R4D Ghana

Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Variability and Existing Opportunities for Adaptation in Wenchi Area of Ghana

Tue, 22 May 2012 08:19 GMT

Document Type: Journal Article

Production Year: 2010

Citation: Adjei-Nsiah, S.; Issaka, R.N.; Fening, J.O.; Mapfumo, P.; Anchirina, V.; Giller, K.E. Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Variability and Existing Opportunities for Adaptation in Wenchi Area of Ghana. International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts and Responses (2010) 2 (2) 49-60.

Summary: Climate change is increasingly emerging as the most significant environmental threat to sustainability of human livelihoods in Ghana, as in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa. A participatory research study initiated in 2007 in Wenchi, Ghana, shows that farmers consider poor rainfall distribution and frequent droughts as the most commonly observed indicators of climatic variability in recent times. About 55% of the farmers considered the 1980s as the decade of worst observed adverse weather events, and poor rainfall distribution was mentioned as the most observed adverse weather event by about 70% of the respondents. Farmers have responded to these adverse weather events by making changes in their farming practices. These changes included increased crop diversification such as planting of early maturing crops, use of drought tolerant crop varieties and planting of different crop varieties as well as escaping sensitive crop stages through crop management practices that ensure that critical crop growth stages do not coincide with harsh climatic conditions in the growing season. Early planting was the strategy frequently used by majority (34%) of the farmers, followed by the use of agro-chemicals (18%) and planting of early maturing crops (16%). Emerging priority areas for research include development of appropriate cropping systems to improve soil fertility and enhance sustainable production, and to develop appropriate soil and crop management practices for cassava-based cropping systems in order to improve yields and cooking quality of cassava, a major staple food for the people of Wenchi. Poor access to climate information and knowledge on crop management technologies is a major factor influencing the responsiveness of farmers to any externally introduced adaptation options.

Modified taungya system in Ghana: a win–win practice for forestry and adaptation to climate change?

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:37 GMT

Document Type: Journal Article
Creator: Kalame, F.B.; Aidoo, R.; Nkem, J.; Ajayi, O.C.; Kanninen, M.; Luukkanen, O.; Idinoba, M.

Production Year: 2011

Citation: Kalame, F.B.; Aidoo, R.; Nkem, J.; Ajayi, O.C.; Kanninen, M.; Luukkanen, O.; Idinoba, M. Modified taungya system in Ghana: a win–win practice for forestry and adaptation to climate change? Environmental Science and Policy (2011) 14 (5) 519-530. [DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2011.03.011]

Summary: The formulation and implementation of an adaptation strategy is of growing concern to governments. The adaptation policy framework (APF) sets out indicative activities and features of an adaptation strategy. Understanding the extent to which existing practices can support adaptation in societies and ecosystems is an important step towards the solution. This study uses vulnerability, policy and financial analyses to investigate the compatibility of the modified taungya system (MTS) (a reforestation programme) in Ghana with the indicative activities of the APF. The findings indicate that MTS takes into consideration most of the activities of an adaptation strategy, is a profitable venture (BCR > 1) and has a high potential to reduce vulnerability due to short-term food production and long-term plantation establishment. Resource management in MTS is promising in the short term, but challenges remain to meet livelihood and adaptation needs in the medium and long term. Policy instruments related to MTS align with the forestry, climate change and the development goals of Ghana. We conclude that MTS is a potential win–win practice for forestry and adaptation. The legalization of all contractual arrangements coupled with continuous monitoring, evaluation and improvement may drive MTS to become a lasting activity that will support the long-term horizon of an adaptation strategy.

Bridging the gaps among research, policy and practice in ten low- and middle-income countries: development and testing of a questionnaire for health-care providers

Fri, 11 May 2012 05:02 GMT

Document Type: Journal Article
Creator: Guindon, G.E.; Lavis, J.N.; Boupha, B.; Shi, G.; Sidibe, M.; Turdaliyeva, B.

Production Year: 2010

Citation: Guindon, G.E.; Lavis, J.N.; Boupha, B.; Shi, G.; Sidibe, M.; Turdaliyeva, B. Bridging the gaps among research, policy and practice in ten low- and middle-income countries: development and testing of a questionnaire for health-care providers. Health Research Policy and Systems (2010) 8 (1) 3. [DOI: 10.1186/1478-4505-8-3]

