Fostering Gender-Transformative Change in SustainableForest  Management A CASE STUDY OF DGM GHANA Ezgi Canpolat, Meerim Shakirova, Vince McElhinny, Kame Westerman, Alli Cruz, and Theresa Buppert CLIMATE INVESTMENT FUNDS Investing in the future © 2022 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank 1818 H Street NW Washington DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000 Internet: www.worldbank.org This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank with external contributions. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of The World Bank, its Board of Executive Directors, or the governments they represent. 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Because The World Bank encourages dissemination of its knowledge, this work may be reproduced, in whole or in part, for noncommercial purposes as long as full attribution to this work is given. Any queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to World Bank Publications, The World Bank Group, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; fax: 202-522-2625; e-mail: pubrights@worldbank.org. Cover photo: DGM Ghana/ Edward Kyere Graphic design: Andrea Carega and Karlien Truyens 3 The US$5.5 million DGM Ghana country in voice and agency are influencing gender project focuses on strengthening knowledge norms, attitudes, and perceptions of women and practices of targeted local communities and men at multiple levels—from individual to in REDD+ processes and sustainable household to community. Finally, we look at forest management. In implementation whether those shifts have the potential to be since 2018, with 212 subprojects either in sustained beyond the lifetime of the project implementation or completed, there are ample and influence more formal practices, rules, opportunities for detailed examination of policies, and laws that treat women in an specific subprojects. This can offer insight on unequal way. the issue of whether, and how, DGM projects are influencing women’s participation and Unlike other case studies in this series, this leadership on the ground, and provide some focuses on a community where multiple indication of the extent to which the project subprojects were implemented in tandem. may be influencing broader social and gender This methodology was used for several norms at the community or regional level. reasons: first, the layering of projects was This case study provides primary information common in the DGM-Ghana portfolio; to supplement and inform the DGM Gender second, it would have been very challenging Study, which seeks to analyze the contribution to separate out one specific subproject of the DGM project to promoting women’s intervention from another in the same economic achievement, access to and control community as the interventions were so tied over productive assets, voice, and agency. together; and third, the multiple and varied interventions were deemed more likely to Our conceptual framework for this study provide a clear demonstration of how DGM follows a stepwise, yet flexible and dynamic, could lead to gender-transformative change. progression toward gender transformative change. The framework begins by assessing This case study provides clear indications of the inputs that the DGM project provides to movement towards gender-transformative beneficiaries, such as assets, information, skills, change. Community members–female and and capacity building. This assessment looks male, migrant and native–report a number at what types of inputs are provided, to whom of benefits and positive normative shifts and how they are provided. Next, we assess for women at the individual, household, how those inputs have influenced women’s and community level, suggesting that the income and assets, and building on that, how DGM Ghana project has been successful in women are gaining voice and agency. Next, supporting meaningful, positive changes for we assess whether and how those changes women at multiple scales. 4 Photo: DGM Ghana/ Solidaridad Country context Ghana is home to a complex diversity of Despite strong efforts since independence more than 90 ethnic groups and sub-groups, to close gender gaps in the education, with great variety in socio-economic levels. financial inclusion, and political spheres, Of the main ethnic groups are the matrilineal Ghana remains in the middle when compared Akan of southern Ghana (47%), the Muslim to other African countries (In the World Mole-Dagbon of northern Ghana (16%) and Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap it ranks the patrilineal Ewe of coastal Ghana (14%). 19th out of 34 African countries). Despite a Agriculture, forestry, and agroforestry account long history of women in traditional leadership for more than 50% of land use and employ (particularly in the south) societal beliefs, about 60% of the population, including 53% of values, attitudes, and behaviors continue to women (DGM Ghana PAD). Across the country, dictate women as subordinate or inferior, there are large geographical and gender which hinders their participation in decision- differences in social outcomes, with lower making and representation in political and education and literacy rates and higher fertility governance positions. Women in rural and infant mortality in the north. In the north, communities are often overshadowed by men, only 2% of women own land compared to 50% and women usually are quiet at meetings in south; likewise, women’s access to credit, unless encouraged to voice their opinion. markets, and information is lower in the north (World Bank 2018). While Ghanaian women At the same time, some ethnic groups in can access and own land through inheritance, Ghana recognize Queen Mothers who are marriage, lineage, and contractual agreements, traditional female leaders drawn from royal these conditions do not apply consistently lineages and largely responsible for women across the country and largely depend on one’s and children’s issues. While there is some ethnic group (Britt et al. 2020). variation in the power and influence of Queen 5 Mothers across different societies in Ghana, acquired during marriage and presuming that with colonization and the independence any land acquired during a marriage by one government not formally recognizing their spouse is co-owned; it also requires spousal role, they continue to play an important role in consent for transaction of any land acquired politics and governance within communities. during a marriage. The role of Queen Mother is most notable in southern Ghana where they form an important Despite progress at the policy level, part of the matrilineal Akan society. Queen traditional land practices continue to be a Mothers are recognized as co-rulers with major challenge for women. Within certain joint decision-making and are estimated to ethnic groups, particularly in the north, women number 10,000 across the country. Recently, are not permitted to own property, and since with improved communication and access to many of the individual DGM subprojects education, Queen Mothers are connecting and were long term and required land ownership, collaborating with each other to increase their selecting women as individual grantees could influence and address the challenges facing pose challenges to traditional decision-making. women and children. Land