea Joint Response Plan for Ghana which aims to mitigate the humanitarian impact of regional instability, and promote peaceful co-existence and sustainable development 

Despite comprising only 18.2 percent of Ghana's population, the Upper East, Upper West, North East, and Savannah Regions host nearly half (42.3 percent) of the country's projected food-insecure population. Difficulty in accessing safe and nutritious diets is exacerbating food insecurity and deepening the plight of vulnerable households with limited livelihood options in these regions.

Meanwhile, ongoing conflict and insecurity in the Sahel, especially Burkina Faso, have led to increased displacement across the border into northern Ghana, further putting a strain on basic social and economic services in host communities, which are already grappling with limited resources and fragile food systems.

The program will reach some 10,200 asylum seekers and host community members, and 20,000 people will benefit indirectly through interventions such as prevention and treatment of malnutrition, health system strengthening, and training in sustainable agriculture, as well as eco-friendly business ventures.

Launching the program in Bolgatanga, the UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Mr. Charles Abani, said for security and safety reasons as well as to ensure peaceful co-existence, it is important that host communities in the Northern part of the country receive the necessary support to address food security challenges. "We used available food security and nutrition data collected through various surveys and further conducted an initial rapid assessment of the situation of the asylum seekers and host communities in 83 communities across six border districts to assess the needs of these beneficiaries and to determine an integrated response," said Mr. Abani. "When communities have improved access to diverse and affordable foods, higher incomes, and increased access to social protection, nutrition, and health services, they live amicably and are better equipped to ensure their safety," he said. 

The Political Counsellor of the French Embassy in Ghana, Ms Christine Battesti, said: “Creating and improving a sustainable future for all by supporting and contributing to initiatives that enhance food security, improve nutrition, and build community resilience, is one of the priorities of France’s food security policy and Food Assistance Program.”

The program aligns with Ghana’s National Medium Term Development Plans, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2025, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Global Compact on Refugees. It will be jointly implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Ghana Refugee Board (GRB). The key implementing partners will be the Departments of Agriculture, Ghana Health Service (GHS), and NGOs.