EU, Ghana, UNICEF and UNHCR Support Zini Communities
EU, Government of Ghana, UNICEF and UNHCR team up on services provision for forcibly displaced persons and their host communities in Zini
ACCRA, Ghana, [7 Oct. 2026] – The European Union (EU), UNICEF and UNHCR, working with the Government of Ghana through the Ghana Refugee Board, have joined forces to strengthen essential services for forcibly displaced persons and host communities in Zini in the Upper West Region.
The partners handed over a rehabilitated kindergarten block, sanitation facilities and a solar-powered water system, while also providing essential supplies to the Zini Health Centre and strengthening emergency preparedness and support for frontline health workers.
The initiative forms part of the two-year ‘Supporting the Resilience of Forcibly Displaced People and Host Communities in Northern Ghana (UNITE)’ project, implemented by UNICEF Ghana and UNHCR, with funding from the EU.
The UNITE partnership is strengthening essential services and supporting more inclusive, resilient and peaceful communities in northern Ghana.
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About UNITE Project
Launched in 2025 with EUR 2.7 million, the UNITE project is being rolled out in the Tarikom and Zini communities in the Upper East and Upper West regions, respectively.
Intended to support government systems and expand access to quality education, health and nutrition, child protection, water, sanitation and hygiene, and social protection services, while promoting social cohesion and peaceful coexistence. It has the objective of aligning with national strategies and complementing existing efforts like the Gulf of Guinea Social Cohesion (SOCO) programme, as well as other EU and UN projects.
UNITE collaborates with government ministries, agencies and district authorities by responding to the growing impact of displacement while strengthening national and local systems and services across education, health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), child protection, social protection and birth registration.
Result-wise, more than 2,500 people are accessing improved shelter as well as 5,732 asylum seekers and 11,311 vulnerable host-community members who have been enrolled into Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme. Furthermore, 11,367 refugee and host-community members have been reached through broader protection engagements. A Community Feedback Mechanism has also enabled 391 refugees and host-community members to provide feedback on services and priorities, helping project partners respond to community concerns.
By engaging traditional and community leaders, building local capacity for peacebuilding and establishing channels for community feedback, the UNITE Project is contributing to inclusion, trust, resilience and peaceful coexistence while reinforcing government accountability to affected communities.
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About UNICEF
UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential. For more information about UNICEF and its work, please visit and follow UNICEF Ghana on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
