Reflections from a Successful Workshop on Inclusive Climate and Social Resilience

Reflections from a Successful Workshop on Inclusive Climate and Social Resilience

On Tuesday, 6th July 2025, CSIR-Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (CSIR-STEPRI) successfully concluded the Resilience Against Climate Change–Social Transformation Research and Policy Advocacy (REACH-STR) Dissemination Workshop, held under the theme: “Pathways to Fostering Inclusive Climate and Social Resilience: Lessons from the REACH-STR Project.”

Hosted at CSIR-STEPRI premises in Accra, the workshop brought together over 50 key stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, development practitioners, NGOs, and media. The event focused on tackling the complex intersections of climate change, gender dynamics, and internal migration in Ghana.

The workshop also spotlighted findings from the six-year REACH-STR Project, funded by the European Union and implemented by CSIR-STEPRI in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD UBIDS), and the Centre for Migration Studies - UG.

Key insights shared during the workshop included:

• Evidence-based perspectives on how climate change is reshaping rural livelihoods, internal migration patterns, and gender roles.
• The critical role of Social Transformation Research (STR) in influencing inclusive, responsive, and context-specific policy.
• Practical pathways for integrating resilience and inclusion into national and subnational development planning frameworks.
• The value of leveraging existing Communities of Practice to sustain collaboration, knowledge exchange, and peer learning.
• The need for targeted communication through policy briefs, newsletters, social media, short videos, and community durbars; amplifying visibility and uptake of research.
• The importance of developing Key Performance Indicators to track social transformation outcomes and measure long-term policy impact.
• A strong call to institutionalize STR within multi-level governance, ensuring that its principles are embedded in routine planning and policy cycles.

Sincere appreciation to all speakers, facilitators, partners, and participants whose contributions made this workshop both impactful and inspiring.

As we move forward, the priority is clear: translate these insights into actionable policy, deepen institutional collaboration, and stay intentional about inclusive, climate-resilient development.