Author: Moses Apobona

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CRS Holds Workshop for NABOCADO, NADMO Staff on Sahel Coastal Crisis Emergency Project

The Catholic Relief Services, CRS has held a one-day start-up training workshop for staff of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organization, NABOCADO and the National Disaster Management Organization, NADMO, on planned relief services in the wake of increasing crossings of displaced persons from Burkina Faso into Ghana.

The training is geared towards the implementing planned activities under a project dubbed the Sahel Coastal Crisis Emergency Response Project.

As part of efforts to mitigate the plight of over 3,000 displaced persons, CRS has secured a USD100,000 support fund from the William J. and Dorothy K O’Neil Foundation to continue with relief services in the Upper East region of Ghana.

The project follows emergency response donations by CRS and NABOCADO in December 2022, as protracted attacks on their villages by armed militants groups have led to Burkinabes crossing into Bawku, Binduri, and Bawku West Districts in small groups daily.

The Sahel Coastal Crisis Emergency Response project according to a presentation by the Head of Office at CRS in Tamale, Akanpabadai Timothy Amang-bey seeks to mainly provide registered refugees with Cash for Food, improved Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Services by building 30 toilets units as well as identify and register new persons for future support.

• To increase understanding of both staff and key partners on Sahel Coastal Crisis Emergency Response project strategic direction, strategies and interventions, compliance requirements, and project roles and coordination mechanisms.
• To Identify roles and responsibilities and build necessary partnerships for the smooth implementation of the Sahel Coastal Crisis
Emergency Response project.
. To work with partners to develop Detailed Implementation Planning (DIP) of the Sahel Coastal Crisis Response Project with realistic timelines and budgets.
• To discuss logistical requirements and arrangements, and ensure staff and partners are well informed about the Project’s strategy and way forward.

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NABOCADO facilitates Exchange Learning meeting for SILC Groups from Three Districts

Over 50 women from the Builsa North and Nabdam districts of the Navrongo- Bolgatanga Catholic diocese have successfully participated in an exchange learning meeting held in Bomgo-Soe.

The women were selected from farmers and Shea Butter producing groups who practice the Savings and Internal Lending Concept, SILC formed under the Strengthening of Smallholder Farmer’s Resilience towards a changing Climate ( SCRAS) program which is funded by Misereor of Germany and implemented in 16 communities by NABOCADO.

The meeting was to provide a common platform for inter-group interaction, knowledge sharing, and networking among the SILC groups across the various districts.

Having been established in 2012, and transitioned steadily into a nationally recognized Shea Butter producing and SILC group, the Bongo-Soe Tanmolga Asongtaaba Women group served as host to the traveling groups and shared learning experiences through presentations on Conflict Management, SILC funds management, Leadership, and Shea Butter processing and marketing.

Through the Savings and Internal Learning Concept, SILC, rural farmers, and Shea butter processors continue to practice local savings and loan schemes where they collectively save profits from product sales and also lend to themselves to reinvest and grow their trade.

The Exchange learning meeting was facilitated by the Gender Coordinator of NABOCADO, Patience Akankpanab, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Michael Ayamga, and our district officers of Bongo, Nabdam, and Builsa North.

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NABOCADO, CRS Ghana launch COVID-19 Emergency Responds Project, CERP in Bolgatanga

Navrongo-Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organization, NABOCADO in collaboration with the CRS Ghana, has launched the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund Project, CERP, at the Bolgatanga Catholic Social Center in the Upper Region of Ghana.
 
The project sponsored by OSPREY Foundation was developed by the Catholic Health Service of Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, CHS-NaBoD with technical assistance from CRS and mainly geared towards promoting COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and uptake in the two underserved regions of Upper East and North-East.
 
In his welcome address, the Livelihood Coordinator of NABOCADO, Dr. Joseph Ayembila expressed gratitude to OSPREY Foundation for the funding support and underscored the need for stronger collaboration between stakeholders to bring down COVID-19 infections to zero in the two regions.
 