tenure is even more of a challenge for migrant women since they have no lineage to Land access and ownership security play a the land and owners are resistant to leasing significant role in people’s decision making on to migrant women. Recognizing this as an climate mitigation interventions that involve important barrier to women’s engagement tree planting, such as agroforestry and tree and their benefit from the project, in some plantations. While the constitution grants communities DGM Ghana facilitated equal rights to women and men in accessing discussions with male leaders and landowners property, in practice only about 10% of about the benefits of granting women this type landholders are women, and women often only of opportunity and how it could help the entire have access to land through their spouses, sons household, as well as engaging with traditional or brothers following customary law (Hennings authorities and land holders to encourage 2021). The 2020 Land Bill significantly increased them to lease land to women migrants under a spousal rights to land, requiring that spouses’ written arrangement. names be included when registering land 6 Design of the DGM Ghana Project Country project design The Ghana Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Local Communities Project (G-DGM) was designed to promote the inclusion of communities reliant on forests in policy formulation and initiatives as well as in other REDD+ programs that seek to reduce deforestation and degradation. This is done through capacity building in REDD+ and climate change (Component 1). The G-DGM Photo: DGM Ghana/ Solidaridad is also being established to provide sub-grants to local communities for promoting adaptive and coping livelihoods and sustainable management of natural resources, thereby strengthening their participation in and understanding of the Forest Investment Partnership (FIP), REDD+, and climate change (Component 2). more women on the committee, but barriers keep women from engaging in this level of Project Governance leadership. According to the NSC members interviewed, these barriers include (1) the The governance structure of DGM Ghana process of community-led selection which is driven by community decision-making. preferentially selects existing and well-known Selection of the NSC members followed a leaders who are more often men, (2) literacy stepwise approach where each of the 53 and language barriers, (3) lack of interest or project communities first selected a focal desire to engage in political ‘campaigning’, and person. This was followed by a forum where (4) inability, or lack of interest, to take on a job these focal persons selected the formal NSC that is not renumerated. members. The initial gender makeup of the NSC was 13 men/1 woman, however when the opportunity arose to replace one man, National Executing Agency it was unanimously decided by the rest of (NEA) the NSC that the replacement should be a woman and it instructed the community as such. Those who were not chosen to be on The National Executing Agency of the Ghana the NSC now serve as informal DGM focal DGM is Solidaridad West Africa. Solidaridad, points in their communities; it is estimated that an international civil society organization about 11 of the 53 representatives (21%) are operates in over 50 countries worldwide women. Interviews with both male and female and facilitates the development of socially NSC members convey a clear desire to have responsible, ecologically sound and profitable 7 supply chains. Importantly, the NEA focuses on a broad context of social inclusivity with strong institutional gender support and oversight. A regional gender specialist ensures that all staff are trained on gender issues, looks over plans, and supports design, implementation and Photo: DGM Ghana/ Solidaridad activity execution. The NEA was selected for its extensive experience in agroforestry, which is central to the DGM Ghana project. Subproject design & granting procedures and verifying the conditions that could help the As of December 2020, Ghana DGM had person successfully implement the grant (e.g., 219 active subprojects led by individuals, access to or ownership of land). In each of the communities, and community-based communities, the top five potential grantees organizations (CBO). The majority of these were selected for the due diligence process subprojects focus on climate-smart cashew that narrowed the field to the three who were farming (90 projects), climate-smart cocoa awarded the grant. At this point in the process, establishment (51 projects), solar-powered women proponents were given priority if they boreholes (38 projects), and afforestation (22 had access to or tenure to land that could projects). make the project successful. Of the applicants selected for due diligence, there was a 59% Of the subprojects 156 were led by individuals success rate for female applicants and a 60% with an average of US$3,205 per grantee. success rate for selected male applicants. In They were focused on agroforestry and the end, 42% of individual proposals selected improved agriculture. Anyone in a beneficiary were women-led, and of those, 34% were community who had successfully completed women migrants. There is at least one woman- the basic climate change trainings given by led project per project community, and one the NEA was eligible to apply. The process for community where all three individual projects eliciting the subprojects was done proactively are led by women. to reach and include women, for example helping women fill in forms, with a target The DGM supported 47 community-level of 50% of the project being led by women. subprojects, at an average of US$40,000 First-round selection of the proposals was per community, focused on three areas: done anonymously, with all identifying criteria agroforestry, boreholes, and afforestation. (including proponent’s gender) scrubbed from The process for identifying and selecting these the proposals from which the NSC members subprojects was done in a way to ensure made their selection. women’s full and effective participation and influence. Starting with separate trainings During the second stage of selection (due for women, men and traditional community diligence in the community) the gender of the authorities (both Queen Mothers and male proponent was revealed, because due diligence leaders) on climate change, the groups included meeting with the prospective grantees identified the best solutions to climate change 8 (the three areas mentioned above). These There are 16 CBO-led projects with an solutions were then displayed in both picture average size of US$30,000. CBOs eligible to and written form and each person was given a access DGM funding were preselected before sticker to vote. the project began. This was done to discourage the creation of short-term CBOs to Most (60%) communities selected capture project funding, and instead build on solar powered boreholes; others chose ongoing locally led efforts. Identification of agroforestry (33%) and tree plantations CBOs was done through community focus (7%). An independent analysis of this type of groups and the main aim was to choose subproject was recently conducted in the established and functioning organizations. Western North Region of Ghana to understand Gender composition or