Skip to main content
Top

2018 | Book

Strategies for Building Resilience against Climate and Ecosystem Changes in Sub-Saharan Africa

Editors: Ph.D. Osamu Saito, Prof. Gordana Kranjac-Berisavljevic, Dr. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, Prof. Edwin A. Gyasi

Publisher: Springer Singapore

Book Series : Science for Sustainable Societies

insite
SEARCH

About this book

This book summarizes studies on climate and ecosystem change adaptation and resilience in Africa (CECAR-Africa), a collaboration with the goal of creating an integrated resilience enhancement strategy as a potential model for semi-arid regions across Sub-Saharan Africa by combining climate change and ecosystem change research. The case studies were conducted at multiple scales – local, national, and regional – and incorporate the natural sciences, social sciences and engineering in a transdisciplinary manner while also integrating the needs of local communities.

The book chiefly addresses three thematic areas, namely: Forecast and assessment of climate change impacts on agro-ecosystems; Risk assessment of extreme weather hazards and development of adaptive resource management methods; and Implementing capacity development programs for local leaders and practitioners. The collaborative nature of the project and the use of various quantitative and qualitative research technique

s and methods – such as field surveys, questionnaires, focus group discussions, land use and cover change analysis, and climate downscaled modeling – make the book truly unique.

Especially at a time when both long-term climate change and short-term extreme weather events such as droughts and floods are worsening, this book offers potential approaches to developing an integrated framework for assessing the local ability to cope with floods and droughts, and for enhancing the resilience of farming communities in developing countries, which are the most vulnerable to these changes and extreme weather events. As such, it will be of interest to a wider audience, including academics, professionals, and government officials alike.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter

Formulation of ‘Ghana Model’

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Toward Enhancing Resilience to Climate and Ecosystem Changes in Semi-Arid Africa: Evidence from Northern Ghana
Abstract
With societies, communities, and households continually experiencing changes in social, economic, and environmental conditions, building resilience to mitigate and adapt to shocks and stresses associated with these inherent changes has become an urgent matter. Development of a comprehensive resilience assessment framework with the active engagement of multiple relevant stakeholders can foster the adoption and promotion of plausible and practical resilience enhancement strategies among vulnerable groups. The interdisciplinary research project called ‘Enhancing Resilience to Climate and Ecosystem Changes in Semi-Arid Africa: An Integrated Approach’ (CECAR-Africa) was initiated in 2010 as part of the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS) program for international research into pressing global issues by researchers in Japan and developing countries. CECAR-Africa aimed to contribute to filling gaps in resilience assessment whilst proposing tested, practical and sustainable resilience enhancement strategies for use in socio-ecological regions with a special focus on flood and drought-prone rural communities and households in semiarid Northern Ghana.
Osamu Saito, Yaw Agyeman Boafo, Godfred Seidu Jasaw
Chapter 2. The Ghana Model for Resilience Enhancement in Semiarid Ghana: Conceptualization and Social Implementation
Abstract
Many government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and academic and research institutions have over the past two decades conducted studies and implemented actions aimed at developing frameworks, models, and tools to assess the resilience to climate and ecosystem changes of vulnerable communities. However, actions and studies encompassing empirical field tests of the assessment instruments are relatively few. This chapter reports the outcomes of an empirically applied resilience assessment framework, hereafter referred to as the “Ghana Model,” which was initiated as part of the “Enhancing Resilience to Climate and Ecosystem Changes in Semi-Arid Africa: An Integrated Approach (CECAR-Africa)” project, implemented in Ghana’s semiarid ecosystem. The chapter provides a concise description of the “Ghana Model” as an integrated resilience assessment framework as underpinned by seven principles while highlighting the concrete actions and steps taken in operationalizing it. As a clinically valid approach for resilience assessment, the Ghana Model provides valuable evidence to aid decision and policymakers in Ghana in designing and implementing adaptation strategies for climate change in vulnerable communities and households. As a resilience assessment template, it can be applied in other ecosystems within other sub-Saharan African countries as well as other developing economies. The Ghana Model can enrich ongoing discourse on global sustainability as well as provide relevant output toward the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.
Osamu Saito, Yaw Agyeman Boafo, Godfred Seidu Jasaw, Effah Kwabena Antwi, Shoyama Kikuko, Gordana Kranjac-Berisavljevic, Richard Wilfred Nartey Yeboah, Francis Obeng, Edwin A. Gyasi, Kazuhiko Takeuchi

