GetCare Foundation contributed to the international development research dialogue at the EADI/IOB 2026 Conference, hosted by the Institute of Development Policy (IOB), University of Antwerp, Belgium, in collaboration with the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI). The conference brought together researchers, policymakers, development practitioners, and institutions from across the world to examine contemporary development challenges under the theme "Shaping Sustainable Futures: Global Challenges, (G)Local Solutions?"
Representing the Foundation, Dr. Gyinadu Abubakar, Senior Research and Policy Advisor, presented a research paper titled "Trading Cocoa for Gold: Livelihood Shifts and Agrarian Change in Ghana." The paper examines the growing trend of cocoa farmers converting agricultural land into gold mining sites, analysing the economic, social, and environmental factors driving this transition and proposing practical pathways for balancing agricultural productivity with sustainable resource development.
The research highlights how increasing competition between agriculture and mining is reshaping rural livelihoods across Ghana. Rather than presenting these sectors as inherently incompatible, the paper argues that appropriate policy reforms, smart agriculture, youth-focused agribusiness, and landscape restoration can enable mining and agriculture to complement one another. It concludes with a compelling proposition: "Gold for Cocoa, not Cocoa for Gold."
A particularly significant aspect of the presentation was its recognition of the RECLAIM Programme (Restoring Ecosystems & Communities through Landscape Restoration, Agroforestry and Inclusive Natural Resource Management), implemented by GetCare Foundation, as an emerging example of how degraded mining landscapes can be restored for productive agriculture while creating new livelihood opportunities for rural communities. Alongside youth-centred agribusiness initiatives, the paper identifies RECLAIM as a practical model capable of informing future policy and programme design across Ghana and other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Alongside the conference presentation, a publication jointly authored by Dr. Gyinadu Abubakar and Evans Odoom, was published on the official EADI/IOB 2026 conference platform. The article contributes to the global conversation on sustainable development by advocating for inclusive approaches to landscape restoration that connect environmental recovery with livelihood improvement, climate resilience, and long-term rural prosperity.
Participation in EADI/IOB 2026 reflects GetCare Foundation's broader commitment to ensuring that practical experiences from Ghana contribute to international development discussions while enabling global research insights to strengthen programmes such as RECLAIM, the Food Security and Sustainable Livelihoods initiatives, and future landscape restoration efforts across West Africa.
As the Foundation continues to expand collaborations with universities, research institutions, and international development partners, engagements such as EADI/IOB reinforce our belief that meaningful development is achieved when research, policy, and implementation work together to create sustainable solutions for communities.
Read the publication
You can read the published contribution on the official EADI/IOB development research platform here: Debating Development Research – EADI/IOB 2026 Publication
You can read the published contribution on the official EADI/IOB development research platform here: Debating Development Research – EADI/IOB 2026 Publication
