Participants at the just concluded  three-day capacity-building programme organised by the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) for Local Government Project Management Committees (LGPMCs) across the 16 local government councils of Taraba state have resolved to take the knowledge and skills acquired during the training to rural communities.

The participants, drawn from the various local government areas and including Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), said the training had significantly strengthened their understanding of climate resilience, environmental sustainability and community-driven development.

The capacity-building programme was designed to enhance the capacity of LGPMC members to effectively identify, plan and implement interventions capable of addressing the effects of climate change and other environmental challenges confronting communities across the state.

Speaking at the end of the training, participants described the programme as timely and beneficial, noting that the knowledge gained would not be allowed to remain within the confines of the training hall.

They pledged to engage rural dwellers and other community stakeholders through sensitisation programmes, meetings and other grassroots platforms to ensure that communities benefit directly from the knowledge acquired.

According to them, the decision to cascade the training was particularly important because rural communities are among those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including flooding, drought, land degradation, erosion and declining agricultural productivity.

The participants also expressed appreciation for the inclusion of Persons With Disabilities in the programme, describing the approach as an indication that climate-resilience and development interventions should be inclusive and accessible to all categories of citizens.

They stressed the need for communities to be actively involved in identifying their environmental and socio-economic challenges and developing solutions that reflect their peculiar circumstances.

The participants further called for sustained capacity-building programmes and stronger collaboration between ACReSAL, local government authorities, traditional institutions, community groups and other stakeholders to consolidate the gains recorded through the training.

They maintained that effective climate adaptation requires continuous awareness, community participation and practical application of knowledge at the grassroots.

The participants therefore committed themselves to serving as community-level advocates for climate-smart practices, environmental protection and sustainable management of natural resources.

They said the ultimate measure of the success of the training would be its impact on rural communities, particularly in helping vulnerable households and farmers better understand and respond to climate-related challenges.

The training is part of broader efforts to strengthen institutional and community capacity for building resilience against the impacts of climate change and improving sustainable livelihoods in semi-arid communities across Taraba State.
Participants expressed optimism that cascading the knowledge gained would help create a wider network of informed community actors capable of promoting climate-resilient practices and supporting sustainable development across the state’s 16 local government areas.