Climate Change: AGN calls for action-driven climate finance at regional sustainable development forum

Chairperson of the Africa Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, has called for a decisive shift from climate finance pledges to implementation, urging global partners to deliver predictable and accessible funding to support Africa’s climate and development priorities.

 

Speaking at the opening of the 12^th Session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD-12) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the AGN Chair emphasised that Africa’s foremost demand is not additional commitments but tangible financial flows that address adaptation, resilience, loss and damage, and green industrialisation.

 

He underscored the need for outcomes from key global processes, including the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development and COP30, to translate into grant-based and concessional financing mechanisms that are both predictable and accessible to African countries.

 

“Africa’s message is implementation finance, not more pledges,” he told delegates, stressing that climate finance must directly support national priorities such as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and critical resilience infrastructure.

 

Dr. Amoah further highlighted the urgency of closing the widening development and climate finance gaps, referencing global commitments such as the Sevilla Commitment. He noted that for Africa, this must result in expanded fiscal space, reduced debt burdens, and lower costs of capital to unlock large-scale investments.

 

On the roadmap to COP30, he called for a “delivery agenda” anchored in clear milestones and accountability mechanisms, particularly in efforts to mobilise at least $300 billion annually by 2035 and scale climate finance to $1.3 trillion within the same timeframe.

 

He stressed that adaptation finance should be treated as development finance, given its direct impact on food systems, water security, health, infrastructure, and economic stability across the continent.

 

“Climate resilience is not a peripheral issue—it sits at the core of Africa’s development,” he noted, adding that the quality of finance is as critical as its volume.

The AGN Chair cautioned against financing models that exacerbate debt vulnerabilities, advocating instead for grants, highly concessional funding, non-debt instruments, and innovative solutions such as debt swaps and local currency financing.

 

He also called for simplified access to climate funds and stronger support for project preparation, particularly for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and fragile states.

 

He urged a shift in approach where Africa leads in shaping its investment agenda, rather than being a passive recipient of fragmented projects. According to him, financing should align with national and regional development frameworks, including Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

As part of his key recommendations, Dr. Amoah proposed the establishment of a climate finance delivery compact for Africa to track progress, ensure transparency, and guarantee equitable distribution of resources.

 

He also called for reforms to the global financial architecture to reduce vulnerability, lower borrowing costs, and prioritise grant-based support for adaptation and resilience.

 

In addition, he advocated for increased investment in sectors such as renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, water systems, and resilient urban development, describing these as strategic drivers of sustainable growth and global stability.

 

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Selma Malika Haddadi, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting the AGN in advancing Africa’s climate action agenda.

 

She assured the AGN Chair of continued collaboration to strengthen the continent’s negotiating position and mobilise the resources required to meet its climate goals.

 

In conclusion, Dr. Amoah stressed that climate finance for Africa must be viewed through the lens of equity and accountability.

 

“For Africa, unlocking climate finance is not about charity; it is about justice, implementation and trust,” he said, warning that the credibility of global climate processes will ultimately be judged by their impact on vulnerable communities, economies, and ecosystems across the continent.

by Kofi Adu Domfeh

 

 

AGN Chair echoes need for Africa to translate strong climate negotiating positions into powerful outcomes

Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, has acknowledged Africa’s strong negotiating positions in the global climate change talks.

 

He, however, says the continent needs to translate these positions into outcomes that are financed, implemented, and felt on the ground.

 

“Africa must move from positions to power,” he said while speaking at the Pre-SB64 Strategy Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, convened by the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES). “Climate finance remains the central issue. The gap between commitments and delivery is still too wide. Africa must approach this with a stronger, more coordinated strategy”.

 

The meeting ahead of the Bonn Climate Conference builds directly on the AGN Strategic Session recently held in Accra, where African interest groups came together as a continent to reflect, align, and set direction for the next phase of their work.

 

“We recognized that, to be effective externally, we must strengthen our internal coordination, technical depth, and ability to act as a unified group. That is the foundation for everything else,” said the AGN Chair.

 

Dr. Amoah acknowledged the important role AGNES continues to play in strengthening Africa’s technical and negotiation capacity, emphasizing that the platform has become central to how Africa prepares, aligns, and engages effectively in the UNFCCC process.

 

“We are coming out of COP30 with important outcomes that now shape our work. The adoption of the Belém Gender Action Plan gives us a clear framework to advance gender-responsive climate action. At the same time, the work on agriculture under the Sharm el-Sheikh Joint Work continues to highlight the urgency of implementation, especially for Africa’s food systems and livelihoods.