focus was not a factor the factors that influenced peoples’ choice in selection; no exclusively women-led groups of climate response intervention and how were selected in the group of eligible CBOs, these selected interventions varied among but women do form part of the management different stakeholder groups (men, women, committees of the selected CBO groups. and traditional authorities). Through a series of focus groups and interviews, the results showed that traditional authorities mostly preferred cocoa agroforestry interventions, male community members mostly chose solar powered mechanized boreholes, and women were diverse in their choices. Stakeholder Photo: DGM Ghana/ Solidaridad selection was influenced, in part, by access to, and ownership of, land: traditional authorities have greater access and ownership, which caused them to lean towards cocoa agroforestry; male and female community members, with less access and tenure, opted for interventions which cannot be owned by individuals and therefore removes the fear of elite capture and benefit sharing (Alorvor, Basic capacity building was designed to 2020). respond to the constraints that women face and to proactively target women participants. As the NEA explained, women tended to focus As the NEA explained, simply observing the their votes on their immediate needs and social organization and gender norms within those which they could benefit from even the community, which largely discouraged without land tenure. Leaders tended to focus women from actively engaging and speaking more on land-based projects that could serve up in mixed meetings, led them to take a as a longer-term investment in the community, proactive approach to capacity building. in the sense that the agroforestry projects During training for traditional authorities, would create a pool of sustainable community the project prioritized similar (but separated) financing. Boreholes are especially supportive training for both the community chiefs and of women, who are responsible for collecting the communities’ Queen Mothers: of the 52 water to meet household needs. project communities, 52 chiefs and 52 queen mothers were trained. The targeting of Queen Mothers was especially influential because 9 these leaders could mobilize women within women to engage in mixed company. The the targeted communities to be engaged in timing of trainings was also tailored, with the project, as well as serve as role models. men more able to attend in the evenings and Within more general training for community women in the early mornings. The training members, the project offered specialized team also quickly realized that women were training sessions for women which also being distracted by their babies during trainings included a focus on female leadership. The and the team responded by providing care method of separating women and men during for the babies; while this wasn’t part of the training helped to overcome socio-cultural original project plan, it is a clear example of the barriers that hindered effective participation. gender-responsive nature of the project team. Careful consideration was given to the timing to serve the needs of the various Capacity building itself was empowering to demographics including women, whose time is women. At the end of the training sessions constrained as the primary child caregivers; for participants had to pass a test, given orally to example, meetings were scheduled to last for cater for low literacy levels. It was reported a reasonable length of time and project team by the NEA and World Bank TTL that women members volunteered to take care of children were very proud of passing the test, that so mothers could focus. Trainings were held it was an empowering moment. Ongoing with women at a time they chose which did capacity-building and project-implementation not clash with the hours they would be busy support was conducted in a way that easily looking after their household. Men were more reached women, such as radio and community likely to have available time in the evening information centers. once they returned home from work, while women tended to be free in the early morning Ambitious targets and consistent monitoring before they headed off to farming. were aimed at prioritizing gender outcomes. From the start, the project set a target of Capacity building was tailored to the specific 50% of individual subproject participation for priorities, interests and needs of community women and migrant beneficiaries. Several members. Because basic training was a pre- key informant interviews suggested that it requisite for accessing project funding, it was was important to have a clear and ambitious critical to reach an equal number of women target such as this to overcome inequalities. and men who were able to participate. The The NEA had gender technical support and content and delivery were designed to be capacity among the team as a result of the very practical, engaging and suited to the institution’s internal practices and priorities lives of participants. For example, one activity which helped to inform project approaches. included showing maps of forest distribution Despite these efforts (or perhaps because of from decades ago and facilitating discussion these efforts) 42% of the 152 grantees under about how the landscape had changed, and the individual grants were women (and 34% along with it, how access to forest products, of those were migrants). World Bank and the water, and other resources had diminished. NEA hypothesized that the 50% target was not Recognizing that literacy was especially achieved for a couple reasons: (1) women-led challenging for women (and migrant women), proposals likely focused less on land-based the training materials were largely visual. The interventions (given their lower rates of access trainings were conducted separately with men and tenure) and could therefore have been and women to provide a more comfortable deemed as weaker proposals for climate environment as it was more difficult for change mitigation and (2) overall, women-led 10 proposals may just not have been written as Through these various approaches, DGM clearly or the concepts were not as strong as Ghana established, and has largely been able male-led proposals, despite the support given to meet, ambitious targets for benefits to to women project proponents. native and migrant women, which has served to create a positive enabling environment for Gender considerations have been well subprojects across Ghana to benefit women, integrated into the project’s grievance as evidenced in the case study. redress mechanism (GRM). Women make up approximately 50% of every grievance committee and have contributed to Overall Results successfully managed grievances that of the DGM Ghana emanated within their communities. The committees are made up of representatives from the District Assembly/Forestry Overall, DGM Ghana is relatively close to Commission, Area Council, the NEA, an NGO/ meeting its expected targets and objectives. CBO working in the area, clergy, focal persons As of February 2021, 15% of subprojects were and traditional Leaders. Women wouldn’t have successfully completed and achieved their normally spoken during grievance meetings, objectives consistent with FIP objectives, with or taken the lead in resolving