International Conference

Nudging for the Attainment of

Sustainable Development Goal 6 in
Ghana
Gordon Akon-Yamga, PhD.
CSIR-Science and Technology Policy Research Institute, Ghana
At the 16th Globelics Conference, October 26 2018, Accra
 Presentation agenda International Conference

State of sanitation in
Ghana
SGDs
implementation
in Ghana
Nudge for SDG 6

Conclusion and
food for thought
State of sanitation in Ghana
International Conference

• About 76% of households rely on improper waste collection and

disposal methods in Ghana
• 61% of the population use improved variety of household latrines
• Increasing urbanization and non-adherence to planning schemes
• Lack of effective refuse collection
• Management services and provision of facilities are inadequate
• Lack of engineered final treatment and disposal facilities
• Poor hygienic practices by individuals and communities
• Insufficient and ineffective hygiene education
• Vector-borne diseases
State of sanitation in Ghana
International Conference

Basic and safely managed sanitation Proportion of population using various

coverage by region, 2015 (%) levels of sanitation services, 2010-2015 (%)
 International Conference

State of sanitation in Ghana

Basic and safely managed sanitation

coverage by region, 2015 (%)
Institutional arrangement for SGDs International Conference

implementation in Ghana
• UN resolution on Agenda 2030 emphasizes need for implementation
of SDGs to consider different national and regional realities
• Ghana’s SDGs are implemented through the decentralized planning
system
• MDAs and MMDAs are responsible for planning; NPDC apex coordinating
body
• This system encourages collaboration (government bodies, private sector,
CSOs, Academia, bilats and multilats)
• A coordination and leadership structure has been established for
better coordination and partnership to implement the SDGs
Coordination and leadership structure International Conference

for SDGs Implementation

Nudging for SDG 6 in Ghana International Conference

• SDG 6 is to ensure provision

and sustainable management
of water and sanitation for all
• In Ghana, a nudge structure
for SDG 6 should be at three
levels
• Macro, meso, and micro
• Scientists have been nudging
policymakers and society in
some form (e.g., policy briefs,
info sheets, brochures, etc…)
• Now, we need to adopt
mainstream nudging
techniques that cater for each
of the three levels
Nudging for SDG 6 in Ghana
International Conference

• At the macro level that includes central government (MDAs), donors, CSOs
• Revise formats and contents of policy briefs to mainstream nudging
• For central government, align information with electoral success or failures
• At the meso level, that includes MMDAs, donors, and CSOs
• Revisions of the formats and contents of policy briefs to nudge
• Info sheets
• Engagement in stakeholder events
• At the micro level, that includes
• Educational campaigns at basic schools
• Engage media to provide public service (free) by advertising nudge-related
information
• Cellphone/social media messaging
• Nudging at the three levels not mutually exclusive
Conclusion and food for thought
International Conference

• Nudging has been around for a while; however, its application to the
implementation of the SDGs is novel in Ghana
• Nudging for the SDGs has potential to push for the attainment of SDG
6 in Ghana
• Realizing the potential requires finding answers to these questions:
1. What are the critical elements of the choice architecture in the three levels
at which nudging could be done in Ghana
2. What specific nudging techniques can be applied to the identified elements
of the choice architecture
3. Who is best positioned to nudge what level
4. What are the ethical issues specific to Ghana and to each level of nudging?
 International Conference

Thank you

Gordon Akon-Yamga, PhD.

gakon-yamga@csir-stepri.org,
yamga16@gmail.com