Innovations For Sustainable Rural Development

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.

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.
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Banakoma Anacetus