Accra — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a US$9.3 million contribution from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to enhance access to digital technology for youth, primarily in Northern Ghana, empowering them to build resilience in food systems, improve nutrition and livelihoods. This donation will support 15,500 Ghanaians by providing them with essential digital skills and tools including mobile technologies, precision farming systems, and digital platforms, to help promote the adoption of smart agricultural practices, and encourage healthy lifestyles. These efforts will contribute to food and nutrition security while minimizing the environmental impact of climate change, and ultimately enhance livelihoods.
"WFP recognizes the transformative power of digital technologies in addressing poverty, food insecurity, and unemployment. We are committed to working with the government and partners to narrow the digital divide in Ghana, ensuring that no one is left behind, and prioritizing inclusivity in all our initiatives," said Aurore Rusiga, WFP's Country Director in Ghana.
The five-year project (October 2024 - December 2028) underscores the commitment of the Republic of Korea to enhance food and nutrition security through youth empowerment and digitalization. The Republic of Korea, through KOICA, remains one of the largest government donors to WFP Ghana.
KOICA has been implementing various initiatives that leverage digital tools to empower young people and enable them to play a significant role in their own economic growth. One such initiative is the "Accelerating Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Ghana Project," which harnesses technology and entrepreneurship to drive social change and enhance the lives of children and youth across Ghana.
"This new project with WFP represents a shared commitment to empowering youth through digitalization. The Government of the Republic of Korea firmly believes that digitalization holds immense potential to drive lasting, positive change. Through this partnership, we are confident that we will contribute meaningfully to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of the region," said Dong Hyun Lee, KOICA's Country Director in Ghana.
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One in every four youth in Ghana is not engaged in productive activities contributing to poverty, food insecurity, and high levels of malnutrition in the target regions. While technology has the potential to contribute significantly to addressing these challenges, its adoption remains low due to barriers such as limited affordability and accessibility, and low literacy rates reaching as low as 32.8% in the Savannah Region.