Case Studies on Climate and Ecosystem Change Impacts on Agriculture and Livelihood

Frontmatter
Chapter 3. Response of Maize to Different Nitrogen Application Rates and Tillage Practices Under Two Slope Positions in the Face of Current Climate Variability in the Sudan Savanna of West Africa
Abstract
An experiment managed by an on-farm researcher was conducted in Sudan Savanna of three West African countries, Ghana (Vea), Benin Republic (Dassari), and Burkina Faso (Dano), in 2012. The experiment evaluated the effects of tillage practices and nitrogen fertilizer regimes on the yield of short-season maize Dorke SR variety for two landscape positions (upslope and footslope). A stripe-split plot design with four replicates at each of the three sites was used. Tillage practices (contour and along-slope ridges) were applied in the main plots, whereas nitrogen treatments (no nitrogen, 0 kg N ha−1; moderate nitrogen, 60 kg N ha−1; and high nitrogen, 120 kg N ha−1) were applied in the subplots of each landscape position. Both potassium and phosphorus fertilizers were applied at optimum rates. Grain yield and growth parameters showed diverse responses to the treatments across sites. The effects of slope position and nitrogen fertilizer regime on grain yield were significant (p < 0.05) across sites; the grain yield at the footslope position was 25% higher than that at the upslope, and the high nitrogen treatment resulted in a 140% increase in grain yield compared to no nitrogen condition. An insignificant (p < 0.05) increase in grain yield was observed for sites with contour tillage compared to sites with along-slope ridges. Leaf area index was not significantly (p < 0.05) affected by the treatments during tasseling across sites, and the values were consistent with increasing nitrogen levels. These results suggest that to optimize maize yield under subhumid conditions, farmers should concentrate maize cultivation in low-lying areas and follow the recommended fertilizer application regimes given current climate variability.
Isaac Danso, Thomas Gaiser, Heidi Webber, Jesse Naab, Frank Ewert
Chapter 4. Impact of Floods on Farmers’ Livelihoods in the Semi-arid Zone of Benin
Abstract
Fluvial flooding is a common and devastating natural disaster that causes significant economic and social damage. Since 2007, Benin has experienced frequent floods. In the semiarid zone of Benin, the last flood occurred in August 2012, and many farmers lost most of their crops. However, no study was conducted to show the effects of recent flooding on the livelihoods of farmers. To fill this gap in knowledge, a survey was conducted in Benin, a small country located in the south of the Sahel. Two municipalities, Malanville and Karimama, were chosen because of their locations at the downstream of the Benin part of the Niger basin and the harsh effects experienced by the farmers during the flooding in 2012. Within these municipalities, we focused on the villages near the four rivers of the basin. Within the 19 villages targeted, the sampling rate was 14.67%, and the sample size was 228 farmers. The econometric framework adopted was the Rubin causal model with simple linear regression using ordinary least squares. The results show that the 2012 flood had significant impacts. An increase of 1% in flooding duration was found to correspond to a loss in agricultural income of approximately 0.40%. When a farmer stated that the severity of flooding in 2012 was major, his household agricultural income was reduced by approximately 1.44% compared to a farmer who stated that the flooding was minor. An increase of 1% in the cultivated area that was flooded corresponded to a loss in agricultural income of approximately 0.27%. The introduction of water-resistant species to withstand the effects of flooding should be encouraged in the study area. Future researches will focus on the estimation of flood insurance premiums, the design of the insurance, and the implementation of the insurance.
Alice Bonou, Tobias Wünscher, Anselme Adéniyi Adégbidi, Adama Diaw
Chapter 5. Socioeconomic Impacts of Climate Change on the Livelihood and Adaptation Strategies of Smallholder Farmers in the Upper White Volta Basin of Ghana
Abstract
