ActionAid Ghana (AAG), in partnership with the Jirapa Farmers Network (JiFAN), has provided livelihood training and start-up support to women in the Jirapa Municipality and Lambussie District to strengthen their economic resilience and improve household incomes.
The beneficiaries received pigs, goats, soybean kebab processing equipment and other materials after undergoing practical training in soybean kebab production as well as small-ruminant and piggery rearing.
In all, 40 parents of sponsored children under AAG’s Child Sponsorship Programme benefited from the intervention.
The beneficiaries were drawn from Chebogo, Billaw, Piina, Sentu, Lambussie and Karni in the Lambussie District, and Gbare, Sabuli, Tampaala, Ul-Kpong and Ul-Dantie in the Jirapa Municipality.
The intervention forms part of efforts to address poverty and other socio-economic vulnerabilities that contribute to child marriage in the beneficiary communities.
Presenting the start-up items at separate ceremonies, Madam Abiba Nibaradun, Upper West Regional Programme Manager of ActionAid Ghana, described the support as an investment in the future of the beneficiaries, their children’s education and their communities.
She urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the intervention to establish sustainable livelihoods and improve their household incomes.
“Today marks an important milestone in our efforts to expand women and young people’s access to economic empowerment opportunities, strengthen household livelihoods and improve the well-being of families in Jirapa and Lambussie,” she said.
Kuoro Issaka Zeng’eh Kazie Tenjie (Bussiekuoro), Paramount Chief of Lambussie, expressed optimism that the intervention would help reduce poverty among women and households in the traditional area.
He said the demand-driven nature of the intervention would enhance its sustainability and assured ActionAid Ghana of his commitment to monitoring the beneficiaries to ensure the items were put to productive use.
Mr Ireneous Basingbie Naawulle, Lambussie District Chief Executive, urged the beneficiaries to justify the confidence reposed in them by making productive use of the support.
He advised them against selling the animals and equipment or consuming the livestock at the household level.
In Jirapa, Mr Peter To-ang, the Jirapa Municipal Chief Executive, described the presentation of the start-up items as a strategic investment in the socio-economic development of the beneficiaries, their households and the municipality.
He commended ActionAid Ghana and its partners for empowering women through sustainable livelihood interventions that would improve food and nutrition security, increase household incomes and support children’s education.
Ms Danyi Assumpta, a beneficiary from Tampaala, assured the organisers that she would apply the skills acquired to help address her financial challenges.
Madam Aapinekuu Pala, another beneficiary from Chebogo, described the intervention as timely, saying the skills and start-up items would enable her to generate income to support her children’s education and healthcare needs.
The initiative aligns with ActionAid Ghana’s Country Strategy Paper VII (2023–2028), which prioritises expanding access to economic empowerment opportunities and decent work, particularly for women and other vulnerable groups.
It also contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially those relating to poverty reduction and the elimination of harmful practices such as child marriage by 2030.