GCRF_NF335 COVID19: Greening the Social and Economic Recovery in Ghana and Zambia

Lead Research Organisation: University College London
Department Name: Bartlett Sch of Env, Energy & Resources

Abstract

This project will support a clean and resilient recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic in Ghana and Zambia. It will work with research partners, governments and other organisations in those countries to develop strategies that integrate economic recovery and climate change policies. Ghana and Zambia have been chosen because there is an opportunity to build on existing collaborations; there is a clear demand from policy makers for this research; and they have important differences that will enable lessons to be learned in other countries.

The project has five main objectives. It will:
1. Understand the drivers, challenges and opportunities for a clean, resilient recovery in Ghana and Zambia
2. Investigate options for a clean, resilient recovery through the co-creation of participatory pathways for future development
3. Quantify the socio-economic, energy and climate implications of a clean, resilient recovery
4. Support government decision-making on recovery, climate action and development planning, including through information-sharing and the adaption of clean, resilient recovery initiatives from other contexts
5. Strengthen capacity, share knowledge and create equitable and enduring partnerships

The project will focus in particular on the development and implementation of revised Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Revised NDCs need to be submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change before COP26, which will be held in Glasgow in late 2021. This integration is critical not only for social and economic recovery in the short-term, but also for avoiding lock-in to carbon intensive development pathways that could undermine long-term resilience.
 
Description The general findings for the project include:
- There is a significant appetite for a more sustainable, clean recovery from Covid-19 in Ghana and Zambia - and for the integration of climate change action into this recovery. This is exemplified by the Zambian government's green growth strategy which is drawing directly on the outputs and thinking produced by this project.
- Stakeholder views about the priorities for this recovery, and how quickly these countries should shift to a sustainable, low carbon development pathways differ significantly. These differences of view have been captured within our project by contrasting scenarios of the future that enable decision-makers to think about the different options and their implications.
- Interdisciplinary research that involves genuinely equal partnerships between UK researchers and researchers in low / middle income countries requires significant time, effort and resources. Online platforms can't be used to the same extent in lower income countries. We have found that workshops and many interviews still need to be held in person for them to be useful, and for our work to make an impact on decision-makers.

With respect to specific findings for Zambia, we have made the following recommendations:
- It is essential to coordinate across sectors in planning and preparedness to enhance resilience, and to take advantage of emerging opportunities.
- There is a need to devolve decision-making and planning in Zambia. This will require planning and budgeting approaches that incorporate a greater diversity of stakeholders at multiple levels of governance.
- There is a need to attract green finance for making investments that will contribute to transitioning Zambia into a climate- resilient and inclusive green economy.
- There is also a need to build human capacity, invest in skills, and support innovation in the green economy.

With respect to specific findings for Ghana, we have made the following recommendations:
- Ghana's major development frameworks need to be aligned so they support a shift towards a green economy.
- Covid-19 recovery policies and programmes should also be restructured so that they have a greater focus on green transformation.
- Green transport initiatives in Ghana should be revamped and sustained
- It is important to ensure that policies for individual sectors are compatible with green economic development.
- Development of innovative financing and incentives for green initiatives in required if a green recovery is to take place.
- There is also a need to strengthen administrative and fiscal decentralisation to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
Exploitation Route Our research results are being used directly by the Zambian Ministry of Green Economy in the development of their Green Growth Strategy. In addition to this, the outcomes, outputs and methodologies are being used directly in a follow-on project in Zambia, funded as part of the FCDO Climate Compatible Growth programme. That programme is also developing research partnerships in Ghana, which means there may be opportunities for similar follow-on activities in that country.
Sectors Energy,Environment,Transport
URL https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/sustainable/research-projects/2021/oct/greening-recovery-ghana-and-zambia
 
Description Whilst the project has finished, the full impacts of the research and engagement involved have not yet been realised. Impacts are relevant to several SDGs, particularly SDG7 (Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action); SDG9 (Innovation, Industry and Infrastructure); and SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Impacts so far include: - helping a range of stakeholders to consider and develop sustainable responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. The primary mechanism for this impact has been 49 stakeholder interviews in Ghana and Zambia to understand different views about the impacts of the pandemic and priorities for recovery; and stakeholder workshops in each country that have been used to co-create scenarios for a sustainable recovery. - direct impacts on policy development in both Ghana and Zambia through the project research, conclusions and recommendations. In both countries, these recommendations have been discussed with policy makers before being finalised. - direct impacts on the development of the Zambian Green Growth Strategy. The project has engaged regularly with officials in the Ministry responsible for developing this strategy, and they have been engaged in discussions of our findings. A member of our project team, Mulima Nyambe-Mubanga, has advised the Ministry on strategy development. This includes involvement in the drafting of the strategy.
First Year Of Impact 2021
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink,Energy,Environment,Transport
Impact Types Societal,Economic,Policy & public services
 
