Ghana country strategic plan (2024–2028)

CSP approved at EB November 2023 session 

Located on the Gulf of Guinea, the Republic of Ghana has a population of 30.8 million, 57 percent of whom reside in urban areas; however, it trails other lower-middle-income countries in terms of its human development indicators. The country enjoyed robust economic growth between 2017 to 2019, when its gross domestic product grew by an average of 7 percent per year. However, growth stalled as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and despite a rebound to 5.4 percent in 2021, the economy grew by just 3.2 percent in 20222 when inflation hit a two-decade high of 54.1 percent and food price inflation soared to 59.3 percent. Rising debt and debt servicing costs seriously threaten Ghana’s fiscal stability. They have led to cuts in social spending and undermined the private sector growth that is essential if the country is to succeed in its efforts to reduce poverty and address structural inequalities.

Ghana’s sustainable social and economic development agenda is enshrined in its national development plan for 2018–2057 and the coordinated programme of economic and social development policies (2017–2024). Plans are under way to update a number of social protection initiatives in the coordinated programme including the national health insurance scheme, the Ghana school feeding programme and the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty programme. Other targeted initiatives include those aimed at enhancing the institutional framework for promoting food and nutrition security, establishing nutrition-sensitive food production systems and increasing public awareness of the importance of good nutrition. These initiatives are implemented through a number of flagship programmes such as Planting for Food and Jobs, and the One District One Factory, both aimed at transforming Ghana’s food systems.

Through this country strategic plan, WFP will continue its transition from direct implementation to an enabling role, supporting government systems through capacity strengthening, technical assistance and support with policy coherence. The plan is also designed to anticipate and prevent a deepening of vulnerabilities by building resilience and social cohesion. At the same time, WFP will remain ready to respond in the event of a crisis.

WFP will fulfil its mandate in Ghana by achieving the following five country strategic plan outcomes:

➢ Outcome 1: Crisis-affected populations (including refugees and internally displaced) in Ghana are able to meet their essential needs (food, nutrition and non-food) before, during and in the aftermath of crises.

➢ Outcome 2: Nutritionally vulnerable populations in Ghana, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, children, people with disabilities and people living with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, have improved diets by 2028.

➢ Outcome 3: Food systems in Ghana, including for nutritious food value chains, are inclusive, provide sustainable livelihoods, meet essential nutrient needs for all and are more resilient to local and global financial, climate and geopolitical shocks and value chain disruptions, by 2028.

➢ Outcome 4: Ghana’s social protection system is gender-transformative, nutrition-sensitive, shock-responsive and inclusive and reaches its target beneficiaries more effectively and efficiently by 2028.

➢ Outcome 5: Government and other actors are efficient in delivering their mandates through effective partnerships and streamlined on-demand services.