Innovations For Sustainable Rural Development

08/03/2026

12/11/2025

https://gna.org.gh/2025/11/womens-access-to-farmland-improves-income-and-livelihoods-study/

By Philip Tengzu, GNA  Wechiau (UW/R), Nov. 12, GNA – A study by the Innovations for Sustainable Rural Development (ISRuDev) has revealed that improved access to farmland significantly…

12/11/2025

Showcasing Rural Women’s Enterprise and Innovation

On November 5, 2025, Innovations for Sustainable Rural Development (ISRuDev), with support from the FAO Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) Direct Beneficiary Grant (DBG), convened a Business Forum in Wechiau, Wa West District, aimed at empowering rural women and promoting inclusive green enterprises.

The event served as a market and networking hub, where women’s groups proudly displayed their locally made products such as moringa powder, shea butter, soya Dawadawa powder, soya cereals, and other green products.

Stakeholders, community members, and guests enthusiastically visited exhibition booths, shared feedback, and purchased products, reflecting the growing interest in local value addition and women-led enterprises.
We were honored by the presence of the District Chief Executive (DCE), who commended the women for their entrepreneurial spirit and encouraged them to keep breaking barriers and expanding opportunities for themselves and their communities.
The day was filled with inspiration, learning, and celebration of the creativity and resilience that define rural women entrepreneurs.
ISRuDev remains dedicated to nurturing these enterprises and building pathways for sustainable rural economic growth.

12/11/2025

Dialogue for Change: Advancing Women’s Land access in Wa West
On Friday, [7/11/2025], Innovations for Sustainable Rural Development (ISRuDev) held a Regional Land Tenure Dialogue under the FAO Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) Direct Beneficiary Grant (DBG) initiative.
The event convened chiefs, government representatives, including the District Chief Executive (DCE) and Assembly Members, 13 community leaders, and 33 women group representatives to discuss the findings of a research study on women’s access to land in the Wa West District.
The dialogue provided a vibrant and inclusive space for participants to:
🌾 Examine cultural and institutional barriers affecting women’s land ownership and control
💬 Share diverse perspectives from traditional authorities, local government, and women’s groups
📈 Identify practical steps to promote equitable access and secure tenure for women farmers
🤝 Strengthen collaboration among stakeholders for sustainable land governance
The engagement was lively and solution-oriented, participants left motivated to champion fair land distribution and support women’s empowerment across their communities.
ISRuDev extends heartfelt appreciation to FAO-FFF for their unwavering support, to the chiefs, government officials, and community stakeholders for their active participation, and to all women leaders who continue to inspire change from the ground up.
Together, we are building a future where land access is fair, inclusive, and sustainable. 🌍

23/09/2025

🌍✨ ISRuDev Launches Maternal & Child Health Pilot in Wa West District ✨🌍

Innovations for Sustainable Rural Development (ISRuDev), is excited to announce the launch of a Maternal and Child Health Pilot Initiative in partnership with the Wa West District Health Directorate.

The pilot will begin in Chogsia and Meteu communities and, if successful, will be scaled up across the entire district.

To kickstart this important journey, ISRuDev held an inception meeting, on 15th September 2025, with key stakeholders, including the Wa West District Health Directorate (represented by the District CHPS Coordinator), midwives, Community Health Officers, Mother-Sub Incharges, and Community Health Committee Chairpersons.

✅ The meeting was a success!
Stakeholders expressed strong excitement about the initiative and pledged their full collaboration to ensure successful implementation. Together, we clarified project objectives, roles, and strategies, while aligning the pilot with district health priorities.

💡 What’s Next?
ISRuDev will soon begin community sensitization sessions in Chogsia and Meteu to engage residents, raise awareness, and foster ownership of the initiative.

This pilot is a step towards reducing maternal and neonatal health challenges, strengthening community accountability, and building a healthier future for all in Wa West.

🤝 With collaboration, commitment, and community spirit, we can make this vision a reality.

22/09/2025

Strengthening Green Enterprises for Lasting Impact!

On Thursday, August 21, 2025, Innovations for Sustainable Rural Development (ISRuDev) hosted 25 member businesses from over 13 communities in the Wa West District for a hands-on business planning training focused on four high-value green enterprises:
🌿 Soya
🌳 Shea Butter
🍃 Moringa
🍠 Orange-Fleshed Sweet Potato (OFSP)
The workshop equipped participants with practical skills to design solid business plans, identify opportunities, manage resources wisely, and grow their enterprises sustainably.
The Facilitators drew heavily on useful resources from the FAO MA&D Manual (FAO, 2011).
Through interactive sessions and group discussions, participants:
💡 Explored strategies to overcome business challenges
📈 Learned how to set achievable targets for growth and profitability
💰 Strengthened their budgeting and financial planning skills
🌍 Designed business models that balance profit with environmental care
The energy in the room was truly inspiring, participants left motivated, confident, and ready to turn ideas into action.
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the FAO-Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) for funding this training through the Direct Beneficiary Grant, and to all stakeholders who made this event a success.
ISRuDev remains committed to walking alongside these entrepreneurs as they transform their communities through green enterprises.

