Y1 Progress report | Enoch Tham-Agyekum

Voices of Resilience: Harnessing Community Radio to Drive Social Learning and Climate Action in Ghana’s Drought-Prone Communities

The first year of the project recorded several important achievements. The project successfully recruited and trained research assistants and field staff to support implementation activities. In addition, pilot testing of research instruments was conducted, and the tools were refined to improve accuracy and effectiveness.

Baseline quantitative and qualitative data were successfully collected from the study sites. The project also acquired essential field equipment, including tablets for digital data collection. Furthermore, ethical clearance was obtained from the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee, KNUST, ensuring compliance with research standards. The team actively participated in conferences, which enhanced dissemination efforts and stakeholder engagement. Overall, the project strengthened its research coordination and implementation capacity during the first year.

The project experienced coordination challenges across multiple field regions during implementation. Logistical constraints affected some aspects of fieldwork execution. There were also time limitations that influenced the scheduling of data collection activities. Travel and scheduling constraints were encountered among enumerators and stakeholders. These challenges were addressed through improved planning, flexible scheduling, and strengthened communication among field teams. The use of digital data collection tools was found to significantly improve data accuracy and efficiency. Strong field coordination was identified as essential for the successful implementation of multi-region research activities.

Pilot testing proved important for improving the quality of research instruments and ensuring field-readiness. Adequate training of enumerators improved the quality of the collected data. Finally, effective stakeholder engagement improved access to field sites and enhanced cooperation during data collection.

Community members were generally welcoming and cooperative once trust had been established. In many of the study areas, respondents were willing to participate in household surveys and discussions, especially when the purpose of the research was clearly explained. Community leaders also played a key facilitation role by helping the team gain access, mobilise participants, and provide local guidance. This improved efficiency during fieldwork and helped ensure that data collection proceeded smoothly. In several cases, community members showed strong interest in the research topic and contributed valuable local knowledge, enriching the quality of both quantitative and qualitative data.

The most challenging aspects of engagement included coordinating fieldwork across multiple regions, managing respondent availability in rural communities, and addressing initial trust and communication barriers during community entry. Logistical constraints and scheduling complexities also required continuous adaptation and careful planning. Despite these challenges, the experience has been highly rewarding. The opportunity to engage directly with communities and collect real-world data has strengthened applied research skills.

Over the past 12 months, my understanding of transdisciplinary research has shifted significantly from a mainly theoretical appreciation to a more practical, applied understanding, shaped by direct involvement in the FAR-LeaF research process.

A key change in my understanding of transdisciplinary research was recognising that knowledge generation is not a linear process driven only by researchers. Instead, it is iterative and participatory. It requires continuous interaction with stakeholders throughout all stages of the research process, including problem definition, data collection, analysis, and interpretation of findings. Fieldwork experience strengthened this understanding further. Engaging with communities and field enumerators showed that local knowledge is essential for shaping relevant research questions and ensuring that findings are meaningful and applicable. This demonstrated that scientific knowledge alone is not sufficient without incorporating contextual and lived experiences. Participation in dissemination and stakeholder engagement activities also highlighted that transdisciplinary research extends beyond data collection and analysis. It includes knowledge sharing and translation to ensure that findings are understood and used by decision makers and communities.

Collaboration with FAR-LeaF scholars has significantly enhanced academic output and networking opportunities. Participation in conferences and mentorship platforms has expanded professional exposure and contributed to personal and academic development. The integration of field experience, collaboration, and publication activities has made the overall FAR-LeaF engagement both impactful and transformative.

Annual report submitted by Dr Enoch Tham-Agyekum

(summarised for publication by Heidi Sonnekus for the FAR-LeaF Programme)