MiDA receives $7 million grant from WFP to support Ghana’s food system

The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), the Coordinator for all Project activities under the Ghana CARES “Obaatan Pa” Programme, on Tuesday 5^th December, 2023 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Food Programme’s Ghana Office to commerce a 4-year collaborative and strategic partnership, which will end on 31^st December, 2028.

This partnership provides MiDA access to a USS$7.0m grant funds. This will support and advance the objectives of the WFP’s Sustainable Offset Credit for Farmers, which is part of the institution’s arrangement in support of the Ghana Food System.

Speaking at the MOU-Signing Ceremony, Prof. Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu, the Board Chairperson of MiDA, highlighted Authority’s intention to utilize WFP’s funds to support various actors engaged in the Kasunya Economic Enclave Project, in particular young anchor farmers and private sector anchor farmers.

These farmers will engage their services in risk free commercial farming and ensure the sustainability of the Economic Enclave Project Concept.

While thanking the WFP Ghana Office for the laudable contribution, the Chairperson of MiDA expressed MiDA’s gratitude for the gesture and commitment to the efficient use of the funds compliance with all financial accountability requirements under the MOU.

In her contribution, Ms. Barbara Tulu Clemens, the Representative and Country Director of WFP, praised the Economic Enclave Project Concept and the opportunity it offered for the partnership, which made Ghana the pace-setter in accessing the WFP’s Changing Lives and Transformation Fund (CLTF).

She applauded the speed with which WFP and MiDA have worked to finalize the MOU, which now allows Ghana to participate in the CLTF.

She was hopeful that Ghana’s example will be emulated by other countries in the West African Sub-Region.

She emphasized that the funds from WFP will support climate adaptive and mitigation activities such as land preparation and development, setting up of irrigation systems, supporting all technical inputs towards sustainable yields, tree planting, training for the Youth and the sustainability of climate-smart activities among value chain operators on the Economic Enclave.

The ceremony was witnessed by the Minister for Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, who underscored the importance of the Economic Enclaves Project to Ghana’s food security, Youth employment and reduction in food inputs. He lauded the WFP Ghana Office for partnering with MiDA to access the Changing Lives and Transformation Fund.

Also present at the Signing Ceremony were Members of the MiDA Board of Directors, the Chief Director of Ministry of Finance and Officials of the WFP Ghana Office.