15/08/2025

Transforming Women’s Dreams into Thriving Businesses!
On August 7, 2025, Innovations for Sustainable Rural Development (ISRuDev), brought together 32 dynamic rural women from over 13 communities in the Wa West District for an intensive Business Incubation Training — a program designed to turn small ideas into sustainable enterprises.
Guided by a Small Business Development Expert, participants explored powerful tools for business success, including:
🌳 Business Tree Analysis – from roots of investment to branches of growth
📊 The “4 Ps” of marketing – Product, Price, Promotion, Place
📒 Simple yet effective record-keeping & financial tracking methods
💬 Customer care, risk management & building brand loyalty
📈 Practical strategies to grow and sustain small businesses
The participants engaged in hands-on exercises, sharing experiences, refining business plans, and discovering innovative ways to increase profits, reduce costs, and build resilient livelihoods.
The energy was contagious — participants left inspired, confident, and ready to turn knowledge into action.
We celebrate these women for their determination. This training was funded by the FAO-FFF Direct Beneficiary Grant.
We look forward to the next phase — vocational skills training that will unlock even greater opportunities.

08/04/2025

SITE VISIT BY MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS

Mental health is a crucial concern for every society, and it must be balanced with all sectors of development. Recognizing this, ISRUDEV hosted Lesley Hill, a mental health practitioner and researcher from Scotland with extensive experience in mental health projects in Ghana and Zambia, to visit our Climate Resilience and Adaptation site at Chogsia. The familiarity visit aimed to give her the opportunity to interact with our members and get first hand experience of our activities.
Lesley is a mental health practitioner and researcher from Scotland with extensive experience in mental health projects in Ghana and Zambia. Her visit to Wa, Ghana, and ISRUDEV’s Climate Resilient Site aligns with this commitment. She was accompanied by Anacetus Banakoma, a Mental Health Officer with the Ghana Health Service in Daffiama-Bussie-Issa (DBI) District.

The visit commenced with a warm reception at the ISRUDEV office, where initial discussions on mental health and climate resilience took place. The team then proceeded to engage with women's groups at Chogsia in an interactive session. Key discussion areas included:
- Stereotypes surrounding persons with mental illness.
- Challenges faced by individuals with mental health conditions and their families.
- Social inclusion measures for persons with mental health conditions.
- Clearing misconceptions regarding mental health.

Community members expressed their appreciation for the engagement, highlighting the importance of such discussions. The visit concluded at the ISRUDEV Climate Resilience Site/Garden, where the visitors observed activities undertaken by women groups to mitigate climate change effects. These activities include cultivating drought-resilient crops, agroforestry, and vegetable production to ensure sustainable livelihoods.

The tour was graced by ISRUDEV’s Executive Director, Mr. Philemon Dong-Uuro, alongside ISRUDEV staff. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Lesley and her team for choosing ISRUDEV as a trusted partner. We also appreciate all partners, especially the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) of the FAO, for their continuous support.

Together, we are committed to building resilient communities, free from mental stress, while improving livelihoods.
.
Banakoma Anacetus

08/04/2025

CLIMATE RESILIENCE TRAINING WORKSHOP

The effects of climate change on farming communities cannot be overemphasized. The ravaging impact of unexpected drought spells, low rainfall patterns, heat waves, floods, and high temperatures has drastically reduced local food production. This has led to extreme consequences as, low-income levels, poor health, poverty, poor yields, food insecurity and overall negative impacts on socioeconomic development.

To address these challenges, ISRUDEV, through funding support from the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) of the FAO and , successfully organized a Climate Resilience Training Workshop aimed at building the capacity of local women on strategic measures to identify adaptive strategies to tackle climate change and its associated effects.

Held at the forecourt of the ISRuDev Field Office at Chogsia in the Wa West District, the workshop trained 30 women leaders, equipping them with knowledge and skills to pass on to their fellow members. Facilitated by ISRUDEV and led by Mr. Yussif Zakaria, the Programs Coordinator and Focal Person for Climate Resilience, participants engaged in interactive sessions where they:
- Assessed the concept of climate change.
- Identified climate change hazards, their causes, and effects.
- Explored adaptive measures and their capacity needs to use those measures to mitigate climate change effects.

Participants were later divided into groups to discuss the above points, considering different crops and livestock. Each group presented their findings and assessments, fostering peer learning and deeper understanding.
We extend our gratitude to FFF, AgriCord and all our partners for supporting this vital initiative. Together, we can build climate-resilient communities and sustainable livelihoods!

18/03/2025

ISRuDev Celebrates Women's Day with Women’s Groups

Women are the backbone of community development, playing crucial roles in all sectors of society. Recognizing their contributions, ISRuDev celebrated this year’s International Women’s Day with over 150 women in Chogsia, Wa West District, Upper West Region.

The event was a blend of celebration and empowerment, aimed at breaking gender barriers that perpetuate disparities between men and women.

In his welcome address, Mr. Maxwell Kpeta Maal-eng, Business Development Officer (BDO) for ISRuDev, emphasized the need to bring such celebrations closer to rural communities, especially considering their significant role in agriculture. He highlighted that since ISRuDev has a women-dominated membership, it was important to extend capacity-building initiatives alongside the celebration.

Speaking on the theme “Accelerate Action: Steps Towards Gender Equality and Progress,” Pognaa Amamata Mumuni, Wa Municipal Girl-Child Coordinator and Queen Mother (Pognaa) of Duori, underscored the vital contributions of women in various sectors, including agriculture, trade, marketing, education, healthcare, and domestic responsibilities.

She emphasized the need to involve women in leadership and decision-making at all levels of Ghanaian society to drive sustainable development. “All hands must be on deck to advance gender equality,” she urged.

The celebration was not only a moment of joy but also a platform to inspire action toward gender equality. ISRuDev remains committed to empowering women, advocating for their rights, and creating opportunities that foster inclusive development.