On his part, the Country Representative of CRS Ghana, Daniel Mumuni said CRS Ghana will continue to partner with NABOCADO and the organizations to deliver development.
” Through our local Leadership agenda, CRS as an international organization is positioning itself to build institutional capacity of partner organizations to respond appropriately to the development needs of the people they served in marginalized communities”.
Daniel Mumuni -Country Rep. CRS Ghana
In attendance were Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, President of Upper East Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Chiana Traditional Area, Pe Dituudini Adiana Ayagitam III, Country Representative of CRS Ghana, Daniel Mumuni, Human Development Coordinator of NABOCADO, Dr. Joseph Ayembila, District Chief Executives, Regional and District Health Directors from Upper East and North-East Region, Health Workers, Education services workers among others.
 
One pickup truck and six Apsonic Motorcycles purchased for the Project were presented to the Catholic Health Service of NABOCADO. See the still images below.

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Climate Change: NABOCADO holds Stakeholder Engagement with District Assemblies on CAAPs

 

The Livelihood and Advocacy Directorate of Navrongo- Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Development Organization on Wednesday, held a stakeholder engagement meeting with Directors of Agric Services and Planning Officers from the various District Assemblies across the Diocese.

The meeting which formed part of activities in the implementation of the Climate Adaptation and Action Plans (CAAPs) project was meant to assess the progress of the implementation of the project, share updates and feedback, including challenges from the Districts assemblies and plan the ways forward in achieving the objectives of the CAAPs.

In his welcome address, Dr. Joseph Ayembilla, Human Development Coordinator, underscored the need for deeper cooperation and coordination among all stakeholders, especially the staff of NABOCADO, Agric officers, and District Planning Officers.

He charged participants to eschew personal differences and organizational decentralization barriers and work towards attaining a sustainable environment for good Agric practices and development for communities, especially under the challenges and risks presented by climate change as set out in the project objectives.

A presentation on the progress of work by Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Michael Ayamga revealed that activities such as sustainable agricultural practices (composting and bonding), Tree growing, Measures against bush burning, Energy saving improved mud-stove ( E-SIMS), Bio-insecticide for pest and disease control using locally innovated methods have all led to significant improvements in the livelihoods of local farmers and the environment in which they live.

He also facilitated the exhibition of hazard maps with expected changes or outcomes after the implementation of CAAPs which were designed by all 26 beneficiary communities, urging Agric and Planning officers of the assemblies to commit to attaining the desires of the people in their districts.

Brief Background of CAAPs

The Climate Adaptation Action Plan is a community-led project aimed at improving Communities’ resilience against the effects of changing climate.

It is been implemented by the livelihood and advocacy directorate of the Navrongo -Bolgatanga Catholic Diocesan Organization in collaboration with various stakeholders including district Agric departments, forestry departments, Ghana Irrigation Development Authority, Farmers, women cooperative groups as well as traditional authorities with funding from Misereor

So far,26 communities in 6 districts, namely Builsa South, Kassena Nankana East, Bawku West, Talensi, Bongo, and West Mamprusi are implementing climate change adaptation measures to make them resilient to its effects, especially on their livelihoods.

Highlights of Presentations by Agric Directors and Planning Officers.

Meanwhile, the district assemblies expressed concerns over the over-dependence of some local industries ( breweries, bakeries, and commercial food vendors)on fuel wood resulting in the continuous felling of trees for such purposes.

They say the trend could pose negative consequences for the tree growing activities as they called for intensified education and the introduction of the Energy Saving improved mud-stove ( E-SIMS) to such industries.

Some districts were applauded for achieving over 70 percent survival rate for trees planted under the project as they shared knowledge on how other areas could adopt such strategies.

In all, 1,769 farmers ( 567 males and 1,202 females) have planted 8,602 species of tree seedlings including eucalyptus, neem, and Baobab as part of the CAAPs implementation.

Some Agric officers however called for more engagement with the farmers in selecting the tree species for each district. This, they say would enable them take into consideration the farmers’ interests and environmental factors before distributing the seedlings.

 

Below are some photographs of the meeting