Europäische Union

Access to upgraded shea processing equipment is helping women in northern Ghana improve livelihoods and contribute to more peaceful, resilient communities. Credit: UNDP Ghana

By Praise Nutakor
UNITED NATIONS, Mar 3 2026 (IPS)

Across the world’s fragile borderlands where insecurity, climate stress, and marginalization intersect, communities often find themselves on the frontlines of violent extremism. Yet these same communities also hold the greatest potential for peace, when given the confidence, tools, and opportunities to shape their own future.

In northern Ghana, through the catalytic support of Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea to UNDP’s primary channel for thematic, flexible funding (Funding Windows), women, youth, and local institutions are redefining what community driven peacebuilding looks like. Through targeted peacebuilding interventions, they are strengthening social cohesion, expanding economic opportunities, and tackling the root causes of conflict.

Youth stepping forward as peace ambassadors, Northern Ghana’s border communities face growing risks of infiltration and recruitment by violent extremist networks operating across the wider Gulf of Guinea. Young people, often unemployed or excluded from decision making, are among the most vulnerable. But with support from the Funding Windows partners, youth are becoming champions for peace.

Surveillance and mobility support for local security actors in northern Ghana is enhancing early warning, border monitoring, and conflict prevention efforts. Credit: UNDP Ghana

Young people in border communities have been equipped with skills to identify early warning signs, counter hate speech, and prevent radicalization within their peer groups. Local language radio discussions, reaching more than 72,000 listeners, have further strengthened awareness of misinformation and the tactics extremist groups use to exploit frustration and fear.

For Alhassan Dasmani, a youth leader in Tempane in the Upper-East region of Ghana, the impact has been life changing:

“We never realized how easily conflict could spread in our communities. Unemployment, misinformation, and peer pressure make us vulnerable, but we also have the power to stop it. What we need is education, vigilance, and opportunities to build a better future.”

Her voice reflects a broader shift, with youth stepping forward to build safer communities.

Livelihoods that reduce vulnerability to extremism

One of the most effective ways to prevent violent extremism is by addressing the vulnerabilities extremist groups exploit: economic hardship, exclusion, and lack of perspectives.

In northern Ghana, the targeted peacebuilding investments are already making a tangible difference. Solar powered water systems are enabling women farmers to grow food year round, strengthening food security and household incomes.

In Yipala, Faustina, a small scale farmer, now supplies vegetables to nearby communities. What began as a modest plot has now become a source of dignity and stability.

“I can finally provide fresh food for my family and earn enough to support my children,” she said.

Training in climate-smart agriculture and support with seeds and inputs have helped women farmers like Faustina produce successful harvests. By enabling economic stability, these livelihood interventions are strengthening the community’s social fabric and reducing the incentives extremist groups often target.

Strengthening local institutions

Preventing violent extremism requires not only strong community engagement, but responsive institutions capable of sustaining peace over time. As part of the peacebuilding interventions, district assemblies, security agencies, and civil society organizations have been trained in conflict prevention. Targeted support including surveillance tools has strengthened border monitoring at the local level.

At the national level, institutions such as the Ghana Peace Council and the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons have strengthened their technical and operational capacity in peacebuilding and arms control, supporting efforts to curb the illicit spread of small arms.

For Anne Anaba, a participant in the UNDP-supported training with Ghana’s Regional Peace Council, the shift has been deeply personal:

“This initiative has exposed us to the reality that we can provide solutions to chieftaincy conflicts and land disputes in our communities. It has rekindled hope in us as peace actors.”

Her experience underscores a critical truth: peace endures when institutions and communities are strengthened together.

Scaling what works

What makes these efforts particularly powerful is the speed and flexibility of Funding Windows resources. By enabling women to lead, youth to rise, and institutions to respond, the combined investment of Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea is contributing to a more peaceful, cohesive, and resilient world.

As one peace agent in Natenga in Northern Ghana put it: “When we work together, extremists have no place among us.”

This is peace built from the ground up. It is what becomes possible when the world invests not only in preventing violence, but in empowering people to shape the future they deserve.

Praise Nutakor is Partnerships and Communications Specialist, UNDP

IPS UN Bureau

 

Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');  

Die EU hat eine Erklärung zu den Entwicklungen in Iran und im Nahen Osten abgegeben.

Le bureau de l’Assemblée Populaire Nationale (APN) a donné son feu vert initial à une proposition de loi durcissant les sanctions contre les enfants délaissant […]

L’article 3 ans de prison et 300 000 DA d’amende pour qui abandonne ses parents en Algérie est apparu en premier sur .