Climate change and agriculture affect each other. Climate change affects the agroecological and growing conditions of crops and livestock. Conversely, agriculture engenders climate change via its role in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration. In the rain-fed agricultural systems of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the effects of climate change on precipitation and temperature are the major causes of crop failure and low yields, although these problems are often attributed to small farm sizes and the low uses of fertilizers, improved seeds, and pesticides. However, empirical evidence for the economic impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers in SSA is lacking. In this study, I use the trade-off analysis minimum data model to estimate the effects of climate change on farmers in the Upper White Volta Basin of Ghana by 2050. The analysis, which was based on surveys and simulated crop and livestock yields from 300 farms, aims to determine the sensitivity of current agricultural production systems to climate change without adaptation and to ascertain the benefits of implementing adaptation strategies. The findings reveal varying levels of negative impacts of climate change on the net per farm revenues, per capita incomes, and poverty rates of farmers under climate change. When adaptation was accounted for, the scale of the negative impacts was reduced; the gains to most farmers increased by as much as 36%, per capita income increased, and the poverty rate declined. The benefits of adaptation indicate that climate change is not necessarily bad and that possibilities exist for farmers to benefit given the right measures and incentives and the adoption of climate-smart technologies.
Joseph Amikuzuno
Chapter 6. Evaluating the Effect of Irrigation on Paddy Rice Yield by Applying the AquaCrop Model in Northern Ghana
Abstract
The yield of lowland paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) is sensitive to water application regimes, which can be affected by irrigation management. This study assessed the impacts of different irrigation applications on rice yield using the AquaCrop model. Experiments were conducted at two sites (On-station and On-farm) during the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 dry seasons using five different irrigation treatments: field capacity (FC) moisture content (W 1 ), saturated soil moisture content (SC; W 2 ), continuous flooding (CF; W 3 ), 10ETc (crop water requirement) (W 4 ), and 15ETc (W 5 ). A 115-day rice variety, Gbewaa (Jasmine 85), was transplanted with a spacing of 20 cm × 20 cm for the experiments. The AquaCrop model was calibrated in terms of green canopy cover (CC), aboveground dry biomass, harvest index (HI), and paddy rice yield. The model was validated using various efficiency criteria (coefficient of determination, root mean square error (RMSE), RMSE–observations, standard deviation ratio, index of agreement, and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency), and satisfactory simulation results were obtained for biomass, HI, yield, and green CC. The AquaCrop model proved to be robust and applicable for paddy rice under various irrigation methods, although it underestimated dry biomass and grain yield for all treatments except FC. The simulated rice yield was highly sensitive to the maximum CC. This study represents the first site-specific application of the AquaCrop model to paddy rice in Northern Ghana; therefore, the model should be further tested for different climatic conditions, soil types, and crop varieties in Ghana.
Shaibu Abdul-Ganiyu, Nicholas Kyei-Baffour, Wilson Agyei Agyare, Wilson Dogbe
Chapter 7. Farmers’ Livelihoods and Welfare in the Wa West District, Upper West Region of Ghana
Abstract
This paper examines the socioeconomic determinants of farmer livelihood diversification and its effects on welfare. We selected 184 farmers in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region of Ghana through a comprehensive, multistage process based on agro-ecological, engineering, and socioeconomic resilience/vulnerability profiles. A simultaneous equation model was estimated using the two-stage least squares method. The results suggest that the number of livelihood activities is highest for female farmers, relatively young farmers, farmers with little or no formal education, farmers with large families, and richer/wealthier farmers. On the other hand, welfare is highest for older farmers, female farmers, farmers with little or no formal education, farmers with small family size, and farmers with higher number of livelihood activities. Thus, despite the fact that younger and large-sized families engage in more livelihood activities, they have relatively low welfare. Therefore, these categories of farmers should be targeted for policy interventions. However, in general, we recommend the promotion of more livelihood activities to increase the welfare of farmers. These livelihood activities should not be vulnerable to the adverse effects of climatic factors.
Samuel A. Donkoh, Isaac Gershon Kodwo Ansah, William Adzawla, Bismark Amfo

