Accra – On 2 June 2023, the Project Working Group supporting the Diaspora for Climate Action (D4C) project met for the first time since the project’s launch earlier this year. As part of the D4C project, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ghana had supported the Government of Ghana to establish a Project Working Group to keep track of the project’s progress and provide technical inputs – all to enhance diaspora engagement in climate action.

During the meeting, Government representatives discussed a case study that will be carried out by IOM to identify the opportunities and challenges for UK-based Ghanaian diaspora to contribute to climate action in Ghana. Participants also discussed priority areas for climate action as well as ongoing projects and opportunities the diaspora can engage with.

Climate change is impacting the lives and livelihoods of people around the world, including in Ghana. It is one of the greatest challenges of our time, requiring urgent collective action. Diaspora associations and members are agents of innovation in their countries of residence and origin, and have the knowledge, skills, and global connections that are crucial to accelerate climate action in their countries of origin.

The UK is home to a large Ghanian diaspora community. Aware of that community’s enormous potential that can be unleashed, IOM, Government and Diaspora jointly launched the D4C project earlier this year. The project aims to enable Ghanaian diaspora members based in the UK to connect with key stakeholders in their home country, and to support more effective and coordinated climate action and longer-lasting solutions for climate-vulnerable populations.

“It is believed that acting on climate change must not be done in isolation. It must be a shared, coordinated efforts weaved into the sustainable development agenda of our nation, Ghana, and ensured that the diaspora is involved,” said Juliana Bempah, Programme Officer at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Going forward, a dialogue involving UK-based Ghanaian diaspora and stakeholders based in Ghana will be organised in Accra later this year. During this consultation, potential areas for diaspora to contribute to climate action in Ghana will be explored and agreed upon.

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The Diaspora for Climate Action (D4C) project is funded by IOM Development Fund, working with IOM missions and relevant ministries in four countries - Jamaica, Ghana, Bangladesh and Albania, and will contribute to government efforts to address the adverse impacts of climate change and promote sustainable development.

These four countries are all significantly affected by the negative impacts of climate change, and the challenges they face require immediate and effective responses and mobilization of resources from a variety of stakeholders.

D4C aims to create a model for other countries to promote the unique role diaspora can play in shaping national climate action policies and interventions alongside governments and other actors.

More information on the D4C project is available here.

For more information contact:

In Accra: Giulia PICCIONI, Project Development & Donor Liaison Officer, at gpiccioni@iom.int  

In London: Abir Soleiman, IOM UK, asoleiman@iom.int