IMPLICATIONS OF PARTICIPATION IN CLIMATE CHANGE INTERVENTIONS ON WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND LIVELIHOOD OUTCOMES OF FARM HOUSEHOLDS IN NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

Livelihood of farmers in Northern Ghana is under threat due to the effects of climate change on agricultural production. In view of this, several non-governmental and governmental organisations have intervened to ameliorate the effect of climate change on the livelihood of farm households by implementing agricultural programmes and projects to assist farm households adapt to climate change. In spite of these efforts, farmers (especially women) still battle with hunger, poverty, disempowerment and low yield, which hinders the achievements of better livelihoods as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This study assessed the implications of participation in governmental and non- governmental organisations‟ climate change interventions on women empowerment, food security and welfare of farm households in Northern Ghana. Specifically, the study profiled and analysed the coherence of governmental and non-governmental organisations‟ climate change interventions with selected SDGs using descriptive statistics, content and thematic analysis; determined the effect of participating in climate change interventions on women empowerment using the Women in Agricultural Empowerment Index and Multinomial Endogenous Treatment Effect Regression Model; and the effects of participation in climate change interventions on food security and consumption expenditure using Multinomial Endogenous Treatment Effect Regression Model. Food security of households was measured using household hunger score, Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women and Household Food Expenditure Share while households‟ consumption expenditure was used as a proxy for welfare. The study used the USAID-Feed the Future Population Based Survey data in Northern Ghana and were complemented with focused group discussions, key informant interviews and desk review of climate change interventions. Results revealed that project activities of NGO-led climate change interventions were more focused on reducing poverty and hunger, and fostering gender equity, women empowerment and climate change adaptation than governmental interventions. Membership with social group, marital status and sex of household head significantly influence participation in climate change interventions. Results further revealed that unlike participation in only governmental interventions which have no significant effect on women empowerment and livelihood outcomes; participation in only NGO or both NGO and governmental interventions had significant positive effects on women empowerment, households‟ dietary diversity for women and consumption, and reduces household hunger and food expenditure. The study concludes that NGOs climate change interventions are more coherent with SDG 1 (zero poverty), SDG 2 (end hunger), and SDG 5 (gender equality and women empowerment) than governmental interventions. Participation in either only NGOs interventions or both NGOs and governmental interventions significantly improves women empowerment, food security and consumption expenditure than participation in only governmental interventions. Based on these, the study recommends that to ensure effective and efficient utilization of financial resources on climate change adaptation in Northern Ghana, an effective government – NGO partnership is required to ensure that the numerous interventions remain relevant in reducing hunger, poverty, food and nutrition insecurity as well as empowering women. Also, farmers, especially women should be sensitized to form group to foster their participation in climate change interventions. Finally, government interventions should be redirected to focus on women empowerment and gender equality, hunger and climate action at community level to achieve the SDGs on poverty, hunger and women empowerment.