 

“And alongside this, Article 6 is opening new opportunities to connect climate action with economic value, including for our communities but one thing we must be careful about is this – these are not separate conversations,” he stated.

 

He also emphasized that agriculture, gender, finance, and just transition must come together in a coherent African approach, adding that implementation does not happen in silos.

 

“As we look ahead to SB64, our task is straightforward. We must move beyond restating principles and begin to define how things will work: How implementation will happen on the ground. How will finance be accessed? And how our national systems will deliver results. And we must do this with a clear and united African voice.

 

“We must keep our eyes on what lies ahead. With COP32 to be hosted in Africa, we have a real opportunity to shape the global climate agenda from our own context. That opportunity will not organize itself. We must prepare for it deliberately, and that preparation starts here,” Dr. Amoah said.

 

Australia’s Counsellor for Climate Change (Africa), Liam Cosgrave, discussed climate change challenges and strategies for engagement across Africa in the lead-up to COP31.

 

Every year, Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), together with its Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, convene to assess progress in the global response to climate change. These sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies and the Conference of the Parties provide a platform for advancing negotiations, recommending decisions, and strengthening implementation of agreed outcomes.

 

The Pre-SB64 AGNES Strategy Meeting was therefore convened at a critical point in the broader climate negotiation process.

 

“Africa is not just participating in this process. Africa is helping to define what implementation should look like in real terms, grounded in development, equity, and justice. Our task now is to ensure that this is reflected in the outcomes we negotiate,” the AGN Chair noted.

 

By Kofi Adu Domfeh

 

 

Agricultural cooperatives emerging as climate champions in rural Ghana

In the Assin Central District of Ghana’s Central Region, cocoa farmers gather not just to discuss yields and prices, but to collectively chart survival strategies against a climate that no longer follows familiar patterns.

 

Under the shade of cocoa trees in Assin Fosu, members of a local farmers’ cooperative discuss rainfall forecasts, soil health, and how to safeguard their livelihoods from increasingly unpredictable weather.

 

“We cannot continue farming the same way,” says Samuel Torbi, a leader of the Assin Fosu Cocoa Farmers’ Cooperative, a group turning shared vulnerability into collective resilience.

 

Samuel owns a 17-acre cocoa farm bordering a forest reserve. In good years, his farm produces about 300 bags of cocoa, enough to support his household. After more than 20 years in cocoa production, he says farming has remained his economic backbone. Yet climate change now poses the greatest threat to that stability.

 

“You’re supposed to plant cocoa in March, but when the dry season extends unexpectedly, the young plants die,” he explains. “Climate change is now our biggest challenge in cocoa farming.”

 

Across Ghana, climate variability is rewriting the rules of farming. According to the Ghana Meteorological Agency, average temperatures have increased by about 1°C over the past 30 years, while rainfall has become increasingly erratic. The World Bank estimates that climate change could reduce Ghana’s agricultural productivity by up to 7% by 2050 if adaptation measures are not scaled up.

 

This poses a direct threat to smallholder farmers, who account for over 60% of Ghana’s agricultural workforce and produce nearly 80% of the country’s food, according to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).

 

In regions such as the Upper East, Northern, Bono, Ahafo, and parts of the Central, prolonged dry spells, flash floods, and soil degradation are driving down yields, raising production costs, and deepening food insecurity.

 

Cocoa, Ghana’s leading agricultural export and a livelihood for over 800,000 farm families, is particularly vulnerable.

 

Cooperatives as engines of climate adaptation

 

Amid these challenges, agricultural cooperatives are emerging as a quiet but powerful force in Ghana’s climate response. Once viewed primarily as vehicles for market access and bargaining power, cooperatives are increasingly functioning as hubs for climate-smart agriculture, information sharing, and risk management.

 

Agricultural researchers note that farmer-based organizations are gaining relevance because they provide a structured platform for engagement with government agencies, research institutions, and development partners.

 

Dr. Victor Owusu, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Geography Education, University of Education, Winneba, whose research focuses on agrarian food systems and livelihood resilience, describes climate change as a planning nightmare for farmers.

 

“The erratic nature of the weather makes agricultural planning extremely difficult,” he says. “This is where cooperatives become critical. While climate science informs policy, farmers also possess indigenous knowledge that has sustained their livelihoods for generations. Cooperatives create a space where scientific knowledge and local experience can work together.”

 

In Assin Fosu, change began with targeted training sessions supported by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the Ghana Cocoa Biard (COCOBOD), and local NGOs. Farmers were introduced to climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices such as mulching, crop rotation, shade tree integration, improved seed selection, composting, and rainwater harvesting.

 

Abdul Rahman Ayiku Tetteh, the Pruning, Irrigation and Cocoa Management Systems Coordinator at the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) of COCOBOD, describes cooperatives as essential allies in reaching farmers efficiently.

 

“Climate change is affecting production and wellbeing,” he explains. “We educate farmers on planting disease-resistant varieties, integrating shade trees, and protecting cocoa from direct sunlight. When cooperatives are involved, information spreads faster and adoption rates improve.”

 

CHED estimates that farms practicing recommended shade management and pruning techniques can improve productivity by 15–25%, even under climate stress.

 

The Assin Fosu cooperative has 72 active members, meeting monthly to review production data, welfare concerns, and business performance. Special farmer business schools provide hands-on training in climate-smart practices.

 

“We now understand that cutting down trees worsens climate stress on cocoa,” Mr. Torbi explains. “Shade trees improve soil moisture, regulate temperature, and protect yields.”

 

Beyond agronomy, the cooperative has introduced group savings schemes, bulk input purchases, and shared irrigation support, reducing individual costs by up to 20%, according to members.

 

“Before, I couldn’t afford fertilizer,” says Sala Iddrisu, a cocoa farmer and mother of two. “Now we buy together and support each other.”

 

Some members have also committed portions of their land to tree planting and carbon sequestration initiatives under REDD+ programmes, contributing to Ghana’s emission reduction targets while restoring degraded landscapes.

 

Policy shift toward bottom-up solutions

 

Experts say cooperatives are central to scaling climate adaptation across the country.

 

According to Dr. Victor Owusu, for decades, agricultural governance in Ghana has largely followed a top-down model, limiting local participation in policy design and implementation.

 

“We've realized that the top-down approach towards dissemination of information, such as climate change, availability of subsidies for farmers, including fishers, there's a big gap communication gap, most of the information or the intended materials do not get to the people who are supposed to be using this information and other materials for their work to benefit their welfare.

 

“So gradually, we are moving towards a bottom up approach where government and other agencies are now recognizing the importance of empowering local cooperatives to also be actively involved in the management and governance of agriculture, food value chain,” he observed.

 

Ghana’s Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the Climate Resilient and Green Economy Strategy explicitly recognize farmer-based organizations as key actors in adaptation and mitigation efforts.

 

However, challenges remain. Access to climate finance, long-term technical support, and research partnerships continues to constrain cooperative growth.

 

Dr. Owusu says empowering farmer-based organizations and local cooperatives will get them more involved in the management of the food value chain, especially in taking interest in climate change and its ramifications on the local agriculture sector.

 

“The agriculture sector is directly under the mercy of climate change, because we talk about farming, they depend on the mercies of the weather; the rainfall and the temperature. When we talk about the fishing, it's also the same.

 

“So information dissemination is very important, when we are talking about climate change and climate information, so that these farmers will be able to use this information for their planting season and other important information that will help them to sustain their various businesses,” he stated.

 

Back in Assin Fosu, farmers are preparing for the next planting season. They are testing cover crops to restore soil fertility, composting organic waste, and experimenting with drought-tolerant cocoa seedlings.

 

“We are no longer just surviving,” Mr. Torbi says. “We are adapting and leading.”

 

As climate change tightens its grip on Ghana’s food systems, one lesson is becoming increasingly clear: resilience is not built solely through technology or central policies, but through empowered communities working collectively.

 

In that future, agricultural cooperatives are not just participants; they are climate champions, shaping sustainable pathways for rural Ghana.

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This article is written by Kofi Adu Domfeh as part of a collaborative project between JoyNews, CDKN Ghana, and the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability at the University of Ghana, with funding from the CLARE R41 Opportunities Fund.

Climate Evidence: Agriculture insurance as lifeline for Ghana’s climate-hit farmers

As climate threats mount, vulnerable Ghanaian farmers need the right protection to weather the storm to sustain production and their livelihoods.

 

After 40 years of tilling the land to farm cocoa as cash crop and vegetables as food crop, Kofi Korankye, a farmer at Ejura in the Ashanti region, says when the weather fails, it becomes discouraging to venture farming.

 

“Some are reluctant to venture farming because it becomes daunting when there is no access to water,” he noted. “For instance, I’m cultivating pepper and garden eggs, aside the cocoa farm, but the source of water which is used to irrigate the farm has dried up. When this happens, there is no joy to continue production, you lose hope”.