Description Contribution to Zambian government's Green Growth Strategy
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Climate Compatible Growth
Amount £1,300,000 (GBP)
Organisation Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2021 
End 03/2021
 
Title OSeMOSYS energy models for Ghana and Zambia 
Description These are OSeMOSYS models of the Ghanain and Zambian energy systems. They are based on two of the zero-order starter models which were developed under the Climate Compatible Growth project. Under this project they have been developed with improved representation of energy service demand technologies, supply-side technologies and country-specific national data. A demand projection Excel-based tool has also been developed to create inputs for the OSeMOSYS models. 
Type Of Material Computer model/algorithm 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact The OSeMOSYS framework is open-source. The Ghana and Zambia models we have developed will be made available to stakeholders towards the end of the project so that they can be used and further developed. The model results are providing quantification for energy-system elements of the narratives developed in the project, allowing stakeholders to understand the implications of the narratives in terms of the roll-out rates of different energy technologies, investment costs and emissions. 
 
Description Collaboration with University of Ghana, ISSER 
Organisation University of Ghana
Country Ghana 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Team members from UCL co-developed the project design with colleagues from UoG ISSER and ZIPAR. The UCL team contributes the PI Jim Watson, Co-Is and researchers. Julia Tomei and Meron Tesfamichael collaborated with ISSER colleagues on the policy analysis for Ghana, interview planning and interview analysis. Nick Hughes collaborated on the planning for the stakeholder workshops, and is co-leading the scenario development with Simon Bawakyillenuo. Jen Cronin and Steve Pye are leading on the development of the energy model for Ghana. Yacob Mulugetta is leading the preparation for the alst work package which will discuss and disseminate the project's results/recommendations to stakeholders.
Collaborator Contribution UoG ISSER contributes Co-I Simon Bawakyillenuo, researcher Aba Obrumah Crentsil and research assistants. Simon and Aba, along with support from ISSER researchers, lead the policy analysis and conducted the stakeholder interviews and workshop. Aba helped with the design of the OSeMOSYS model and providing data on the economy and energy system. Simon, Aba and colleagues have collaborated with UCL researchers on the qualitative scenario development, and deciding how to implement these in the energy model.
Impact Stakeholder interviews, stakeholder workshops, project report on the results of work package 1, the first policy brief which outlines the project as a whole, two policy briefs focussing on Ghana, the Ghana OSeMOSYS model. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary, involving policy document analysis, participatory scenario development and quantitative energy modelling.
Start Year 2021
 
Description Collaboration with ZIPAR 
Organisation Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research
Country Zambia 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Team members from UCL co-developed the project design with colleagues from UoG ISSER and ZIPAR. The UCL team contributes the PI Jim Watson, Co-Is and researchers. Julia Tomei and Meron Tesfamichael collaborated with ZIPAR colleagues on the policy analysis for Zambia, interview planning and interview analysis. Nick Hughes collaborated on the planning for the stakeholder workshop, and is co-leading the scenario development with Mulima Nyambe-Mubanga. Jen Cronin and Steve Pye are leading on the development of the energy model for Zambia. Yacob Mulugetta is leading the preparation for the last work package which will discuss and disseminate the project's results/recommendations to stakeholders.
Collaborator Contribution ZIPAR contributes Mulima Nyambe-Mubanga, and research assistants. Bernard Tembo was at ZIPAR at the start of the project and is now an independent partner. Bernard and Mulima, along with support from ZIPAR researchers, lead the policy analysis and conducted the stakeholder interviews and workshop. Bernard helped with the design of the OSeMOSYS model and providing data on the economy and energy system. Mulima, Bernard and colleagues have collaborated with UCL researchers on the qualitative scenario development, and deciding how to implement these in the energy model.
Impact Stakeholder interviews, stakeholder workshops, project report on the results of work package 1, the first policy brief which outlines the project as a whole, 1 policy brief focussing on Zambia, the Zambia OSeMOSYS model. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary, involving policy document analysis, participatory scenario development and quantitative energy modelling.
Start Year 2021
 
Description Dissemination workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact This workshop was organised by our Zambian partner - the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research - to disseminate and discuss our final report 'Greening the Recovery in Zambia', and to discuss .It was followed by a second workshop to launch a follow-on project, TRAnsition Pathways towards inclusive climate compatible growth in Zambia (TRAP-ZM).
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2023
 
Description Ghana scenario development workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This workshop was held in Accra, Ghana to co-develop scenarios for a green recovery in Ghana with a range of stakeholders from public, private, civil society and donor organisations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://isser.ug.edu.gh/latest-news/greening-socio-economic-recovery-ghana-researchers-engage-stakeh...
 
Description Project stakeholder advisory group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The project has established a stakeholder advisory group comprising 12 members from Ghana and Zambia. It includes government officials, representatives of international organisations (UNDP) and the UK government (FCDO), and representatives from NGOs and civil society organisations. The purpose of the group is to advise the project team on implementation of their research and how to achieve impact on decision-making in both countries.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021