From Planning to Practice: Our Field Research Mission in Ghana

 Hello, still remember me ? It’s Eyad Rami Again , M1 Student , i am here to share highlights from our recent research mission in Ghana…

Our recent field mission to Ghana marked a major milestone in our ongoing research on coastal flooding and household resilience. The official objective of this trip was to conduct large scale and comprehensive household surveys in two vulnerable coastal regions Keta and the Densu Delta to  understand how recurrent flooding affects household livelihoods, economies, and long-term resilience.

The survey was designed to capture not only direct flood damages , but also the long-term consequences of flooding , including income disruption, changes in livelihood strategies, and the impacts on household investments and economic stability over time.

Preparation Before the Field Mission

The mission began long before our flight to Accra. Nearly two months in advance, Risako and I worked intensively on refining our research questions and hypotheses, translating them into clear and measurable survey variables. We spent long hours designing, testing, and revising the questionnaire to ensure both scientific rigor and practical applicability in the field.

After multiple rounds of discussion and testing, we finalized the survey instrument, prepared detailed enumerator manuals , and developed a complete operational plan covering training, sampling strategy, and field implementation.

Keta: Training, Testing, and Community Engagement

Upon arrival in Accra, we traveled by car with our Ghanaian colleagues to Keta , where the first phase of the survey took place. The following day, we conducted our first comprehensive training workshop , which lasted nearly six hours. During the session, we carefully explained the survey objectives, question logic, interview techniques, and considerations, ensuring that all enumerators fully understood the methodology.

In the afternoon, the training continued in the field through hands-on practice , allowing enumerators to test the questionnaire in real conditions and engage directly with community leaders. This initial field exposure was critical for refining interview approaches and building trust with local stakeholders.

Household data collection in Keta continued over the next two days, covering both flood-affected and non-affected households , enabling meaningful comparisons across exposure levels. At the conclusion of this phase, we organized an honorarium ceremony to recognize and appreciate the enumerators who contributed effectively to the survey.

Densu Delta: Expanding the Survey

After returning to Accra, preparations began immediately for the second study area. Two days later, a second training workshop was held to prepare a new group of enumerators for the Densu Delta coastal area . This phase of the survey lasted three days and followed the same rigorous methodological framework.

By the end of the mission, we successfully collected 311 household survey samples across both Keta and the Densu Delta—an important dataset that will support robust analysis of flood impacts and household resilience.

Reflections and Acknowledgments

Although the mission was intensive and physically demanding, it was an extremely rewarding experience. Personally, the fieldwork strengthened my teamwork, leadership, management and communication skills , while significantly enhancing my research planning and field management capabilities.

This mission would not have been possible without the continuous support and motivation of Professor Kawasaki , whose guidance was invaluable throughout every stage of the project. I am also deeply grateful to my teammate Risako , whose dedication and collaboration were essential to the mission's success. Special thanks go to our Ghanaian professors, students, and enumerators for their exceptional generosity, professionalism, and commitment in the field.