À l’occasion de l’Aïd el-Fitr, Air Algérie annonce le lancement d’une offre promotionnelle exceptionnelle. La compagnie nationale propose des réductions allant jusqu’à 40 % sur […]

L’article Air Algérie : une promotion spéciale Aïd el-Fitr avec jusqu’à 40 % de remise est apparu en premier sur .

À Mouzaïa, à l’ouest de Blida, l’alerte a circulé en quelques heures. Plus de 60 enfants ont développé des inflammations cutanées après l’apparition d’un insecte […]

L’article Plus de 60 enfants victimes de « piqûres mystérieuses » : un insecte non identifié déclenche l’alerte à Blida est apparu en premier sur .

To mark International Women’s Day, national and European parliamentarians will meet on Thursday to discuss stereotypes, disinformation and online gender-based violence.
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

In diesen Wochen findet der Prozess gegen Marius Borg Høiby statt. Ihm werden unter anderem Vergewaltigung, häusliche Gewalt und Drogenmissbrauch vorgeworfen. Blick hält dich über die Entwicklungen auf dem Laufenden.

Les juridictions traitant les dossiers des personnes impliquées dans des infractions aux règles d’utilisation de l’allocation touristique de 750 euros ont distingué, dans leurs décisions, plusieurs […]

L’article Allocation touristique de 750 € : la justice durcit le ton et classe les contrevenants par gravité est apparu en premier sur .

Wie geht es den Schweizer Firmen? Was läuft an der Wall Street? Und wie entwickelt sich der Bitcoin- und Goldpreis? Im Liveticker halten wir dich über die neusten Entwicklungen an den Märkten auf dem Laufenden.

Anonyme Nutzer kassieren auf Polymarket Millionen. Sie wetteten darauf, dass die USA und Israel den Iran vor dem 28. Februar angreifen. Die Accounts wurden nur Stunden vor den Bombardierungen eröffnet. Hat das jemand Insiderwissen zu Geld gemacht?

Achteinhalb Jahre nach seiner Pressekonferenz-Frage, die um die Welt ging, taucht der Name Izyan «Zizou» Ahmad aus dem Nichts wieder auf. Der kleine Bub, der damals Roger Federer herausforderte, ist jetzt ein Teenie-Talent. Und betritt in Indian Wells die grosse Bühne.

La fintech internationale HelloSafe vient de dévoiler son Indice de Prospérité Mondiale 2026, un palmarès innovant qui bouscule les indicateurs économiques traditionnels. Dans cette édition, […]

L’article Plus riche que l’Afsud, l’Égypte et le Maroc : l’Algérie devient le pays le plus prospère d’Afrique en 2026 est apparu en premier sur .

C’était dans l’air, c’est officiel ! L’équipe d’Algérie affrontera les Pays-Bas en amical avant la Coupe du monde-2026. La FAF vient de dévoiler la date […]

L’article Algérie – Pays-Bas en amical : la FAF dévoile la date et le lieu du match (officiel) est apparu en premier sur .

Chypre n'est pas impliquée dans l'offensive militaire au Moyen-Orient, déclare le président.

The post Chypre confirme qu’un drone iranien a frappé une base britannique appeared first on Euractiv FR.

Le directeur général du Fonds de garantie des crédits aux PME, El Hadi Tamam, a annoncé la signature d’accords avec l’ensemble des banques agréées en […]

L’article Le Fonds de garantie élargit son soutien aux entreprises en création est apparu en premier sur .

Opinion on general guidelines for the preparation of the 2027 budget, Section III – Commission
Committee on Security and Defence
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Cette réunion informelle devait porter sur l'élargissement et le prochain budget de l'UE.

The post Chypre annule une réunion de l’UE après une attaque de drone appeared first on Euractiv FR.

ENTWURF EINES BERICHTS über den Bericht 2025 der Kommission über Georgien
Ausschuss für auswärtige Angelegenheiten
Rasa Juknevičienė

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2026 - EP

REPORT on a European Parliament recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning an enhanced EU-Canada cooperation in the light of the current geopolitical context, including the threats to Canada’s economic stability and sovereignty
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Tobias Cremer

Source : © European Union, 2026 - EP

Ce qui aurait pu s’achever en tragédie urbaine s’est transformé en une véritable leçon de courage. En plein cœur d’une circulation dense, un chauffeur de […]

L’article Alger : l’acte héroïque d’un chauffeur qui a risqué sa vie en conduisant un bus en feu sur 1 km (VIDEO) est apparu en premier sur .