Case Studies on Ecosystem, Bio-production and Socio-ecological Production Landscapes

Frontmatter
Chapter 8. Diversity and Dispersion Patterns of Tree Species Within Household Farmlands and Open Parklands in the Talensi Area of Northern Ghana
Abstract
Ghana is bedeviled with issues related to dwindling natural resources, particularly tree populations. One of the most fundamental problems faced by community ecologists is how to measure the population sizes and distributions of plant species. In the northern Savanna region, the survival of tree species is being threatened by changes in climate and human activities. This chapter examines the diversity of woody tree species in terms of the size of the population and pattern of dispersion in household farmlands and open parklands in the Talensi area of the Upper East Region of Ghana. In total, 839 individual woody trees (652 in household farmlands and 187 in open parklands) belonging to 78 species were identified. The commonly identified species were Adansonia digitata L., Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn, Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A. Rich, Ficus trichopoda Baker, Lannea acida A. Rich, and Mangifera indica L. The variance-to-mean ratios determined for household farmlands and open parklands were 8.97 and 8.99 respectively, indicating clumped dispersion patterns for these tree species in both land types. The findings of this chapter provide a good foundation for ecologists, foresters, developers, and others who are trying to understand the state of tree resources in Ghana in this era of changing climate in order to develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
Francis Azumah Chimsah, Joseph Saa Dittoh, Israel Kwame Dzomeku
Chapter 9. Assessing Land and Ecosystem Management at the Local Level in the Savannah Ecological Zone and the Implications for Sustainability
Abstract
Biodiversity remains valuable life-supporting resources for mankind. However, in the semi-arid Savannah ecological zone of West Africa, our understanding of the stock, utilization, and management of biodiversity is less understood. This study seeks to (1) profile the distribution, management, and utilization of woody plant species under different land uses; (2) identify factors affecting plant biological resources; and (3) assess the state of a community’s ecological vulnerability. Both quantitative and qualitative research strategies including surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Field assessments were undertaken in purposively selected major land use types. The Sorensen index was used to assess species similarity levels and family importance value was used to determine the most important plant families. The Shannon–Weiner index was used to determine species diversity and evenness, whereas the ecological vulnerability index was used to estimate the communities’ vulnerability levels. Total of 67 woody plant species belonging to 27 families and 55 genera were identified, with Fabaceae and Compositaceae being the most important plant families. Species diversity was highest in sacred groves followed by fallow fields, crop fields, and grazed fields. The most resilient ecological communities were found to be Zagua and Kpalgun, whereas Daboshe emerged as the most vulnerable ecological community. In all communities, we found that species overexploitation for productive purposes and loss of traditional values contribute to biodiversity loss. Ecological resilience could be enhanced through the enforcement of taboos, implementation of afforestation, and educational programs. The study contributes to address the rarity of plant species distribution–assessment in the semi-arid areas of West Africa.
Effah Kwabena Antwi, Ruby Mensah, Emmanuel Morgan Attua, Gerald Yiran, John Boakye-Danquah, Richmond Ametepe, Dina Adjei Boadi
Chapter 10. Non-timber Forest Products, Climate Change Resilience, and Poverty Alleviation in Northern Ghana
Abstract
This study was conducted in the savannah woodlands of Northern Ghana, an area characterized by a higher incidence of poverty relative to other parts of the country. The purpose of the study was to determine the contribution of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) to household food and income security and the extent to which NTFPs contribute to resilient rural livelihoods in the face of climate change. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative data-collection methods. Questionnaires were utilized to obtain data from randomly selected respondents in various communities across the northern, upper-west, and upper-east regions of Ghana. Additionally, key informant interviews, observations, and focus group discussions were employed to obtain further information on specific aspects of NTFPs. Market surveys were also conducted in selected markets to obtain information related to the marketing of NTFPs. The findings revealed that NTFPs contribute significantly to rural livelihoods by way of food, employment, and income, particularly for the poor and vulnerable. However, recent trends indicate that the resource base of NTFPs is dwindling, partly because of overexploitation and expansion of agricultural lands. Climate change has highlighted the need to explore options to ensure a more resilient food system in Northern Ghana by way of optimizing the benefits of the agriculture and forestry sectors in a mutual fashion. Consequently, this chapter concludes by proposing a framework and innovative pathways for achieving this goal.
Yakubu Balma Issaka
Chapter 11. Material Flow Analysis of Shea Butter Production Systems: Implications for Sustainability in Semi-arid Ghana
Abstract
Shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) from Savannah landscapes is a popular source of vegetable oil for household and industrial consumption. The fruits are usually collected by women and processed into shea kernels and/or handcrafted shea butter for household consumption and sale in national and international markets. The volume of processed shea butter exported from Ghana has almost doubled from under 20,000 metric tons in 2009 to approximately 40,000 metric tons in 2013. The processing methods and technologies used at the microlevel are characterized by high consumption of water, fuelwood, and labor per unit output of crude shea butter. The level of input consumption and the operations performed by local processors have implications for the sustainability of the production process. Based on field interviews with experts and traders as well as on-site input inventory and measurements of consumption levels, this study analyzed the material demands and opportunities for improving production efficiency, marketing, and the livelihoods of the actors in urban and rural areas along the shea supply chain. The analysis goes beyond the shea value chain and applies material flow analysis to a discussion of simple efficiency scenarios for the most resource-consuming stages in the shea processing chain. Practical options for achieving sustainability through reduced material consumption and maintaining the supply capacity of natural capital are also discussed.
Godfred Seidu Jasaw, Osamu Saito, Kazuhiko Takeuchi