them, but they a target of 65% by April 2022 when the project were active on these committees and helped closes (SAR 11). DGM Ghana only reports on to resolve grievances. one sex-disaggregated indicator, shown below. DGM Ghana sex-disaggregated performance indicator Indicator Actual Target Percentage of women and migrants (of total grantees) that execute 42% 50% subprojects. Source: SAR 11 11 Case study methodology Case study selection and data collection was who had previously worked with the NEA done collaboratively and in accordance with on community engagement and was very geographic, health, and time constraints. In familiar with the DGM and the community. The order to best capture the impacts on women’s study team recognizes that this association participation and leadership within the DGM with the NEA had the potential for conflict of project, and to understand to what extent the interest via a skew toward an overly positive project may be influencing broader social and portrayal of DGM outcomes and gender gender norms, we chose to focus on a specific impacts. Nonetheless, the evidence reported, community—Koradaso. Koradaso was selected, and conclusions drawn, both from our own at the suggestion of the NEA, because it had data collection and from the consultants’ all three types of subproject interventions research, provided an accurate portrayal (individual, Community Based Organization of the DGM’s impact on gender outcomes. (CBO), and community). Throughout April Our aim was to document the inputs (both and May 2021, we conducted individual and tangible and intangible) that the DGM project group interviews online and in-person. We had invested in the community, the impact of interviewed 14 women and 15 men from the those investments on women’s participation community of Koradaso, four members (two and leadership at multiple levels, and the larger women/two men) of the National Steering societal impacts that may have resulted across Committee, and members of the DGM broader gender norms within the community. National Executing Agency (Solidaridad), and Given that migrants tend to be more engaged the World Bank. All in-person interviews were in DGM activities, we preferentially selected a conducted in Twi (the language utilized by larger number compared to natives. DGM-Ghana) and led by a Ghanaian consultant 12 Community members interviewed CBO member M Migrant1 CBO member F Migrant CBO member + individual grantee M Migrant Individual grantee, CBO member + DGM focal person M Migrant Traditional authority M Native2 Individual grantee F Native CBO member F Migrant Community member F Migrant Women’s focus group (10 people) 3 Migrants/7 Natives Men’s focus group (10 people) 7 Migrants/3 Natives District Assembly person M N/A MAP OF GHANA SHOWING THE PROJECT COMMUNITIES 1 As explained in more detail below, migrants in Koradaso are generally from northern Ghana and have moved south in search of better agricultural lands. 2 Native means born in Koradaso or the nearby surrounding area. 13 Photo: DGM Ghana/ Edward Kyere Community case study: Koradaso The community of Koradaso is located within speak the local language, Twi, which presents a the Pamu-Berekum forest reserve in the challenge to new migrants. Despite this, it was northern part of the Dormaa East Municipality reported by the NEA that the migrants are more within the Bono Region in western central active and vocal in the DGM project activities. Ghana (see map). It was selected as a DGM This caused some conflict between locals and project site because of its location within the migrants, but it has largely been resolved. forest and the fact that livelihood activities therefore have a direct impact on the health of Degradation within the reserve is high, with the forest. Koradaso consists of 427 individuals widespread bushfires causing major damage (230 men/197 women) living within 89 to soil fertility and reducing the forest cover households (FIP 2014). The population is a mix and associated biodiversity. As a result of locals (~30%) and migrants (~70%) who are of the bushfires and other anthropogenic drawn to Koradaso from northern Ghana in disturbances, most of the forest reserve search of better weather (the north is becoming has been converted into (mostly degraded) hotter and drier) and access to resources such secondary forest (Danquah et al. 2011), as fertile land and forests. The environment resulting in a loss of wild food and traditional plays an important part in both the push and medicines. Recognizing this situation, efforts pull factors for migrants coming from the north, have been made over the years to engage the although research shows that it is not ‘distress forest fringe communities. Beginning in 2005, migration’ in the face of environmental disaster IUCN and government partners implemented but instead migration as a way to respond a project focused on community-based to continual environmental scarcity (Van der wildfire management (Nganje & Blay 2011). Geest 2011). Migrants primarily come from the More recently, the UNDP SGP identified Dagaati, Gurusi and Frafra groups and do not lack of community involvement in reserve 14 management as a key driver of degradation to engage in the DGM at the beginning. within the Pamu-Berekum forest reserve, According to the NEA, these interventions along with a general lack of awareness about were largely related to forestry, agriculture the effects of forest clearing. To this end, and conservation. Many interviewees pointed UNDP SGP implemented a two-year project to the DGM project as a good example of (2015-2017) to increase community awareness how a project should be designed, with in- of REDD+ to increase participation in the depth and careful community buy-in. All of restoration and sustainable management of the women interviewees, for example, said the reserve (SGP, undated). Recent research the separate meetings and trainings that the (Appiah 2020) on the success of agroforestry project held with women had been key to their initiatives within three similar Pamu-Berekum engagement. fringe communities showed that women play a key role in the success of agroforestry. Study respondents reported that men and Design of subprojects and women had equal access to agricultural capacity building lands and technical and material inputs, effectively enhancing farm output and income. Furthermore, women respondents reported There are three individual subprojects in that they received the income and benefits Koradaso: one woman-led and two men- associated with their labor and inputs. led. We spoke with all individual grantees to understand the process and impact of the Clear differences exist between the migrants project on them individually. Across the three, and locals in terms of how women are they all focused on cashew agroforestry on regarded and the rights they have. Several plots of land from 1.2 to 3 ha in size; each interviewees commented on how migrants received a grant of US$3,000. To put this into from the north tend to have more traditional perspective, an economic study estimates that and conservative gender norms, in which men an average (cocoa-producing) rural household feel they have ownership over their wives in Ghana earns an annual US$2,789 (adjusted and women lose control over their lives. For for inflation to 2021) from