Abidjan, September 26, 2024 – A project to improve the resilience of coastal communities in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana was officially launched on September 26, 2024, during a workshop in Abidjan-Plateau, in the presence of Marcel Yao, Director of International Cooperation and Development, representing the Ivorian Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Ecological Transition, and Evelyn Wright-Hanson, representing the Ministry of Environment of Ghana.

The project, approved in 2023 by the Adaptation Fund, aims to strengthen the resilience of coastal settlements in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire by reducing their vulnerability to climate change. It also seeks to promote sustainable socio-economic development in these regions.

Spanning four years and funded with around 8.4 billion CFA francs, the project is being implemented by UN-Habitat in collaboration with partners such as the University of Twente, Habitat for Humanity, and the Abidjan Convention.

“In Côte d'Ivoire, the project will be implemented in Dabou, Grand-Bassam, Jacqueville, etc.,” said the representative of Minister Jacques Assahoré Konan.

For the representative of the Ghanaian Ministry of Environment, this project reflects the shared objective of enhancing the adaptive capacity and resilience of vulnerable populations through integrated coastal zone management strategies, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable livelihood programs.

Ghitu I-Mundunge, representing the UN Resident Coordinator for Development in Côte d'Ivoire, praised the commitment of the Ivorian and Ghanaian governments to protecting their populations from the devastating impacts of climate change, especially in coastal areas.

 MC