Nsunia is a community in the Bole district, Savannah region of Ghana and bordered to Cote D’ Ivoire. The major agrarian activities in the community include cassava farming and fishing, with women also engaged in shea nut picking as an alternative source of income. Despite its industrious population, Nsunia faces significant development challenges. The community can boast of a primary School but has no health facility, and therefore depends on Mandari, a neighbouring community for healthcare services. Poor road infrastructure and an unstable mobile network further limit access to essential services and economic opportunities. 

In response to the limited livelihoods opportunities in the community, UNDP Ghana under the regional project titled Preventing and Responding to Violent Extremism in the Atlantic Corridor, supported women and youth from Nsunia Community with ten (10) energy saving stoves, five (5) shea nut drying platforms, two (2) diesel powered Cassava Graters to strengthen livelihood opportunities in the area and build resilience against the  immediate drivers of radicalization leading to violent extremism in September 2024.

The energy savings stoves and drying platforms constructed are being used for parboiling and drying shea nut to preserve the quality of the shea nut to prevent contamination. By reducing smoke emissions and excessive heat, the stoves have improved the health of women who process shea nuts. The reduced quantity of fuel wood used in parboiling shea nut has also relieved shea nut pickers’ the stress of frequently searching for fuel. The two cassava graters are also facilitating the processing of Cassava into gari and starch for household consumption and commercial purposes, creating employment opportunities for women and youth in the community as well as reducing the time spent in locating cassava processors outside the community.

Community members expressed their appreciation for the support while appealing for additional facilities from the government and development partners to sustain and expand these gains.

The project is co-funded by; Denmark, Norway, Australia and Germany as part of the Preventing and responding to violent extremism in the Atlantic Corridor with beneficiary countries Burkina Faso, Benin, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana and Togo. The project aims to prevent and address the immediate drivers of radicalization leading to violent extremism in the sub-region, known to fuel and foster recruitment, while providing support to strengthening the infrastructures for peace.