Summary: Background: The reliability and validity of instruments used to survey health-care providers' views about and experiences with research evidence have seldom been examined. Methods: Country teams from ten low- and middle-income countries (China, Ghana, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mexico, Pakistan, Senegal and Tanzania) participated in the development, translation, pilot-testing and administration of a questionnaire designed to measure health-care providers’ views and activities related to improving their clinical practice and their awareness of, access to and use of research evidence, as well as changes in their clinical practice that they attribute to particular sources of research evidence that they have used. We use internal consistency as a measure of the questionnaire’s reliability and, whenever possible, we use explanatory factor analyses to assess the degree to which questions that pertain to a single domain actually address common themes. We assess the questionnaire’s face validity and content validity and, to a lesser extent, we also explore its criterion validity. Results: The questionnaire has high internal consistency, with Cronbach's alphas between 0.7 and 0.9 for 16 of 20 domains and sub-domains (identified by factor analyses). Cronbach's alphas are greater than 0.9 for two domains, suggesting some item redundancy. Pre- and post-field work assessments indicate the questionnaire has good face validity and content validity. Our limited assessment of criterion validity shows weak but statistically significant associations between the general influence of research evidence among providers and more specific measures of providers' change in approach to preventing or treating a clinical condition. Conclusion: Our analysis points to a number of strengths of the questionnaire - high internal consistency (reliability) and good face and content validity - but also to areas where it can be shortened without losing important conceptual domains.

Bridging the gaps among research, policy and practice in ten low- and middle-income countries: development and testing of a questionnaire for researchers

Fri, 11 May 2012 04:30 GMT

Document Type: Journal Article
Creator: Cameron, D.; Lavis, J.N.; Guindon, E.; Akhtar, T.; Posada, F.B.; Ndossi, G.D.; Boupha, B.

Production Year: 2010

Citation: Cameron, D.; Lavis, J.N.; Guindon, E.; Akhtar, T.; Posada, F.B.; Ndossi, G.D.; Boupha, B. Bridging the gaps among research, policy and practice in ten low- and middle-income countries: development and testing of a questionnaire for researchers. Health Research Policy and Systems (2010) 8 (1) 4. [DOI: 10.1186/1478-4505-8-4]

Summary: Background: A questionnaire could assist researchers, policymakers, and healthcare providers to describe and monitor changes in efforts to bridge the gaps among research, policy and practice. No questionnaire focused on researchers' engagement in bridging activities related to high-priority topics (or the potential correlates of their engagement) has been developed and tested in a range of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: Country teams from ten LMICs (China, Ghana, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Laos, Mexico, Pakistan, Senegal, and Tanzania) participated in the development and testing of a questionnaire. To assess reliability we calculated the internal consistency of items within each of the ten conceptual domains related to bridging activities (specifically Cronbach’s alpha). To assess face and content validity we convened several teleconferences and a workshop. To assess construct validity we calculated the correlation between scales and counts (i.e., criterion measures) for the three countries that employed both and we calculated the correlation between different but theoretically related (i. e., convergent) measures for all countries. Results: Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) for sets of related items was very high, ranging from 0.89 (0.86- 0.91) to 0.96 (0.95-0.97), suggesting some item redundancy. Both face and content validity were determined to be high. Assessments of construct validity using criterion-related measures showed statistically significant associations for related measures (with gammas ranging from 0.36 to 0.73). Assessments using convergent measures also showed significant associations (with gammas ranging from 0.30 to 0.50). Conclusions: While no direct comparison can be made to a comparable questionnaire, our findings do suggest a number of strengths of the questionnaire but also the need to reduce item redundancy and to test its capacity to monitor changes over time.

Using a gender lens to explore farmers' adaptation options in the face of climate change: results of a pilot study in Ghana. CCAFS Working Paper No. 17.

Wed, 09 May 2012 07:27 GMT

Document Type: Working Paper
Creator: Naab, J.B.; Koranteng, H.

Production Year: 2012

Citation: Naab, J.B.; Koranteng, H. Using a gender lens to explore farmers' adaptation options in the face of climate change: results of a pilot study in Ghana. CCAFS Working Paper No. 17. CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Nairobi, Kenya (2012) 34 pp.

Summary: The Upper West Region of Ghana and especially the Lawra-Jirapa districts are highly vulnerable to climate variability and likely to be amongst the worst hit under climate change. Any responses to climate change affected communities cannot be considered complete unless women-specific responses are interwoven in a variety of adaptation options considered in the target area. The overall objective of this short-term research was to test tools and methodologies developed by CCAFS and FAO on analysis of gender issues in climate change, agriculture and food security. The study took place from the 1–4 November 2011, in the village of Doggoh in the Jirapa district of the Upper West Region of Ghana.

Research Briefing. Africa Talks Climate: Ghana

Thu, 03 May 2012 01:57 GMT

Document Type: Briefing
Creator: Burton, M.; Godfrey, A.; Neville, L.