all income sources the most part, these migrant women are not (Bymolt et al. 2018). The female subproject as active in attending general community grantee is a native and secured ownership of meetings and events but are quite active in land through her husband for the project. “If DGM-related activities. On the other hand, you were a woman and had access to land among the native Akan tribe, older traditions to establish a farm, you received immense that inhibited women’s rights are eroding and support from the DGM,” she said. The other women have the ability to access, use and own two recipients, both men, are also migrants land and participate in decision-making (key and active in the DGM: one is the community informant). DGM focal point, and both are members of the CBO group. There is an undercurrent of distrust of outside interventions, brought on by The community selected a solar-powered negative past experiences of NGOs making mechanized borehole (US$40,000) as the and breaking promises. Several people community subproject. Previously, the cited this experience, where an NGO has community had one borehole from which not followed through on a promise, as a water was purchased. The borehole was reason that some individuals were hesitant chosen within the DGM project to provide 15 potable water for the community, a decision acre of community land where indigenous that everyone reported came directly from trees are raised. The DGM project also women who were very clear on wanting to supported a water tank for the nursery. Women end the burden of traveling a long distance in the CBO group proposed to sell water from in search of water or using the old non- the tank to raise funds to regularly maintain the mechanized pump. As one migrant woman facility. explained: “[Before the DGM] women and children would have to walk for miles in search Community-wide education and meetings of good potable water for our household were conducted strategically to support the activities but now we do not walk in search of full engagement of women and men. Project- water.” The choice was supported by men who related education in Koradaso focused on the saw the challenges their wives were having in benefits of tree planting and the influence fetching water—sometimes reportedly even on health, clean air, and rainfall. Nearly all getting frustrated at having to wait for dinner of the interviewees noted that before the because water was so scarce. Water is also DGM, conventional planting methods were attractive because it cannot fall into ‘elite unsustainable (e.g., pulling up new trees, not capture’ like diversifying crops), but that changes in planting land-based projects such as reforestation. are already clear (e.g., more diversification of Once the borehole was chosen, all community crops, allowing more shade to grow). As in members agreed every individual in the other DGM project communities, engagement community above 18 years would pay a with women and men was done strategically; monthly levy to be used for maintaining the as one female migrant interviewee reported, borehole and they would create a water previous NGOs usually only engaged men or committee to monitor and protect the pipe. would bunch all the community members together during project activities and this As a community-based organization, the affected how freely women participated. With Peaceful Tree Growers Association received the DGM, however, she says that because men a CBO subproject (US$40,000) to produce and women were engaged separately “we honey under sustainable and environmentally were more motivated to fully participate in sound conditions after receiving training most activities and became more vocal in our and equipment. The CBO largely consists of community.” Another migrant noted that she migrants, and it was predominantly migrant decided to engage in the project because the women who proposed apiculture since they approach adopted by the DGM encouraged did not have access or ownership of land her to attend “as the women were engaged on which to do other activities. According separately from the men” and that the method to a male CBO member, there is a “good of meetings made sure nobody was left out proportion” of women on the CBO project of trainings. She went on to explain how DGM committee and they are “very active” in meetings were timed for early morning or overseeing the projects. The 21-person group evenings after everyone had returned from is able to harvest honey two times a year farming, and sometimes on market and taboo which provides valuable income for the group; days3 when everyone was home and more in their first year of harvest, they generated an available to attend. estimated US$140 which is used for the CBO expenses and loans for members. In addition, the CBO oversees a tree nursery site on an 3 During taboo days it is prohibited to go to a forest, farmland, or river. Taboo days include communal work, visiting relatives and friends, funerals, household work and leisure. 16 Project inputs present to access their own land meant that some challenges and supports migrant women “did not see the [benefit] of participating [in the DGM].” for women’s full engagement and benefits. Other commitments, and time constraints, made it difficult for some women to fully engage. Farming is done in the morning, The interviews revealed a series of underlying often when meetings usually are held, and challenges and supports that either hindered this made it hard for women (and men) to or helped women to engage and benefit from juggle competing priorities. On top of farming, the project, mostly related to local customs, women are responsible for household chores. traditional rights, and gendered responsibilities. A native woman explained that during the These begin to reveal the complex and capacity building phase, “quite a number” challenging climate in which the project of women said they were too busy and did operates. not have the time to come to trainings. They therefore also missed out on benefitting from Access and ownership of land was mentioned other opportunities, because they were tied to many times, by both women and men, as a attendance at the trainings. The DGM project clear challenge for migrants. When migrants was careful to schedule training sessions for arrive in the community, they often enter an times that were proposed by the community agreement with natives who own land. The members themselves, but the underlying native owner typically gives access to land to issue of lack of time remained an important the migrant man, who is considered the family challenge for women. head. The land is divided up, and once the migrant farmer harvests, he gives a portion All interviewees, both male and female, to the landowner and keeps a portion for his migrant and native, also reported that women family. Once the land is harvested, the migrant generally had a lack of confidence. Here farmer is able to register it to his name. While too there was a reported difference between landlessness is a challenge for migrants across native and migrant women. One migrant the board, migrant women do experience woman said native women “have always been additional challenges. Both male and female courageous compared to the migrant women.” interviewees noted that migrant women could Low