Climate change and water scarcity disrupting youth livelihoods in Ghana
Young farmers are leaving rural areas in search of better employment. Improved water access could help revitalize agricultural opportunities and curb out-migration.
Water scarcity and limited agricultural opportunities are encouraging youth to migrate out of rural areas in search of better employment elsewhere. However, improved water access could help young farmers adapt to climate variability.
In the Loggu community in the Upper West Region of Ghana, water stress due to changing rainfall patterns and poor management of water resources are among the factors causing young farmers to leave their homes and migrate to cities to seek new sources of income. Improved water access could extend farming into the dry season, providing incentives for young people to remain in the community and revitalize the rural economy.
The Resilience Against Climate Change – Social Transformation Research and Policy Advocacy (REACH-STR) project, funded by the European Union and led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), among other issues, is investigating the links between climate change and migration in Ghana. The project strives to ensure equality for young people and women in rural communities in the northern region of the country.
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