WaterAid shows how climate risk data is shaping new district development plans in Upper East Region

By Samuel Asamoah 

WaterAid Ghana has demonstrated how five districts in the Upper East Region are integrating climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) priorities into their next Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDPs) for 2026–2029, following a year-long initiative that applied localized climate risk assessments to district planning. The presentation was delivered during Day Two of the Mole XXXVI WASH Conference at the Marlin Beach Resort in Gomoa-Fetteh.

The organisation explained that although Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies understand the established MTDP process, many continue to lack the analytical tools, climate data and technical guidance required to build WASH systems capable of withstanding increasingly severe climate impacts. This challenge informed WaterAid’s support to five districts through Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessments and the development of district-specific adaptation plans.

The assessments revealed rising exposure to droughts, flooding, erosion and extreme heat across the districts, posing significant threats to boreholes, handpumps, small town water supply systems and groundwater recharge. In several communities, water facilities fail during long dry seasons, while flood-prone zones experience repeated damage to infrastructure. Institutional reviews further showed gaps in climate adaptation budgeting, data availability and cross-sector coordination.

WaterAid said the initiative moved the districts from assessment to action through a structured support process involving the National Development Planning Commission and district planning teams. This included capacity-building sessions, joint reviews of earlier MTDPs, community engagement activities, validation meetings and the subsequent integration of climate-resilient WASH priorities into draft MTDPs for 2026–2029.

The revised plans now feature measures such as the protection of water sources and catchments, climate-proofing of WASH infrastructure through solar-powered mechanized systems for institutions, improved maintenance of dams and canals to minimize water losses, enhanced groundwater monitoring in partnership with the Water Resources Commission, and targeted capacity-building for district staff on climate-resilient WASH proposal development. The plans also prioritize community empowerment, especially for women and youth, in the delivery and management of WASH services.

WaterAid highlighted key lessons from the initiative, noting that localized assessments strengthen ownership, evidence-driven approaches bridge the gap between policy and practice, and multi-stakeholder involvement enhances coordination and accountability. Embedding climate-resilient WASH strategies in MTDPs, it added, is essential for ensuring long-term sustainability of water and sanitation systems.

The organisation announced next steps that include supporting the finalization of the MTDPs for the participating districts, producing learning briefs to support replication nationwide, engaging the NDPC on integrating a mandatory climate relevance component into MTDP guidelines, and helping districts track progress on climate-resilient WASH commitments.

As climate pressures intensify across northern Ghana, WaterAid said integrating climate risk data into district planning is becoming indispensable to safeguarding WASH investments and strengthening community resilience.