Opportunity International Canada (OIC) has announced the launch of CLIMB – Climate Resilient Livelihoods for Women in Northern Ghana, a six-year, $13-million project aimed at empowering women farmers and strengthening food security across the country’s most climate-affected regions.
The initiative, funded with $12.5 million from Global Affairs Canada and an additional $500,000 in private support, will directly assist 14,500 smallholder farmers and 500 agribusinesses, reaching an estimated 315,000 people throughout northern Ghana.
Developed in partnership with Ghanaian microfinance institution Sinapi Aba, CLIMB will help women farmers adapt to the mounting challenges of climate change through gender-responsive, climate-smart agriculture (GR-CSA) training. More than 200 locally trained Farmer Support Agents will deliver hands-on instruction, providing women with the knowledge, tools, and weather data needed to improve crop yields and income stability.
“CLIMB represents the very best of what partnership can achieve,” said Dan Murray, President & CEO of Opportunity International Canada. “Together with Global Affairs Canada and Sinapi Aba, we’re helping women farmers turn the challenges of unpredictable climate into opportunities for growth and resilience. When local expertise and global commitment come together, the impact can be truly transformative.”
The programme will also strengthen agribusinesses and crop aggregators by improving access to financing, storage facilities, and agricultural equipment. This investment aims to reduce post-harvest losses, create stronger markets, and ensure farmers have reliable buyers for their produce.
As one of Ghana’s most established microfinance providers, Sinapi Aba has been at the forefront of financial inclusion for nearly 30 years. Under the CLIMB initiative, the organisation will expand its range of financial products to include affordable agricultural loans and weather-indexed crop insurance, designed to help women farmers mitigate risk, invest confidently, and safeguard their livelihoods.
“For nearly three decades, Sinapi Aba has walked alongside Ghana’s most vulnerable, helping them build stronger livelihoods through access to finance and training,” said Tony Fosu, CEO of Sinapi Aba. “CLIMB allows us to go even further, equipping women farmers with the tools and knowledge they need to adapt, thrive, and lead their communities toward a more sustainable future.”
The project’s financing model reflects a shift in Canada’s international development strategy. Of the $12.5 million from Global Affairs Canada, $5 million is structured as a conditionally repayable contribution, an approach that promotes accountability and long-term economic sustainability. This reinvestment model ensures that aid funding continues to generate local impact well beyond the project’s initial term.
Beyond its agricultural and financial components, CLIMB will also focus on advancing women’s leadership and participation in community decision-making. The initiative aims to build inclusive local governance and empower women to advocate for change, helping to build stronger and more resilient rural communities.
The announcement comes ahead of the United Nations’ International Year of the Woman Farmer in 2026, highlighting the essential role women play in feeding families, driving local economies, and leading climate resilience efforts worldwide.
“Together, OIC, Sinapi Aba, and Global Affairs Canada are transforming agriculture from a struggle for survival into a source of stability and hope,” Murray added.
