25 Mar 2026

Project

Community-based Adaptation to Climate Change and Advocacy in Wassa Amenfi West, Ghana

The "Community-based Adaptation to Climate Change and Advocacy in Wassa Amenfi West, Ghana" project focuses on strengthening resilience among cocoa-dependent communities in Ghana's Wassa Amenfi West District. These communities face significant climate change challenges, compounded by deforestation regulations that restrict market access for cocoa producers. The project supports communities through participatory climate adaptation measures, Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), and advocacy to local authorities for sustainable support and improved policies.

Challenges

High vulnerability to climate change impacts, including erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and increasing cocoa diseases.
Difficulty documenting deforestation-free cocoa production under the EU Deforestation Regulation.
Limited access to finance, technology, and climate adaptation knowledge, especially for women.
Weak policy frameworks and limited government support for climate adaptation.
Socio-economic constraints, such as poverty, fluctuating cocoa prices, and gender inequality.

Beneficiaries

The project directly benefits 2,500 individuals across 10 forest-adjacent, cocoa-dependent communities. These communities are characterised by poverty, vulnerability to climate change, and limited access to resources. Indirectly, up to 75,000 people in the Wassa Amenfi West District may benefit from improved policies and greater market inclusion. The project prioritises the inclusion of women and youth, particularly through tailored sub-groups within the VSLAs that address agroforestry, income-generating activities, and forest monitoring.

Objectives

Strengthen community understanding of climate change and adaptive strategies.
Establish and strengthen VSLAs as platforms for resource sharing and climate adaptation.
Implement community-driven climate adaptation plans focusing on agroforestry, forest monitoring, and diversified income-generating activities.
Advocate for improved climate adaptation policies and resources from local authorities and stakeholders.
Develop a robust partnership strategy between Rikolto and Preferred by Nature for ongoing support to forest-adjacent cocoa communities.

The project works with cocoa-dependent communities to build resilience to climate change. It will establish 20 VSLAs, focusing on financial management, gender equality, and climate change awareness. Within these VSLAs, sub-groups will address specific areas: agroforestry initiatives will promote sustainable cocoa farming and shade tree planting; income-generating activities will support small-scale business ventures, including women-led projects such as soap making and vegetable production; and youth will be engaged in forest monitoring, using technology to protect forest health and prevent illegal activities.
Capacity-building efforts will also provide training on climate-resilient farming, participatory mapping, and community-based monitoring. The project will facilitate dialogue between communities and local authorities to advocate for policies and resources that support climate adaptation.

Expected results

As a result of these activities, communities are expected to improve their resilience to climate impacts and increase financial inclusion through the VSLAs. Awareness of climate change challenges and practical adaptation strategies will be strengthened, while community-driven approaches to address deforestation and other environmental challenges will be documented. The project will also help build stronger partnerships, ensuring ongoing support and sustainable solutions for cocoa-dependent communities.

Impact

The project supports vulnerable cocoa-growing communities in adapting to climate change, sustaining their livelihoods, and advocating for inclusive policies. By fostering resilience and self-reliance, it contributes to a sustainable cocoa sector and aligns with global efforts to mitigate climate change.