Case Studies on Climate Change Adaptation and Coping Strategies

Frontmatter
Chapter 12. Strategies of Farmers in the Bawku West District of Ghana to Mitigate the Impacts of Climate Variability on Farming
Abstract
The livelihoods of the people of northern Ghana, particularly those in rural areas, depend to a large extent on agriculture. Farmers in these areas have noticed variations in the climate. Accordingly, they have formulated coping strategies to avoid substantial or complete losses in livestock and crop productivity. However, the extreme climatic variations in recent years have threatened the resilience of current adaptive strategies, and failures in crop and livestock productivity are on the rise. The inevitable changes predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other scientists demand an understating of the coping strategies of rural farmers and recent crop production in order to develop capacity-building programs for farmers. Field data was collected from 135 farmers and key informants in the Bawku West District using semi-structured questionnaires and checklists, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results indicate that farmers in the study area practice mixed farming with a current focus on the rearing of goats and poultry, the cultivation of new and improved crop varieties, and the planting of early-maturing crop varieties in flood-prone areas. The findings suggest that the capacities of farmers should be enhanced through the provision of reliable information on climatic variations and access to farm implements, farm inputs, irrigation facilities, and credit facilities to help farmers enhance productivity and engage in other income-generating activities.
Apuswin Mercy Abarike, Richard Wilfred Nartey Yeboah, Israel Kwame Dzomeku
Chapter 13. Green Farming Practices for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: A Comparison of Conventional Practices and Vetiver Technology
Abstract
The Vetiver System, a green farming practice, represents a preventive, corrective, and curative tool to address the complex web of soil erosion. Case studies on the introduction of Vetiver technology in Ethiopia and Nigeria revealed the multiple benefits of this technique. In Ethiopia, the percentages of water lost as runoff in 2001 were 14% for bare land, 10% for land protected with Vetiver strips, and 11% for coffee fields integrated with Vetiver buffer strips (VBSs); in 2002, the corresponding values were 13%, 6%, and 5%, respectively, and the runoff rates in 2003 were 11%, <0.5%, and <0.5%, respectively. On a steep field in southeastern Nigeria, the percentages of rainfall lost as runoff under usual farming practice (UP) were 29% and 21% in 2010 and 2011, respectively. In contrast, in 2010, the percentages of water loss in the plots with Vetiver intervention were 7%, 12%, and 13% for plots with VBSs at intervals of 5, 15, and 25 m, respectively; the corresponding values in 2011 were 8%, 11%, and 11%, respectively. Soil organic carbon losses in fields under UP were 118% and 400% higher than those in fields with VBSs at 5-m intervals in 2010 and 2011, respectively, and the corresponding nitrogen losses were 133% and 350% higher. The maize grain yields from fields with VBSs at 5-m intervals were significantly higher (55% higher in 2010 and 88% higher in 2011) than UP yields.
Effiom Essien Oku
Chapter 14. Exploring the Role of Trust in Risk Communication Among Climate-Induced Vulnerable Rural Communities in Wa West District, Ghana
Abstract
Northern Ghana needs effective early warning system against its climate-induced vulnerabilities. Though there are a plethora of early warning information channels, the challenge often lies in identifying effective communication tool that would spur the vulnerable community into action and its mediating mechanisms. This is against the backdrop that prior studies indicate that information does not automatically lead to action without individual’s personal interpretation. Trust is thus seen as a key mediator between the sources of information and individual’s disaster response rate. Based on our field studies from Northern Ghana, we empirically explore the relationship between trust, risk perception, and the acceptance of preventive actions by comparing two models of trust: the causal chain and the associationist view. We examine whether the relationship between trust in information sources and the disaster-preventive action is mediated by the risk perception (i.e., the causal chain model) or whether the risk perception and trust in information sources are expressions of a more general attitude toward disaster preparedness (i.e., the associationist view model). Our findings challenge the conventional causal chain model and suggest that trust does not necessarily influence the acceptance of a disaster-preventing actions (e.g., evacuation). Rather, trust is more of a reflection of the individual’s general attitude toward disaster preparedness, which is shaped by his/her cultural norms.
Subhajyoti Samaddar, Muneta Yokomatsu, Frederick Dayour, Martin Oteng-Ababio, Togbiga Dzivenu, Hirohiko Ishikawa
Chapter 15. Examining Farm Management Practices and Implications for Food Crop Production in Semi-arid Ghana
Abstract
