MEDA

🌱 Boosting Climate‑Smart Farming for Women in Northern Ghana 🇬🇭🇨🇦

In Moglaa, Northern Ghana, MEDA, through the GROW2 project, funded by Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada and implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana, has commissioned a solar‑powered irrigation site serving 112 women farmers.

The milestone was marked alongside the High Commission of Canada to Ghana, Togo and Sierra Leone, government leaders, and community partners, highlighting a shared commitment to strengthening climate‑resilient agriculture.

For many women in the region, reliance on rain‑fed agriculture limits production and income. This new system enables year‑round, climate‑smart farming, improving access to water, reducing climate risks, and supporting both food security and income generation.

The Moglaa site, one of 25 solar irrigation schemes under GROW2, allows women to grow high‑value crops, access markets in nearby Tamale, and strengthen household nutrition, all while using renewable energy.

Together with our partners, we are advancing inclusive, sustainable agriculture that creates opportunity year‑round. 🌾

Learn more ➡️ https://www.meda.org/news/grow2-boost-climate-smart-farming-for-women-with-solar-powered-irrigation-site-in-moglaa-northern-ghana/

🌍 MEDA at the | Beyond Borders Conference in Ghana 🇬🇭

From April 27–29, MEDA participated in the SHEA 2026 | Beyond Borders Conference in Accra, organized by the Global Shea Alliance, a leading multi‑stakeholder platform bringing together producers, women’s groups, SMEs, brands, NGOs, and development partners across West Africa.

The conference spotlighted opportunities to strengthen cross‑border trade, sustainability, and inclusive market growth across the global shea sector. MEDA was pleased to host a booth and engage with partners and practitioners advancing the sector.

On Day 2, Diaka Diallo Sall, MEDA’s Regional Director for West & Central Africa, moderated the panel “Marketing Beyond Borders,” exploring key trends shaping international trade, market access, and value‑chain opportunities in the shea sector and related industries.

On Day 3, Dr. Zakaria Issahaku, Regional Business Value Creation Lead for West & Central Africa at MEDA, delivered a presentation on how agri-food systems transformation can turn informal shea jobs into decent livelihoods for women and youth.

The team also connected with Murijana Abubakr, entrepreneur and founder of Suglo Suhudoo Enterprise, supported through the project, who showcased locally-produced shea butter products.

The event was a strong reminder that transforming agri-food systems requires connecting markets, entrepreneurs, and resilient business models.

🌿 From Baseline to Breakthrough: Partnering with Wakami Opens New Possibilities for Rural Women in Guatemala 🇬🇹

In 2022, none of the women joining MEDA’s Women’s Empowerment for Central America (WE4CA) project met MEDA’s decent work standard. Just three years later, that number has risen to 31%, reflecting growing access to stable and dignified livelihoods.

This progress is driven by an integrated approach. Implemented by MEDA with partners Pro Mujer and Wakami Guatemala and funded by Canada’s International Development – Global Affairs Canada, WE4CA works across three pillars: strengthening women‑led businesses, expanding access to financial services, and improving well‑being and agency.

Through its partnership with Wakami, a social enterprise connecting rural artisans to global markets, MEDA facilitated the scaling of integrated support for women entrepreneurs across Guatemala. This included business training, access to markets, financial literacy, and household‑level support such as nutrition and well‑being services.

The results:
✅ 444 women‑led businesses supported
✅ 121 businesses connected to new markets
✅ Well‑being service uptake increased from 29% to 52%
✅ 63% of participants report confidence in their business skills

Behind these numbers are stories like Marla Karina Chanta. She chose differently and through her long participation in Wakami’s handmade value chain, accelerated by WE4CA support, she invested her earnings in her daughters’ futures. Today, all three of her daughters hold university scholarships.

By addressing economic and social barriers together, WE4CA is showing how investing in women creates ripple effects that strengthen families, shift community norms, and build opportunities for the next generation.

🔗 Learn more ➡️ https://www.meda.org/news/blog/from-baseline-to-breakthrough-partnering-with-wakami-opens-new-possibilities-for-rural-women-in-guatemala/