Rejoinder to Ghanaian Times, Editorial “Prove Ghana GrEEn project beneficial undertaking”, Published on Tuesday, October 5, 2023
(https://www.ghanaiantimes. com.gh/prove-ghana-green-project-beneficial-undertaking/)
We are writing this rejoinder to address the concerns raised in the recent editorial titled “Prove Ghana Green Project Beneficial Undertaking” published in the Ghanaian Times newspaper. While we commend the work of the news team in highlighting the GrEEn Project and its impact, we believe it is important to shed more light on the numerous benefits and partners involved in the GrEEn Project implementation.
The GrEEn Project is a 4-year action that kicked off in November 2019 and is an initiative of the European Union, through the European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) for Africa, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Co-implemented by SNV Ghana and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), GrEEn is implemented in the Ashanti and Western Regions in close collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development with a total contribution of EUR 20.6 million from the EU, SNV, UNCDF and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Ghana.
The GrEEn Project is based on the European Green Deal, an effort by the EU to reverse environmental degradation, minimise pollution and realise its ambition to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The Project also aligns with Ghana’s policies such as the National Green Jobs Strategy, which aims to promote green jobs and a transition to an environmentally sustainable economy.
The GrEEn Project has proven to be significant towards achieving sustainable development and combating climate change. So far, GrEEn Project has created greater economic and employment opportunities for youth, women and returning migrants by supporting sustainable green businesses and building skills of job seekers so they can contribute to protecting and restoring the natural environment, and reducing the harm caused to it.
It is important to add that the GrEEn Project has not only provided basic life, employability, and entrepreneurship skills but technical training to service recipients with the support of the EU, and awarded matching grants to 99 micro and small local businesses and cooperatives during the GrEEn Business Plan Competitions and GrEEn Innovation Challenge, totalling GH¢ 5,325,311.
As SNV gears up to wrap up the GrEEn Project, several steps have been put in place to share its lessons and extend impact, underpinned by collaborations with the public and private sector which includes a partnership with the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs that has resulted in the setting up of a revolving fund to continuously provide financial support to MSMEs with EUR 250,000 from the European Union.
The GrEEn Project is a fine example of the success of private and public sector partnerships underpinned by support from the European Union. As the green ecosystem continues to grow in Ghana, we look forward to recording more gains from the project’s service recipients who are prime examples of what happens when you support green businesses and youth.