The unsustainable exploitation of natural resources combined with climate change and poor agroecosystem management practices has left the semi-arid areas of West Africa among one of the most degraded agroecosystems in the world. This condition affects the food crop production potential of the region. This paper examines farmers’ responses to climatic and ecological setbacks to enhance food crop production in the Tolon District of Northern Ghana. The study adopted a mixed method data collection appraoch. First, transect walks were undertaken in selected study communities to observe the agroecological landscapes, major agricultural land use types, dominant cropping patterns, and density of farming across the landscape. Secondly, an on-farm management survey was conducted to obtain information on the existing farm management practices and land preparation methods. Thirdly, Focus group discussions were held to determine the extents of adoption of primary farm management practices. The results revealed that current farming practices often involve the complete removal of organic residue in farmlands. This practice hinders plant nutrient retention and limits the buildup of soil organic carbon critical for food crop production. We also found increased incidence of droughts as a major challenge to farming. To boost food production potential, chemical fertilizer is the most valued soil amendment by farmers in Tolon even the though majority of farmers are unable to apply the recommended fertilizer amounts. The above findings suggest that any attempt to boost crop production and improve agroecological resilience to recent threats such as climate change without consideration of the restoration of agroecological integrity will be less sustainable. Policy makers and development agencies can take advantage of the high utilization of new technologies such as mobile phones and radio in such communities to deliver targeted programs to farmers meant to restore agroecological integrity.
Effah Kwabena Antwi, John Boakye-Danquah, Kwabena Awere Gyekye, Alex Owusu Barimah, Isaac Botchwey, Richmond Ametepe
Chapter 16. Adaptation to Climate Change: Lessons from Farmer Responses to Environmental Changes in Ghana
Abstract
In developing agricultural countries, climate change poses a major socioeconomic threat because agriculture, which is the primary source of livelihood, is mainly rain fed. As such, agriculture is highly susceptible to climate change, including deteriorating moisture conditions. Aware of their vulnerability to adverse changes in local environments, as a survival strategy, smallholder farmers use their knowledge of the environment to modify the farming and other resource management practices along with their socioeconomic conduct as a whole in the wake of their changing operating circumstances. This chapter argues that such responses, which are borne out of traditional, local, or indigenous knowledge, offer lessons for the formulation of realistic local-level strategies to adapt to climate change to complement systematic scientific models. It draws from case studies in Ghana to explore the prospects of developing such strategies. Based on the case studies, we identified more than 50 actual responses to environmental change, including agrodiverse biological responses that appear particularly appropriate for developing climate change-adaptive models and, possibly, for developing mitigative measures, which farmers recognize as an important need.
Edwin A. Gyasi, Kwabena Gyekye Awere
Chapter 17. The State of Disaster Risk Reduction Mainstreaming in Pre-tertiary Education in Ghana: An Exploratory Study
Abstract
In an era of increased climate-induced disasters, education related to disaster prevention, preparedness, and management has become crucial. In response, the government of Ghana and other stakeholders have initiated programs and policies aimed at integrating disaster risk reduction (DRR) into educational curricula. This study assessed the current level of DRR integration in the pre-tertiary education system in Ghana by assessing teachers’ perceptions and preparedness to handle DRR lessons and the challenges they experience. Using secondary data and in-depth interviews with officials from the Ghana Education Service (GES), National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), information on the current level of DRR integration in the pre-tertiary education system in Ghana was reviewed. Semi-structured questionnaires were also used to obtain information from teachers sampled from selected schools in the La Nkwantanang District of the Greater Accra Region. The results revealed that the level of DRR integration in pre-tertiary schools remain low, and challenges to further integration include inadequate teacher training and learning materials and poor support from disaster management organizations. These factors adversely affect the ability of teachers to impart DRR knowldge and mainstreaming of DRR into pre-tertiary education in Ghana. Therefore, the findings suggest that training teachers in the delivery of DRR lessons at the pre-tertiary level should be prioritized in Ghana. In addition, disaster management organizations should be encouraged to partner with schools to support the practical teaching of DRR lessons to be able to enhance the knowledge and skills of both students and teachers.
Priscilla Toloo Apronti, John Boakye-Danquah, Effah Kwabena Antwi

