Canada Commits to Supporting Ghana's Development through Climate-Smart Agriculture and Economic Empowerment

Strategic Insights -

The Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), recently concluded a 2-day visit to Ghana, highlighting Canada's continued commitment to supporting the people of Ghana, especially women, girls, and youth. During his visit, Secretary Sarai announced Canada's support of $12.6 million to expand the EMPLOY project, a successful initiative in Ghana with World University Service of Canada (WUSC), which will support more than 20,000 young women in building careers in well-paying trades.

Key Takeaways:

  • Canada has committed $12.6 million to expand the EMPLOY project in Ghana, which will support more than 20,000 young women in building careers in well-paying trades.
  • The EMPLOY project is a partnership between Canada and World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and aims to challenge gender stereotypes and provide young women with training and employment opportunities in non-traditional sectors.
  • Secretary Sarai visited several projects during his visit, including the INVEST project, which challenges gender stereotypes by giving young women training and employment opportunities, and the SURGE project, which helps entrepreneurs launch and grow successful, sustainable green businesses.
  • As part of Canada's Modernizing Agriculture initiative, Secretary Sarai met with women farmers who have been trained in new productivity-enhancing technologies and in better business approaches to farm management, which has already helped 3.5 million farmers.
  • The visit also highlighted Canada's support for several other initiatives in Ghana, including projects focused on helping women farmers scale up climate-smart agriculture initiatives, supporting women's rights organizations, and improving access to reproductive health services.

Statistics:

  • $12.6 million: The amount of funding committed by Canada to expand the EMPLOY project in Ghana.
  • 20,000: The number of young women who the EMPLOY project will support in building careers in well-paying trades.
  • 3.5 million: The number of farmers who have been helped through Canada's Modernizing Agriculture initiative.
  • 11: The number of regions in Ghana where Marie Stopes International (MSI) clinics provide family planning and comprehensive abortion care services.
  • 16: The number of regions in Ghana.

Sources:

  • Press release from the Government of Canada, "Honourable Randeep Sarai concludes successful visit to Ghana," [no date].
  • World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is not mentioned in the source material but is mentioned as a partner in the EMPLOY project.