Production Year: 2009

Citation: Burton, M.; Godfrey, A.; Neville, L. Research Briefing. Africa Talks Climate: Ghana. BBC World Service Trust, London, UK (2009) 3 pp.

Summary: Initial insights from the Ghana research on public understanding of climate change are presented. There is very low awareness of either climate change or global warming in Ghana, although the latter appears to be a more accessible concept.

Ghana talks climate

Thu, 03 May 2012 01:49 GMT

Document Type: Report
Creator: Neville, L.; Anu Mohammed

Production Year: 2010

Citation: Neville, L.; Mohammed, A. Ghana talks climate. BBC World Service Trust, London, UK (2010) 17 pp.

Summary: In May 2009, the BBC World Service Trust conducted research in Ghana to gauge public understanding of climate change. The research consisted of 12 focus group discussions with Ghanaian citizens, as well as 18 in-depth interviews with opinion leaders from government, religious institutions, the private sector, the media and civil society. The overall objective was to find out what people think about climate change and to determine how to tailor communication and media strategies to support Ghana’s response to climate change. This report presents key findings and recommendations.

Policy Brief No. 47. From farmer participation to pro-poor seed markets: the political economy of commercial cereal seed networks in Ghana

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 06:44 GMT

Document Type: Briefing
Creator: Amanor, K. S.

Production Year: 2012

Citation: Amanor, K. S. Policy Brief No. 47. From farmer participation to pro-poor seed markets: the political economy of commercial cereal seed networks in Ghana. (2012) 7 pp.

Summary: Since the 1980s public research systems in seed production in sub-Saharan Africa have increasingly come under pressure to privatise. In Ghana, however, privatisation has been complex and fragmented since farmers are largely dependent upon their own seeds and are reluctant to purchase improved seed. With few large investors willing to approach an industry that has not yet established itself, the development of seed investment is predicated on creating a social infrastructure for improved seeds; this will gradually build demand among farmers and integrate them into improved seed, input and food processing markets. This FAC Policy Brief employs a political economy analysis to examine dominant political interests in the seed industry.

Africa Talks Climate: The public understanding of climate change in ten countries. Executive Summary.

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:14 GMT

Document Type: Report
Creator: Godfrey, A.; Roux-Rutledge, E. le; Cooke, S.; Burton, M.; Neville, L.; Pauker, E.

Production Year: 2010

Citation: Godfrey, A.; Roux-Rutledge, E. le; Cooke, S.; Burton, M.; Neville, L.; Pauker, E. Africa Talks Climate: The public understanding of climate change in ten countries. Executive Summary. BBC World Service Trust, London, UK / British Council, UK (2010) 20 pp.

Summary: This report summarizes research conducted to date on public understanding of climate change in Africa. The research programme was called Africa Talks Climate (ATC). Fieldwork completed in 2009 convened discussions with over 1000 citizens and nearly 200 opinion leaders in ten countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Using a qualitative research approach, ATC sought to assess current attitudes and understanding and identify how media and communication can best support Africans’ response to climate change.

Removing financial barriers to access reproductive, maternal and newborn health services: the challenges and policy implications for Human Resources for Health (HRH)

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:48 GMT

Document Type: Case Study
Creator: McPake, B.; Witter, S.; Ensor, T.; Fustukian, S.; Newlands, D.; Martineau, T.

Production Year: 2011

Citation: McPake, B.; Witter, S.; Ensor, T.; Fustukian, S.; Newlands, D.; Martineau, T. Removing financial barriers to access reproductive, maternal and newborn health services: the challenges and policy implications for Human Resources for Health (HRH). Queen Margaret University, East Lothian, UK (2011) 196 pp.

Summary:

In the last decade a growing consensus has emerged that user fees are regressive and undermine equitable access to essential health services, and in particular, may negatively affect pregnant women and children under five. A policy shift removing or reducing fees has occurred with consequences for the health system, including the need for replacement revenue and to ensure quality in response to increased utilization. Both of these raise specific concerns for human resources for health (HRH) and suggest that careful planning of the supply side response to the demand stimulated by removal of fees has to take place.

This research responds to this concern. Its objective is to determine the associations and interrelationships between workforce characteristics (stock, distribution, competencies and motivational state) and equitable access to Reproductive, Maternal and Neonatal Health (RMNH) services resulting from the removal of, or exemption from user fees.

The study was conducted in five countries: Ghana, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and consisted of literature review of international and local published and grey literature, desk based analysis of secondary data from the five countries and field work in two countries, including primary data collection in Zimbabwe.

This document comprises a 6-page policy brief, the main report, the literature review, the 5 case studies and references.