Back to All Pipeline Projects

Overview

YACA — Youth Accelerate Climate Action — is a youth-led climate education and advocacy initiative designed by Empower for Development Ghana (E4D Ghana). The project aims to strengthen climate literacy and community resilience in rural Northern Ghana by training young people to become Climate Action Ambassadors.

These ambassadors will promote climate-smart and sustainable agricultural practices among farmers in selected communities of the Kumbungu District in the Northern Region of Ghana.

"Young people are not just the future of climate action — they are the present. YACA puts youth at the heart of building resilient communities in Northern Ghana."

The Challenge

Communities across Northern Ghana are experiencing the intensifying effects of climate change — erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, land degradation, and declining agricultural yields. Smallholder farmers, who form the backbone of rural livelihoods, are among the most vulnerable yet have the least access to climate education, early warning systems, and sustainable farming knowledge.

At the same time, young people in these communities remain largely disengaged from formal climate solutions — not because of lack of concern, but because of limited structured opportunities for meaningful leadership and action.

Our Approach

YACA bridges this gap by training and deploying young people as trusted community educators and advocates. Our approach is grounded in community engagement, peer learning, and locally relevant communication strategies.

Climate Ambassador Training Intensive capacity-building for youth selected as Climate Action Ambassadors, covering climate science, advocacy, and facilitation skills.
Community Dialogues Facilitated dialogues bringing together farmers, youth, women, and community leaders to discuss local climate impacts and adaptation strategies.
Storytelling Sessions Using traditional and modern storytelling to share climate experiences, indigenous knowledge, and solutions in culturally resonant ways.
Social Media Advocacy Digital campaigns led by youth ambassadors to amplify community voices and climate messages to wider audiences and decision-makers.
Training Workshops Practical workshops on climate-smart agriculture, soil and water conservation, and sustainable land management for farming communities.
Farmer Field Support Ambassadors work alongside farmers in the field, providing ongoing support, demonstration, and follow-up on sustainable practices.

Expected Outcomes

  • Increased climate literacy among youth and farming communities in Kumbungu District
  • A cohort of trained and active youth Climate Action Ambassadors embedded in target communities
  • Improved adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices among smallholder farmers
  • Stronger community capacity to adapt to climate change impacts
  • Enhanced youth leadership and civic engagement on environmental issues
  • A replicable model for youth-led climate education in rural Northern Ghana

Why YACA Matters

Northern Ghana is among the regions most affected by climate change in West Africa, yet youth are rarely placed at the forefront of local climate response. YACA is built on the conviction that young people — when trained, trusted, and supported — are among the most effective agents of change in their own communities.

By anchoring climate action in local knowledge, peer education, and culturally grounded communication, YACA creates sustainable change from within communities rather than imposing solutions from outside.

Partner with Us to Fund YACA

We are actively seeking funding partners, institutional donors, and strategic collaborators to bring YACA to communities in Kumbungu District and beyond.

Get in Touch Donate to E4D Ghana