Listening to Ghana's Communities: Shaping the Next UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework from the Ground Up

In Nyange, a community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region, children met with a team of United Nations officials to share their experiences, challenges, aspirations, and priorities for their communities. Among them was 12-year-old Agartha (not her real name), who hopes to pursue a career in medicine. “I want to be a doctor in the future so that I can help my mother and siblings,” she said. “I would be happy if we had a good classroom to learn in and food to eat after school.” 

Elsewhere in the Ashanti Region, community members highlighted environmental degradation as a major development challenge affecting their livelihoods. They pointed to issues such as illegal mining (galamsey), rapid urbanization, and weak land-use controls, which have contributed to land degradation and the pollution of water bodies. 

In the Volta Region, older persons shared their perspectives on the challenges they face in accessing social services and economic opportunities, while calling for greater inclusion in development planning processes. 

They also highlighted how organised groups for older persons help them support their own health and well-being. An 89-year-old coordinator of one such group said he would welcome regular support to maintain the basic equipment they rely on to monitor their well-being. He hopes that the health and social protection needs of older persons will receive greater attention in development planning and programming. 

Although the issues raised varied across communities, a common theme emerged: development interventions are most effective when they reflect the needs and priorities of the people they are intended to serve. 

These perspectives were gathered through a series of sub-national consultations conducted by the United Nations in Ghana as part of the process of developing the next United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the country. 

As the global community enters the final phase of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the new Cooperation Framework will guide how the UN supports Ghana’s national development priorities, helping to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while responding to emerging challenges and opportunities. 

Over nearly two weeks, the UN in Ghana, led by the Resident Coordinator’s Office, and with the support of six UN agencies and some partners, including the Embassy of Denmark and the Ministry of Finance visited more than 20 communities across six regions, namely Upper East, Savannah, Bono East, Ashanti, Volta, and Western Regions, to engage directly with people on the issues that matter most to them. The consultations brought together community members, local authorities, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, religious  leaders, women, security services, young people, persons with disabilities, informal private sector and other stakeholders to ensure that diverse perspectives were reflected in future development priorities.  

The engagements provided valuable insights into the varied development realities across the country. Commenting on the process, the UN Resident Coordinator, Zia Choudhury emphasized the importance of community participation in development planning. “Development cannot be designed solely from conference rooms in capital cities,” he said, stressing that sustainable solutions must be informed by the voices and priorities of communities. 

A regional stakeholder also welcomed the initiative, noting that “the UN has often felt distant at the local level. I am glad you are now taking a bottom-up approach.” This he believes would help strengthen understanding of the UN’s work at the local level. 

Across the consultations, communities highlighted issues ranging from food security and climate resilience in northern Ghana, to economic transformation and youth employment in the middle belt, and agricultural productivity and value chains, coastal livelihoods and environmental sustainability in southern communities.  

Attention was given to engaging women, young people, persons with disabilities, migrants, and other groups that are often underrepresented in decision-making processes. Dedicated sessions were held with children and adolescents. In total, 487 people participated in the consultations, providing insights into the inequalities and barriers that must be addressed to ensure inclusive development, as well as ensuring development responses that are tailored to local contexts. 

The findings from these consultations will directly inform the design of the next Cooperation Framework, helping to ensure that future UN support is evidence-based, partnership-driven, and responsive to the realities of communities across Ghana. 

As Ghana approaches the 2030 deadline for achieving the SDGs, the country has an opportunity to build on progress made while addressing persistent challenges, including inequalities, youth unemployment, climate vulnerabilities, and pressures on public services. The years ahead will be critical in determining how development gains can be sustained and accelerated. 

In the coming weeks, the UN in Ghana, together with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance, the Cooperation Framework Joint Steering Committee, and partners, will begin drafting the next Cooperation Framework. This process will build on the insights gathered during the consultations and help shape a shared vision for Ghana’s development beyond 2030.