Shading the Front Lines: Assessing and Adapting Market Shade Solutions to Protect Women Informal Sector Workers in Ghana

This report assesses sustainable shading and cooling solutions designed to protect women informal traders in Accra, Ghana, who are increasingly vulnerable to extreme heat. While current makeshift interventions, such as plastic umbrellas, provide minimal coverage, they often trap heat and lack the durability required for long-term thermal relief.

To address these challenges, the report focuses on the importance of institutional buy-in and community-led design. Key recommendations include pitching the economic value of shading to government officials and including labor transition plans for those providing temporary shade (such as umbrella vendors). The study advocates for proximity-based cooling infrastructure and prioritizing women when creating any shading solution. By prioritizing the livelihoods of those at the front lines of the climate crisis, Accra can transition to more climate-resilient market infrastructure.