Accra: Changing Lives in Innovative Partnerships (CLIP), a non-governmental organization, has engaged the Ministers of Environment and Climate Change to advocate for climate change and sustainable livelihoods for vulnerable farmers and communities. Discussions focused on CLIP’s past interventions, its current focus on climate change issues, government programs addressing climate impacts, and potential collaborations between CLIP and the ministries to drive meaningful change.
According to Ghana News Agency, the engagement aligns with CLIP’s implementation of the climate change component of the Empowerment for Life (E4L) Programme. This programme aims to ensure climate-vulnerable communities adopt resilience strategies and technologies to enhance agricultural adaptability and improve livelihoods. Mr. Lukman Yussif, Director of CLIP, led a team to meet with the ministers in Accra, emphasizing the need for strong collaboration between government and NGOs in policy formulation to ensure policies and programs reflect the interests of the people.
CLIP, based in Tamale, has been working for 30 years to empower vulnerable communities through integrated programs focused on climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and community development. Mr. Yussif stressed the importance of policies that enhance adaptive strategies and resilience for climate-vulnerable communities, and the necessity of incorporating their perspectives into national climate policies.
Mr. Abdallah Mohammed, Technical Advisor for Food Security, Climate Change, and Resilience within the E4L Programme, highlighted the importance of integrating the views of vulnerable smallholder farmers into the National Adaptation Plan and ensuring that climate change considerations are included in local development plans.
Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, acknowledged the vital role of NGOs in national development and assured that his ministry would deepen collaboration with civil society organizations, recognizing that government efforts alone are insufficient. He commended CLIP’s long-standing work in empowering vulnerable communities and expressed readiness to collaborate further on addressing climate change and food security issues.
Mr. Seidu Issifu, Minister of State in charge of Climate Change and Sustainability, praised CLIP’s efforts in renewable agriculture, climate sustainability, and livelihoods. He assured continued collaboration, noting the establishment of a Climate and Sustainability Relationship Framework with government ministries and a technical working group to address climate change issues effectively.
The E4L Programme aims to enhance resilience, equity, and governance accountability in northern Ghana. It is implemented in the Northern, North East, and Savannah Regions by four local partners, including Ghana Developing Communities Association, School for Life, CLIP, and YEFL-Ghana, with funding from Civil Society in Development, through Ghana Venskab, a Danish organization.