Synthesis

Frontmatter
Chapter 18. Internationalization and Localization of the Ghana Model: Lessons Learned, Opportunities for Upscaling, and Future Directions
Abstract
The significance of incorporating adaptation responses within climate and environmental change policies is well acknowledged. The involvement of diverse and relevant stakeholders is essential in the identification, characterization, and implementation of adaptation measures for enhancing resilience and reducing vulnerability. The “Ghana Model” was developed through transdisciplinary and solutions-oriented sustainability science approaches that incorporated collaboration between researchers, scientists, development practitioners in public and private sectors, as well as governmental and nongovernmental organizations under the Enhancing Resilience to Climate and Ecosystem Change in Semi-Arid Africa: An Integrated Approach (CECAR-Africa) project. In this concluding chapter, we discuss the opportunities that exist, and the efforts that can be made, to upscale the Ghana Model to other sub-Saharan African countries with similar socioecological conditions. The lessons learned from designing and implementing the Ghana Model are discussed, and the proposed future actions designed to ensure sustainability are considered.
Osamu Saito, Yaw Agyeman Boafo, Gordana Kranjac-Berisavljevic, Richard Wilfred Nartey Yeboah, Adelina Mensah, Chris Gordon, Kazuhiko Takeuchi
Metadata
Title
Strategies for Building Resilience against Climate and Ecosystem Changes in Sub-Saharan Africa
Editors
Ph.D. Osamu Saito
Prof. Gordana Kranjac-Berisavljevic
Dr. Kazuhiko Takeuchi
Prof. Edwin A. Gyasi
Copyright Year
2018
Publisher
Springer Singapore
Electronic ISBN
978-981-10-4796-1
Print ISBN
978-981-10-4794-7
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4796-1