Introduction to Eric Nyarko

Eric Nyarko is the newly appointed Director of Bees for Development Ghana. He is a seasoned development practitioner with over twenty years of experience in advocacy, leadership, partnerships development and management, and multi-stakeholder engagement across Ghana.

He has led and supported people-centred programmes funded by major development partners, working with both grassroots communities and high-level policymakers. With a strong foundation in participatory approaches, Eric is committed to inclusive, accountable, and sustainable development that empowers communities to take ownership of their development processes.

“True development happens when communities are empowered to lead and partnerships are grounded in trust, accountability and a shared purpose for sustainable impact.”

Eric Nyarko, Director of Bees for Development Ghana

Welcome to Bees for Development Ghana! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey so far?

My name is Eric Nyarko, and I am a development professional with experience in leadership, project management, community development, policy engagement and sustainable livelihood initiatives. I have worked across Ghana to deliver meaningful and measurable impact. My professional journey has involved collaborating with diverse stakeholders to design and support programmes that improve people’s livelihoods through appropriate interventions, while strongly emphasising and promoting community ownership.

What excites you most about leading this organisation?

What excites me most about leading this organisation is the opportunity to scale up a proven, community-driven approach that delivers both livelihood and environmental benefits. Empowering rural people to reduce poverty aligns strongly with the vision and mission of Bees for Development Ghana who sits at the intersection of conservation, income generation, and resilience. I am motivated by the opportunity to strengthen community ownership, support young people and women and position beekeeping as a viable, sustainable enterprise that contributes to local economies and biodiversity conservation across Ghana.

How does Bees for Development Ghana support rural livelihoods, and how do you hope to deepen that impact?

Bees for Development Ghana supports rural livelihoods by equipping communities with the requisite skills, attitudes, tools, and knowledge to practise nature-based, sustainable beekeeping as a reliable source of income. Through training, extension support, and market access, the organisation helps households to diversify their livelihoods while protecting natural ecosystems. I hope to deepen this impact by strengthening cooperative models, expanding access to finance and markets, and integrating beekeeping within broader landscape restoration, climate resilience and youth employment initiatives.

What gives you hope when you think about the future of beekeeping in Ghana?

With improved training, market access and supportive policies, beekeeping has the potential to create sustainable incomes, enhance food security through pollination and contribute meaningfully to biodiversity conservation across the country.

Is there a message you’d like to share with our beekeepers, partners, and supporters as you settle into this role?

As I settle into this role, I would like to sincerely thank our esteem beekeepers, partners and supporters for their commitment and trust. Their dedication is the foundation of our impact. Together, we will continue to strengthen community ownership, improve quality, competitive pricing, market access and position beekeeping as a respected and sustainable livelihood that supports both people and nature. I look forward to learning from them and building the next chapter of Bees for Development Ghana together.

You can read more about Bees for Development’s work in the blog posts below: