Background:

The Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project aims to improve regional collaboration and the socioeconomic and climate resilience of border-zone communities in the target northern regions of the Gulf of Guinea countries (Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Togo) exposed to conflict and climate risks. It proactively seeks to prevent the spread of conflict from the Sahel, reduce vulnerability to climate change, and strengthen local institutions, economic opportunities, and public trust.

In Ghana, the project is being implemented by the Ministry of Local Governance Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD), in 48 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) across 6 Regions in the northern part of Ghana. with the Ministry is implementing the Project in collaboration with Ministry of Finance, National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to deliver the various components of the project effectively.

The Ministry is seeking to partner with Development Partners (DPs) and other partner organisations that are implementing interventions in northern part of Ghana for a broader development impact. The team has continuously engaging DPs and other partner organisations to learn more about their programmes in the North of Ghana, so as to identify specific areas for synergy in implementing interventions related to Local Economic Development (LED), digital innovations, local governance, social cohesion, climate resilience, addressing Fragility Conflict and Violence (FCV), building local capacity and social accountability.

As part of this broader ongoing dialogue with the various DPs, the Ministry is organizing a one-day Deep Dive Workshop on Thursday, May 4, 2023 with select DPs/agencies with whom specific areas of collaboration have been identified in the thematic areas of LED, Digital Innovations and Local Governance/Social Cohesion. This first deep dive workshop will aim to further concretise and firm up how the Ministry can coordinate in implementing specific programs in the north of Ghana for greater development impact. Beyond this initial deep dive workshop, the team will continue engagements with other DPs to explore potential partnerships and will hold subsequent sessions/meetings, including on other thematic areas.

A larger DP forum will also be convened – as part of the Conference on Northern Ghana in November 2023 that will be organised in partnership with Northern Development Authority (NDA) – to bring together DPs working in the northern parts of the country to discuss collaborations on various fronts. The Forum will also facilitate a roadmap for joint action for coordinated and integrated development in the North of Ghana.