Solidaridad West Africa and Tropenbos Ghana have disbursed revolving funds totalling $180,000 to selected Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) under the World Bank-funded Enhancing Access to Benefits while Lowering Emissions (EnABLE) Programme.
The EnABLE Programme targeted vulnerable groups in rural cocoa communities, including women, youth, migrants and persons with disabilities who often face barriers to accessing carbon and non-carbon benefits from climate initiatives, despite their role in sustainable cocoa production and forest management.
Eighteen beneficiary VSLAs were selected across six Hotspot Intervention Areas (HIAs) after a rigorous profiling process and received grants of $10,000 each in Ahafo Ano South East in the Ashanti Region and Asutifi-Asunafo in the Ahafo Region.
Speaking at separate ceremonies to present a $10,000 cheque each to six HIAs in Ahafo Ano South East in the Ashanti Region and Asutifi-Asunafo in the Ahafo Region, Programme Manager at Solidaridad West Africa, Alfred Fosu, said the initiative sought to ensure equitable access to benefits from emission reduction payments under the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (GCFRP).
He said it directly engaged about 20,000 farmers across 100 communities in Ahafo, Ashanti, Central, Eastern and Western North Regions.
He stated that the programme complemented the 2016 GCFRP by targeting underrepresented groups through three components: building knowledge on REDD+ and benefit-sharing, promoting locally led climate-resilient livelihoods, and strengthening programme management and knowledge sharing.
He disclosed that the revolving fund was part of efforts to strengthen community financial systems, improve credit access, and boost economic resilience.
Some of the VSLAs are Kokoopa Village Savings and Loans Association, Nyame Bekyere, Odo Ne Asomdwe, Nyamebekye Kuo, Nyame Ne Yen Boafo, and Anidaso Village Savings and Loans Association among others.
The groups received training in financial management, record-keeping, leadership and loan administration.
According to him, Solidaridad leads implementation in the Ahafo-Ano, Sefwi-Wiawso-Bibiani, and Kakum HIAs, while Tropenbos Ghana oversees Juaboso-Bia, Atiwa and Asutifi-Asunafo HIAs; adding that a similar amount would be disbursed to the Tropenbos Ghana-led HIAs.
He emphasised that the funds were community-owned resources, not grants, and urged beneficiaries to uphold transparency, accountability and collective responsibility.
"The EnABLE Programme recognises that sustainable development and environmental conservation are linked to improved livelihoods. By strengthening local financial systems, we contribute to economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability,” he stated, stressing the programme would continue to provide technical support and monitoring to beneficiary VSLAs to ensure effective use of the funds.
Mr Emmanuel Anim Brow, the Goaso Forest District Manager, said providing community members with funds to enhance their businesses removes pressure on the forest and reduces activities such as illegal farming, illegal chainsaw operations and illegal mining.
Mr Brow said it was an added advantage that the EnABLE Programme and its partners were working with the Forest Commission to protect the forest estate and appealed for the partnership to be strengthened to safeguard the forest for future generations.
Some beneficiaries pledged to use the funds for activities that would continue to protect the forest estate in their respective communities to ensure the programme’s sustainability.
