The AGNES in collaboration with the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), organized a transformative five-day workshop from 24th to 28th March 2025 at the Peduase Valley Resort, Ghana. The initiative, Strengthening Capacities of African Countries on Adaptation Finance (SCACAF), aimed to train Ghana’s National Expert Team on developing bankable proposals to unlock climate finance. Ghana becomes the second country after Kenya to participate in the SCACAF project. This workshop marked the beginning of efforts to establish project pipelines that would drive climate adaptation and resilience in the country.
Setting the SCACAF Stage
The opening day brought together key stakeholders from various institutions, including Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Ministry of Finance, CSIR-STEP, Green Africa Youth Organisation (GAYO), SYND, and the University of Ghana. Nana Antwi-Boasiako Amoah set the stage with a presentation that provided a deep dive into Ghana’s Climate Risk and Vulnerability Profile, highlighting the country’s unique climate challenges. Dr. Dube, a Climate Finance Advisor from ACBF, then presented on navigating the climate finance landscape, outlining opportunities and pathways for Ghana. Concluding the day was a discussion focusing on climate finance and green growth considerations for Africa based on findings from AU GRAP Capacity Needs Assessments.
Brainstorming Climate Rational Projects
Day two opened with a recap, then dived into developing climate rationale for projects. Majambo Gamoyo led an engaging session on developing climate rational for bankable projects through problem diagnosis from climate risk and vulnerability assessments. This set the stage for breakout sessions where participants brainstormed project ideas related to climate rationale and developed concepts in three groups. With expert feedback from AGNES facilitators, the three teams finalized topics that would later evolve into full proposals. The collaborative energy in the room signalled a strong commitment to driving forward Ghana’s climate agenda.
Theory of Change Development
The third day focused on crafting theories of change (ToC); mapping desired outcomes, intermediate results, and key project activities. Under the guidance of Pedro Chilambe from Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT, participants explored how to construct compelling Theories of Change (ToC)—linking climate challenges to actionable results through logical frameworks. In group sessions, teams designed their own ToCs for selected projects, identifying desired outcomes, intermediate results, and key activities. These blueprints would form the backbone of the proposals to come. The collaborative effort culminated in feedback sessions where teams shared their progress.
Budgeting for Climate Projects
With ideas solidifying, day four zoomed in on unlocking climate finance opportunities for Ghana. Dr. Dube presented on key strategic funders such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), while Angela Ogaba from AGNES delivered a session on effective budget development. From aligning budgets with donor expectations to crafting clear cost narratives, Angela’s session offered invaluable guidance. In breakout groups, participants applied these lessons to create working budgets for their proposals, receiving tailored feedback from the facilitators.
Next Steps
The final day was a showcase of progress. Each group presented their draft proposals—complete with climate rationale, theory of change, and indicative budgets. Constructive feedback and discussion highlighted the growth each team had undergone during the week. This workshop marked a pivotal step in empowering Ghana’s National Expert Team to design innovative solutions that address climate risks while unlocking critical funding opportunities to support sustainable development in the country.