The “Resilience Against Climate Change” (REACH) Project on adaptation and mitigation to climate change for rural livelihoods in the savannah ecosystem of Ghana has been developed as part of the EU National Assistance. Among others, the project ensures that district and community capacity in climate, smart planning and natural resources management is developed and standardised in 54 districts. This assignment established a searchable, centralised digital library compiling all available information on projects and programmes, funded by various donors, associated with the same objectives of conservation agriculture and natural resource management (NRM). This not only preserves hard won information and processes, but also provides a searchable store of knowledge and a comprehensive background for all ongoing and future project and investment formulation and district planning.
The digital library was mandated to:

• Collect and collate information on all economic activities of the district;
• Generate a digital database on the natural and economic resources of the district;
• Technologically process and present collected data to guide decision making
• Spatially present natural and economic resources of the district for easy access by potential development partners especially from the private sector.

District databases were established, including:

• Natural Resource endowments: Land use maps, soil suitability maps, population occupation structure, natural tourists’ attractions, water bodies and their location in relationship to agriculture land use sites
• Economic resource endowments: Operational industry, energy sources, marketing facilities, roads and their relation to economic activities, potential tourist attractions, banks and other financial institutions
• Social: Educational facilities, health facilities, recreation facilities
  General: A spatial map of agriculture and agro-based activities in the district

The assignment also included a feasibility study on the technical capabilities and requirements to host the digital library, digitalisation of existing publication data, conceptualization of an updating process, training for local staff, and other tasks related to the success of the digital library. Moreover, a district data infrastructure concept was developed to guide partners through the process of the implementation and management of a geodata infrastructure.

• Conducted a scoping study clarifying the detailed demand, and technical limitations and capabilities for the digital format
• Digitalised past and current project and programme publications pertaining to conservation agriculture and natural resource management in the Northern Savannah zone of Ghana in accordance with data standards
• Established a digital library in the Northern Savannah zone of Ghana, including a data collection and dissemination mechanism
• Trained local staff in the operation and maintenance of the library