self-esteem and fear of public speaking not participate because they are “not allowed led to women feeling inferior and without the to own and control assets like land.” Migrant courage needed to engage in projects. In part, interviewees explained that the practice this could be due to the language barrier. when was changing, becoming more accepting newer migrants have not yet mastered Twi. As of women by encouraging male migrants to one migrant woman explained: “I have always allocate land to their wives, but that there had difficulty speaking among people for fear remained a stark difference between what is of making mistakes.” acceptable for native women verses migrant women. One migrant woman said: “I have Support and encouragement from male seen changes in how northern migrant women leaders provided important opportunities for were controlled by their spouses in terms of women. One male leader said he consciously access to and owning land, compared to the delegated opportunities such as attendance native women who already had the liberty at meetings or trainings to women and he had to own land in their names.” This inability seen how this encouragement could result 17 in women taking on leadership positions. He new practices that the DGM taught—including suggested that whenever there was an activity land preparation, agroforestry, and limiting or vacant leadership opportunity, quotas chemical use—had improved their farm’s yields should be given specifically to women, and and resulted in more income. the allowance given to women to identify and select a good candidate for the position. Both men and women reported increased The women’s focus group explained that the confidence of women engaged in the project. men in Koradaso “have been intentional about Across all interviews, it was clear that both involving women in the actions” and had local and migrant women in Koradaso were supported them on every step of the way. more outspoken and confident than in the past, and this was attributed to the DGM. As one woman noted: “I used to be a very shy person The subproject brought and would never speak during a gathering, direct impacts – more now I am able to do so.” She noted that, as a migrant, she did struggle with the native income, new assets, voice/ language but this no longer deterred her from agency  speaking up. Another migrant woman said: “The DGM project has really empowered a lot Women beneficiaries reported increased of the women to talk in public places and in income and savings because of the project. our homes.” Male interviewees agreed, noting All of the women interviewed and participated that since the DGM was introduced into the in focus groups reported increased income community women had gained a certain level and savings because of the project. As a result of confidence and they now voiced opinion of DGM trainings, one woman explained that when need be. This ability of women to attend she was better able to manage her income, meetings alone (without spouses) and respond expenses, and time. The application of confidently to questions had “broken long- climate-smart production had increased her existing barriers of low confidence.” This also farm’s yield and she was able to pay laborers. enabled them to voice concerns when they The individual grant female beneficiary had them. reported having a ‘fully established’ cashew farm through the support of the DGM, having Time burden is reduced through accessible switched from slash and burn agriculture to a water. Clearly, the borehole was a priority for more sustainable approach (although because women who advocated strongly for it as a of the maturity time of the cashew plants it community benefit, as identified by both men would likely not be fully productive for about and women interviewees. The borehole “has eight years). She reported that the subgrant totally eliminated all our water problems, which had allowed her to pay laborers to help her used to be our biggest concern,” one migrant clear land, although this was expensive as woman explained. This was echoed by a male rates kept increasing. Another woman who interviewee who observed that “the community attended capacity building trainings noted that water project was largely done to bring relief to her new knowledge and ability to diversify and the women and stop the practice of having to cultivate other crops like pepper and cassava travel a long distance to access water.” Another alongside cashew and cocoa had improved man stated that “at first, our meals used to be her income “substantially.” This was echoed delayed as [women] would have to struggle for by the women’s focus group (reported in water for cooking, but now they just go to the aggregate) whose members explained that the pipe stand to fetch water.” 18 Changes within household at home and she said he now engaged her for dynamics her opinion. She also noted that, previous to the DGM, at the end of the cropping cycle her husband would keep all of the money made Women’s increased ability to make money has from selling the produce and spend it without started to shift their role within the family. her knowledge; now they plan together and Among the interviews, all of the community save some money for the future. members mentioned a positive shift in gender roles within the family. As one male migrant There are clear examples of changing interviewee explained, before DGM he had responsibilities at the household level. Most been the sole bread-winner in the house but women and a couple of men interviewed now his wife was able to also provide support mentioned a noticeable change in men taking thanks to her cashew farming. He said he had on more household responsibilities. As a female also seen this in other households, where migrant CBO-member explained, before the women were able to better support the family’s DGM project “I [was] expected to wake up needs alongside their husbands. According to early to perform household chores before the traditional authority figure interviewed, this proceeding to the farm, and also return in time had reportedly helped decrease conflicts in to cook for the home while my husband only the homes. As one migrant woman described, works on the farm and sits idle at home when before gaining income from the DGM “even he returns. Now my husband helps me when if I wanted to buy something for the home, I he returns from the farm earlier than I do, or would have to consult my husband, but I am if I am running late. He even starts the food [now] able to buy small items for housekeeping preparation before I get back, therefore it is without consulting him.” She said that before not solely my responsibility anymore.” A male DGM she could not have expressed her views migrant said women had been “overly burdened on most activities in her household, but now with chores perceived to be women-assigned was empowered to make suggestions on most roles at the household level has reduced issues they discuss, and her husband was because the men are more willing and actually happy with her suggestions. Another woman do help out with these now.” reported that now that she had established her own farm (thanks to the DGM project) This shift is happening in both native and she was able to help support her family and migrant households. Of the natives we “my husband and I