Public Lecture: “Vanishing Donkeys, Growing Vulnerabilities: Livelihoods and Climate Resilience in Northern Ghana”; Speaker: Philip Aniah

Abstracts:

Climate change threatens rural sub-Saharan Africa, where donkeys aid adaptation but face decline from the global hide trade. Using the Sustainable Livelihood Framework and a mixed-methods design, this study surveyed 302 households in Northern Ghana regarding declining donkey ownership. Donkeys provide vital transport, ploughing, and water-carrying services. However, 58% of households now own no donkeys; among the 42% who do, the average herd size has reduced from 4 to 1 over 10 years. Drivers include sales (53%), disease (31%), and theft (16%). Women, poor households, and smallholders are worst affected. Consequently, donkey loss has increased labour burdens, reduced agricultural productivity, limited manure/transport access, and weakened climate adaptation capacity. The study highlights donkeys as an overlooked climate resilience asset and urges targeted policies to protect populations. 

Philip Aniah is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sustainable Development Studies at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Ghana. His research interests include the intersections of environmental sustainability, climate change adaptation, and livelihood resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa. Philip is committed to advancing sustainable development through evidence-based research, teaching, and mentorship of postgraduate students. 

This lecture is open to the public. For virtual participation via Zoom, please use the following link:

https://uni-freiburg.zoom-x.de/j/61872438143?pwd=hT8lP7cHDU0RRmbVPxmidJhxPWk5jl.1

Meeting-ID: 618 7243 8143
Code: WZ5dFpNG7