Climate Smart Social Entrepreneurship (CSSE)
Over 24 months, the CSSE Programme strengthened MSME resilience and climate action in Northern Ghana. NSEN grew from 160 to 300 enterprises, adding 140 new members (60% women). Enterprises received training, mentorship, and peer learning to adopt climate-smart practices like energy efficiency, water management, and waste reduction. Twenty trained Climate Change Ambassadors led awareness campaigns and advocacy across ten communities, amplified via social media and stakeholder engagement. The programme strengthened MSME-government dialogue on climate policy, improving entrepreneurs' policy
understanding and participation. An online Climate-Smart Business Toolkit and NSEN
Sustainability Guide were developed for lasting impact. The approach integrated enterprise development, education, leadership building, mobilisation, advocacy, and monitoring. Together, these efforts built a stronger climate-smart entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region. MSMEs and communities are now positioned to sustain economic growth and climate resilience beyond the project's end.
Climate Smart Entrepreneurship and Sustainability
The project strengthened the capacity of all 300 NSEN members to integrate climate-smart practices into their business operations. Through a series of technical training sessions, entrepreneurs adopted practical approaches in energy efficiency and renewable energy, sustainable water management, waste reduction and recycling, and climate risk assessment
and adaptation planning. Monitoring data indicated an average increase of about 40% in the adoption of these practices across participating enterprises.
Beyond classroom-based training, businesses received continuous follow-up support and monitoring visits that enabled them to implement and improve climate-smart innovations within their operations. Many enterprises introduced waste segregation systems, improved water conservation practices, adopted energy-saving equipment and incorporated climate risk considerations into their business planning.
Market linkage activities, including the Climate-Smart Trade Fair and Annual Conference, created valuable opportunities for entrepreneurs to showcase products and services, establish business partnerships and access new markets. These events strengthened collaboration among network members while increasing product visibility and customer reach. Training on digital technologies further enabled businesses to improve marketing, communication and operational efficiency using digital platforms.
Beyond classroom-based training, businesses received continuous follow-up support and monitoring visits that enabled them to implement and improve climate-smart innovations within their operations. Many enterprises introduced waste segregation systems, improved water conservation practices, adopted energy-saving equipment and incorporated climate risk considerations into their business planning.
Market linkage activities, including the Climate-Smart Trade Fair and Annual Conference, created valuable opportunities for entrepreneurs to showcase products and services, establish business partnerships and access new markets. These events strengthened collaboration among network members while increasing product visibility and customer reach. Training on digital technologies further enabled businesses to improve marketing, communication and operational efficiency using digital platforms.
Climate Change Ambassadors
The project successfully recruited and trained 20 Climate Change Ambassadors drawn from ten
communities across Northern Ghana. Through intensive leadership, communication and
advocacy training, ambassadors significantly strengthened their capacity to educate
communities on climate change, mobilise local action and advocate for sustainable
environmental practices.
Rather than implementing activities independently, the ambassadors developed their campaign concepts and presented them to the wider NSEN membership, encouraging entrepreneurs and community members to volunteer their expertise, resources and time in support of implementation. This collaborative model strengthened community ownership and encouraged businesses to actively participate in climate action beyond their own enterprises..
The ambassadors organised climate awareness campaigns through community meetings, educational outreach, market sensitisation, school engagements, local radio discussions and social media campaigns. Community-based climate action initiatives including clean-up exercises, tree planting, recycling demonstrations and public education events generated high levels of community participation and strengthened local commitment to climate resilience.
The project also facilitated a climate policy dialogue that brought together entrepreneurs, community representatives and government stakeholders to discuss barriers and opportunities for climate-smart enterprise development. This engagement improved mutual understanding between policymakers and MSMEs while strengthening the voice of entrepreneurs in climate policy discussions.
To recognise outstanding efforts, the project introduced the Climate-Smart Business Recognition Awards, celebrating entrepreneurs and ambassadors who demonstrated exceptional commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation. The development of an online Climate-Smart Business Toolkit further ensured that learning resources remain accessible to entrepreneurs beyond the life of the project.
Rather than implementing activities independently, the ambassadors developed their campaign concepts and presented them to the wider NSEN membership, encouraging entrepreneurs and community members to volunteer their expertise, resources and time in support of implementation. This collaborative model strengthened community ownership and encouraged businesses to actively participate in climate action beyond their own enterprises..
The ambassadors organised climate awareness campaigns through community meetings, educational outreach, market sensitisation, school engagements, local radio discussions and social media campaigns. Community-based climate action initiatives including clean-up exercises, tree planting, recycling demonstrations and public education events generated high levels of community participation and strengthened local commitment to climate resilience.
The project also facilitated a climate policy dialogue that brought together entrepreneurs, community representatives and government stakeholders to discuss barriers and opportunities for climate-smart enterprise development. This engagement improved mutual understanding between policymakers and MSMEs while strengthening the voice of entrepreneurs in climate policy discussions.
To recognise outstanding efforts, the project introduced the Climate-Smart Business Recognition Awards, celebrating entrepreneurs and ambassadors who demonstrated exceptional commitment to environmental sustainability and innovation. The development of an online Climate-Smart Business Toolkit further ensured that learning resources remain accessible to entrepreneurs beyond the life of the project.