 

Kofi’s experience is increasingly common across Ghana’s agricultural belt, where climate change is redefining the rules of farming. Erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and flash floods are pushing smallholder farmers to the brink, undermining food security and threatening rural livelihoods.

 

In recent years, Ghana has witnessed a steady rise in climate-induced agricultural losses. According to data from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, crop yields in certain northern and middle-belt districts have dropped by up to 30% due to unpredictable weather events.

 

"Our farming calendar is broken,” explains Dr. Victor Owusu, a researcher in coastal livelihoods management and agrarian food systems with the Department of Geography Education, University of Education, Winneba. “We’re seeing droughts where rains should be, and floods in harvest season. It’s a vicious cycle.”

 

This instability has eroded the resilience of rural farming households who rely solely on their produce to feed families, repay loans, and save for future seasons.

 

The Space of Agric Insurance

 

Against this backdrop, agricultural insurance is gaining attention as a potential game changer. Specifically, weather-index insurance is offering a beacon of hope. This is a product that pays farmers automatically when certain climate thresholds, like lack of rainfall, are breached.

 

Organizations like the Ghana Agricultural Insurance Pool (GAIP), in collaboration with development partners and agri-tech startups have started piloting insurance schemes that cater to smallholder farmers.

 

“Through our efforts, we have helped countless farmers recover from losses, enhance their productivity, and adopt more sustainable farming practices. GAIP’s insurance coverage provides peace of mind, allowing farmers to invest confidently in their operations, knowing that they are protected against unforeseen events,” noted the organization.

 

Rice farmer, Awoyaa, recounts her relief after receiving a payout when torrential rains destroyed her field. "The insurance didn’t bring back my rice, but it helped me replant. I didn’t have to borrow money this time,” she says.

 

The model involves farmers sign up, pay a subsidized premium, sometimes bundled with seeds or fertilizer, and receiving compensation if weather conditions meet the insured criteria.

 

Agricultural economist, Dr. Jonas Osei-Adu, describes insurance cover for farmers as very critical.

 

“With good insurance, you can get funding from the banks,” he said. “When you go to the banks the first thing they look at is risk. So for us to be able to actually unlock capital, agric insurance is very critical”.

 

Despite its potential, agricultural insurance in Ghana remains underutilized. Less than 5% of the country’s farmers are covered. Barriers include lack of awareness, limited digital access, trust issues, and affordability concerns.

 

Dr. Osei-Adu acknowledged the general low insurance penetration in the country but believes with education insurance uptake will improve.

 

“One of the challenges has to do with convincing farmers to pay insurance premiums, but if we are able to educate them to take up insurance, access to capital will be eased to propel our agriculture to another level,” he said.

 

Government and private sector players are increasingly recognizing the strategic role insurance can play in agricultural resilience. The National Insurance Commission (NIC) is collaborating with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to develop policies that integrate crop insurance into national agricultural extension services.

 

Reducing risks of farming enterprises

 

Agronomist, Dr. Michael Odenkey Quaye of the Department of Agriculture Science Education at the University of Education, Winneba, says there should be opportunities to reduce the risks of farming enterprises.

 

He says early warning systems must be in place for the meteorological agency to support farmers with accurate weather forecast, while the scientific community looks at breeding seed varieties which are drought resistant and resilient to the harsh weather condition.

 

“These should be incorporated into our farming enterprise so that in case one crop fails, the other will be there to support,” he stated.

 

Other climate smart agronomic practices, such as soil conservation and irrigation should also be promoted.

 

Dr. Osei-Adu shares similar perspective. He believes the insurance should move in tandem with access to good seeds, irrigation and mechanization through partnerships with research institutions and other commercial interest groups.

 

“Agric is a risky area because of the weather and other factors, but once your capacity is enhanced, you’re able to minimize the risk and it becomes a good business.

 

Back in Ejura, farmer Kofi says he would want to sign up for his first insurance policy, though he is cautious.

 

"I’m hoping that with this insurance, if the rains fail, I won’t lose everything,” he says.

 

As Ghana navigates its path through the climate crisis, integrating agricultural insurance into a broader resilience strategy will be key. This includes strengthening farmer cooperatives, improving forecasting systems, supporting women-led agribusinesses, and incentivizing insurers to expand to cover more farmers.

 

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This article is written by Kofi Adu Domfeh as part of a collaborative project between JoyNews, CDKN Ghana, and the Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability at the University of Ghana, with funding from the CLARE R41 Opportunities Fund.