Climate action triggers new decisions and investments for resilient food systems: policy actions to operationalize the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) and the Early Warning and Rapid Response System for Pests and Diseases (EWRRS-PD) in Ghana

Dalaa M. Tepa-Yotto G. Obeng F. 2024. Climate action triggers new decisions and investments for resilient food systems: policy actions to operationalize the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) and the Early Warning and Rapid Response. AICCRA Brief. Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA).

In the face of escalating climate risks, the integration of climate information services into national planning and decision-making processes has become imperative for countries worldwide. The Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) was developed to address the growing demand for reliable and accessible climate information, particularly in the Global South, where climate change poses significant challenges to sustainable development. By emphasizing user-focused services and fostering stakeholder engagements, the GFCS aims to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerabilities through tailored climate services (WMO, 2011; Hewitt et al., 2012). The Ghana National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) was established as a direct response to the GFCS mandate. This framework seeks to mainstream climate information into critical sectors, including agriculture, health, disaster risk management, and water resources. With the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) and other key stakeholders at the forefront, the NFCS in Ghana strives to bridge the gap between climate information providers and end-users, enabling more effective responses to climate-induced risks (GMet, 2020). Operationalizing the NFCS involves fostering partnerships between public and private sector stakeholders, as well as international organizations. For example, the Ghana cluster of the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project has played a pivotal role in supporting the implementation of the framework. Through collaborative initiatives with GMet,a Technical Committee comprising key stakeholders like TAHMO, USAID’s Feed the Future Policy LINK program and AICCRA has laid the groundwork for policy actions and institutional strengthening. These efforts are crucial for sustaining the framework and ensuring its alignment with global best practices while addressing local vulnerabilities (AICCRA, 2023). Notable progress has been achieved in key areas such as stakeholder engagements, institutional collaboration, and capacity building. For instance, AICCRA and USAID Policy LINK has led extensive stakeholder consultations to update the Legislative Instrument (LI) that established GMet to regulate climate information services (CIS) actors in Ghana. The involvement of private sector CIS providers, such as Syecomp, Esoko, Farmerline, and Ignitia, alongside public entities like the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ghana Hydrological Authority (HYDRO), underscores the comprehensive and inclusive approach adopted in building consensus. Moreover, the inclusion of GMet and CIS operators in Research Extension Linkage Committees (RELCs) has expanded the reach and impact of climate-smart advisory services. By providing localized, actionable climate information, these collaborations empower farmers to make informed decisions, thereby improving agricultural productivity and resilience. Complementing the Ghana NFCS is the Early Warning and Rapid Response System for Pests and Diseases (EWRRS-PD), another AICCRA-led initiative. This system addresses the growing threat of climate-induced pest and disease outbreaks by leveraging a structured framework for detection, monitoring, surveillance and response. Through the establishment of working groups such as the Steering Committee, the Technical Working Group, the Communication Platform, and the Research and Extension Officers Network (REON), the EWRR-PD enhances Ghana’s capacity to safeguard food security and agricultural sustainability. This brief provides an overview of the development and implementation of the Ghana’s NFCS and EWRRS-PD, highlighting their contributions to Ghana’s climate resilience agenda. It explores the strategies, institutional frameworks, and collaborative efforts underpinning these initiatives, emphasizing their significance in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change, while underlining the role of the AICCRA Ghana cluster in influencing policy decisions in these areas in Ghana.