now support each other interviewed singly, one (of two) mentioned equally. I am in control of my finances and this shift in their personal household, while own farmland which is now my own property. of the migrants interviewed singly, all of I am also more vocal with my partner when the women and two of the three men did. we need to take a decision at home.” A third The women’s focus group, which consisted (migrant) women described how she was of seven natives and three migrants, also now able to “fruitfully discuss” issues with her mentioned this at an aggregate level. As one husband and provide suggestions which she male migrant interviewee explained, the old was empowered to do after attending trainings cultural practices of restricting women’s on leadership and management roles as part livelihood activities and control of assets like of a module for the CBO group. While she farmland and money has been changing over used to think that engaging in discussion with the years – even before the DGM project—but her husband was rude, after the training she the DGM was improving on this change. A realized the best way was to make suggestions migrant woman shared that women like her 19 had been highly intimidated by their spouses the community clinic and water management because they were considered property of committees, an encouragment for them their husband, but that now, because the to take up leadership positions. A migrant DGM challenged her to do so, she was able to woman has been appointed as committee share her thoughts at home and speak among chairperson on a local committee after having her fellow women. Intimate partner violence DGM trainings which helped her become (or any type of gender-based violence) was more vocal and come forward with good not mentioned by any interviewees, but ideas. In discussing her, a fellow migrant key informants did acknowledge that it was woman explained that the [the female present; it was therefore unclear as to what committee chairperson] had become more influence the DGM projects may have on vocal and “brings out good suggestions and mitigating or exacerbating it. constructively criticizes during community meetings.” A male focus group member The changes appear to be well received agreed, saying that “since her assumption by men. A male migrant commented: “This of the role, she has really contributed a lot improved relationship in the households [due that we never experienced when a man to shifts in household duties] has brought was leading, which is all very new to us.” A about another level of peace, joy and comfort.” male interviewee pointed to a female farmer During the male focus group, one man said: DGM grantee who he said was a source of “We [men] are really happy as a lot of burden motivation for other women in the community. has been lifted off our shoulders” and another Within the CBO group, where previously only said that, while everything in the past had men occupied leadership roles, women have been his sole responsibility, his wife was now taken positions in the latest election. One able to take initiatives to assist him at home male interviewee from the CBO suggested and he “is happy for that.” The focus group that whenever there is an activity or vacant ended with a respondent declaring that the leadership opportunity, quota should be given men will continuously empower everyone in specifically to women and give them the ability the community to not see women as threats to identify and select a good candidate for the to men because their engagement in activities position. helps to assist and support men to take care of the family. That said, two male migrant The DGM has supported and encouraged the interviewees revealed an undercurrent of views of women to influence community concern that women could “get too much decision-making. Across all of the interviews, power.” there was a consistent message that women, both local and migrant, had become more vocal and influential at the broader community. Influence and change at a As many people explained, in the past when community/societal level. town meetings were held, women were largely absent, but after DGM’s intervention, women now participated and voiced their opinions New roles and responsibilities have given on decisions that were made. As one migrant women a platform to gain leadership woman said: “Now when there is a community experience. Through the DGM, several new meeting, every man is obliged to bring his avenues or platforms for leadership have wife along…our leaders now appreciate the surfaced, and women have taken advantage kind of suggests we [women] bring along.” of them. For example, women are now on One man declared: “we men now permit and 20 encourage women, especially the migrants, to did not own land because there is a shortage air their views freely and [do] not inhibit their of fallow land to buy and not enough money participation in communal activities.” to buy it anyway. She described how female migrants like her from the northern part of Engagement in the DGM has encouraged Ghana were originally not allowed to buy women to be more vocal and engaged in or own land themselves and had to do it in public settings. Multiple women interviewees, the name of their spouses or male relatives. native and migrant, described how their However, since the DGM, some women now involvement in the DGM, and specifically own farmland in their own name because it was their being encouraged to engage during given to them by their spouse since access to trainings, had empowered them to speak up land was important in order to engage in DGM- and talk in public. Migrant women, as part supported activities. A district authority points of the CBO group, received extra trainings to cultural barriers including that “women are in group development and dynamics, not allowed to own and control assets like financial management and record keeping, land” to explain why some women are unable, leadership and business planning, in addition or hesitant, to engage in DGM activities. As the to the general climate change training for NEA explains in its reporting, the team carried the whole community. For native women, out gender trainings for both men and women this empowerment largely built on and to press home the message that granting improved their existing sense of confidence women these project benefits benefitted the and leadership, while for migrant women, entire household and encouraged men to share this was sometimes the first opportunity or grant access or ownership of their land with to publicly engage. Where before only a their wives in order to receive those benefits. handful of women would be present at communal meetings, now they “show up in Women see the value of their influence numbers” and, as one woman explained, “our in decision-making. As a government leaders appreciate the kind of suggestions representative suggested, women’s we bring along.” One decisive moment that involvement in the DGM has created an several women and men recounted was the awareness that they need to engage more in community choice of a borehole; women and beyond their community because their spoke very strongly in favor of the borehole participation will influence the outcome they and one speculated that if the women had not want to see. This is reflected in the community