The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) is promoting evidence-based policies and strategic investments that generate decent employment across Ghana’s agri-food systems through a two-day stakeholder workshop in Accra.

Over 40 key stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, youth associations, and members of the JobAgri Multi-Stakeholder Forum came together to identify challenges, opportunities and collaborative actions, utilizing key decent work frameworks and tools, in applying labour survey data for better policymaking.

The JobAgri project is jointly led by ILO, FAO, CIRAD, and the AU, with funding support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). In its pilot phase in Ghana, the initiative aims to improve policy coherence between agriculture and employment by generating robust data and fostering dialogue across sectors.

According to Director, SRID, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, James Allotey, The JobAgri Ghana Project represents a timely and strategic intervention for Ghana by ensuring that agricultural policies are not only about food security and productivity but also about promoting decent work, inclusive growth and sustainable development.

FAO Representative to Ghana, Priya Gujadhur said the initiative will help upgrade players in the industry and also enhance living standards of the public.

“At FAO, we believe that transforming food systems goes hand in hand with transforming lives. Through the JobAgri initiative, we are working to ensure that agriculture is not just a means of survival, but a source of decent and dignified work, especially for young people and women in rural areas. This workshop is a crucial step toward shaping policies that are grounded in evidence and responsive to the real needs of those who feed our nation.” A core focus of the workshop was the presentation of preliminary findings from recent JobAgri labour surveys, which include two rounds of a farming household survey and one round of a value chain actors survey. These findings offer new insights into labour distribution, employment patterns, and challenges within Ghana’s agrifood sector”.

“This data is very critical. It provides evidence-based insights to maximise both agricultural outcomes and employment outcomes in order to improve the lives of farming communities in Ghana and to engage and energize both the labour market and the economy in Ghana.” noted Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia. “The JobAgri project exemplifies collaboration, bringing together our collective strengths to deliver integrated solutions for Ghana’s agrifood sector”, she said.

Participants also engaged in capacity-building sessions on using policy frameworks and tools developed by FAO and ILO to promote decent work, youth employment, and sustainable rural development. Through interactive discussions and group work, the workshop fostered knowledge exchange and collaborative problem-solving.

“Understanding the labour dynamics within agrifood systems is key to designing effective, inclusive policies. Through JobAgri, CIRAD is proud to support Ghana in generating locally relevant evidence that can inform action and drive sustainable rural development. When science and policy come together, we can create real change for farming communities.” said Claire Cerdan, Director of the Environment and Societies Department at CIRAD.

The JobAgri Ghana stakeholder workshop marks a critical milestone in the country’s efforts to harness agriculture as a driver of employment and rural transformation, contributing to a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for all.