Zaria, Kaduna State – A two-day technical session focused on developing a framework for community engagement to address climate change-related shocks and strengthen social protection systems has been successfully concluded in Zaria.
Held on November 21 and 22, 2024, the event brought together key stakeholders from state and non-state sectors, including representatives from health, education, agriculture, environment, traditional institutions, religious groups, persons with disabilities, academia, and the media. The session was organized by the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Technical Working Group on Strengthening Social Protection Systems, in collaboration with the OpenGov Youth Innovation Hub, Kaduna Local Government Accountability Mechanism, CALPED, and CWED. Technical and financial support was provided by the Lafiya and PACE FCDO programs.
Key Insights from the Session
Participants emphasized the growing threat of climate change to vulnerable populations, particularly children, women, youths, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. They identified the urgent need for timely, shock-responsive interventions to mitigate these impacts and strengthen resilience across health, education, agriculture, and other key sectors.
Commendations were extended to the Kaduna State government for its proactive efforts in launching the State Climate Change Policy. The stakeholders also stressed the importance of aligning the community engagement framework with existing laws, policies, and budgets while incorporating traditional knowledge for effective climate adaptation.
The session mapped out the impacts of climate change in sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, and governance. Commitments were made to support community-led initiatives aimed at diversifying livelihoods and reducing reliance on climate-sensitive sectors.
Major Resolutions
Participants resolved to:
Finalize and refine the second draft of the community engagement framework with input from local communities.
Organize a validation session with key stakeholders to ensure the framework’s effectiveness.
Widely disseminate the framework to promote understanding and adoption among communities and relevant sectors.
What’s Next?
The framework is expected to serve as a blueprint for tackling climate change challenges while ensuring inclusive social protection measures for Kaduna State’s most vulnerable populations. Efforts will focus on awareness campaigns, participatory vulnerability assessments, and fostering collaboration between government and community leaders.
Signed by:
The communique was signed by representatives of the collaborating organizations, including:
Habiba Suleiman (OpenGov Youth Innovation Hub)
Stephen Waya (CALPED)
Lydia Saleh (CWED)
Prof. Abdulhamid Abdullahi (International Association for Community Development)
Sumayya Abdullahi Hussaini (Citizens Co-chair, OGP Technical Working Group).
This initiative marks a vital step in strengthening social protection systems and combating the multidimensional impacts of climate change in Kaduna State.
For more information, visit OGP Kaduna.