spoken during the initiation engagements with member interviews, in which all speakers the DGM “I’m not sure the men would have note some level of clear and positive change opted for the borehole subproject.” in women’s confidence and engagement in community-level decision making and how Land access remains a challenge, but there that has influenced choices in the DGM project have been positive changes. As described (e.g., selection of the borehole) and beyond above, landlessness among migrants as a in other CBO and community-level decision whole is a challenge, however women migrants making spaces. often face additional challenges to access and ownership of land. A male migrant explained: Men are becoming stronger advocates for “Migrant men do not also permit women to women and gender equality. Nearly all of own their own farmlands, they believe they are the interviewees, both women and men, to do such things together with their spouses as mentioned the importance of, and growth a family.” A female migrant explained that she in, men actively supporting their wives and 21 other women within the community as a There is optimism that these changes are result of the DGM. As one explained: “Those long-lasting beyond the life of the project. of us leaders who have had the exposure and While many interviewees noted the common experience have been enlightening the other difficulty of sustaining the changes after men on the subject, as these practices to me the donor-funded project, stressing that seem archaic…” He said some of the change transformative social and cultural change of attitude had been under way before the takes time, all interviewees suggested that DGM began, but he noted: “The project has the changes in the old practices and norms come to strengthen and intensify it massively.” that had been set in motion could not be A migrant woman echoed that impression, reversed. One said that the leadership skills and saying that husbands really “respect and knowledge that women have gained from the appreciate our efforts,” and this was not project “become part of them” and therefore previously the case. “can never be taken away again.” This steady progress will hopefully lead to transformation in the long run. Conclusion The interviews paint a picture of success and tailored approach that the project took in in all respects–from individual income and engaging all community members in effective asset growth to positive changes in gender capacity building and decision-making was the norms and relations at the household and primary reason. community levels. However it is important to be realistic about the influence that the The interviews provide evidence that methodology may have had on results. women who engaged in the different project Soliciting honest perceptions, attitudes, and activities, both native and migrant, saw clear beliefs from people requires trust which often benefits from the project. There were tangible takes a long time to develop. This study was benefits, such as seedlings, access to water, greatly improved by the local consultant’s and increased income from new or improved deep knowledge of gender, the DGM, and products, as well as intangible benefits such the community of Koradaso; however, she as new knowledge, enhanced confidence, was also known as a DGM staff member by leadership roles, and changes at the household community members, which could have and community level in terms of how women influenced how she, and the study, were are perceived. While several interviewees perceived. As the consultant relayed, one noted that these changes were already under of the most consistent messages that was way to some degree before the DGM project, shared during the study was a request for they also noted that the project had certainly continued funding; therefore, it is possible contributed to furthering and enhancing them. that participants felt the need to portray the results in a more positive way. The selection DGM Ghana’s careful approach to engaging of the participants, too, could have influenced the community was critical to success. the results, with those experiencing positive Koradaso had witnessed other similar outcomes more likely to come forward. When interventions over the years, but as it was asked why the results were so positive, the reported, these efforts usually only engaged consultant hypothesized that the inclusive the leaders or a small number of community 22 members. Most community members were Financial success and education were left feeling that their concerns and priorities identified as critical to fostering change were not understood and addressed within in gender norms. As women and men in the project. DGM Ghana realized this situation Koradaso related, once women had attended when they originally engaged with Koradaso trainings and been able to bring money into and other beneficiary communities and saw the household–either through improved that many previous projects had since been farming or honey production—their ability to abandoned. The method of engagement engage and influence at the household level across different groups within the community– was increased. This closely follows this study’s women, men, migrants–from the beginning analytical framework which identifies resources was clearly identified in the interviews as a (in the form of assets, skills, and capacity reason for trust and success. As one migrant building) as the first step toward gender man explained: “As for DGM, it has been transformative change, allowing women to different. They have been very open, honest gain more voice and agency and leading men and transparent with all their intentions and to recognize the benefits of women’s success. activities within the community.” Proactive and targeted engagement with women was important. As explained above, both native and migrant women faced challenges in engaging and benefitting from DGM support. This included issues such as available time (given their responsibilities farming and in the home), a lack of confidence to speak up, no support from their husband to engage, and barriers to land access or ownership–the last three being more of a challenge for migrant women than native women. 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Prosperity. Systemic Country Diagnosis. Accessed 7/26/2021 at: http://hdl.handle. net/10986/3097 24 ECO-AUDIT Environmental Benefits Statement The World Bank Group is committed to reducing its environmental footprint. In support of this commitment, we leverage electronic publishing options and print-on-demand technology, which is located in regional hubs worldwide. Together, these initiatives enable print runs to be lowered and shipping distances decreased, resulting in reduced paper consumption, chemical use, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste. We follow the recommended standards for paper use set by the Green Press Initiative. The majority of our books are printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified paper, with nearly all containing 50-100 percent recycled content. The recycled fiber in our book paper is either unbleached or bleached using totally chlorine-free (TCF), processed chlorine-free (PCF), or enhanced elemental chlorine-free (EECF) processes. 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