Women’s Environment Program (WEP) Nigeria has teamed up with Le Groupe Conseil Baastel towards fostering sustainable development and combating climate change in the country.
Under the programme, Climate Action Africa (CAA) engaged Baastel, a Canadian-owned international development consulting firm to deliver technical assistance in collaboration with WEP. The technical assistance programme is being funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by the consortium of Alinea, Econoler, and WSP.
This was revealed at a remote National Stakeholder Inception Meeting on the ‘Inclusive Climate Action in Nigeria’ last week, which brought together stakeholders and targeted at the deployment of capacity building activities to women’s groups, civil society organisations, media, and sub-national governments on climate leadership, influencing gender-sensitive climate actions, as well as implementation of gender-sensitive climate policies.
Founder and Global President, Women’s Environment Programme (WEP), Dr Priscilla Achakpa, who spoke at the event, said the programme aligns with the Paris Agreement commitments, and will contribute to enhancing implementation of gender-responsive climate change actions and ensuring meaningful participation of women, as well as vulnerable groups in climate change processes and leadership at sub-national levels in Nigeria.
An official of Baastel, Sara Nielsen, explained that the initiative is part of the Climate Action of Africa (CAA), which is targeted at short-term assistance to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to support the implementation of the Paris agreement. She also stated that under the programme, Canadian climate change experts are deployed to partner with governments, non-governmental organisations, private sector, civil society organisations, and post-secondary institutions.
According to Nielsen, WEP requested funding from CAA for the implementation of gender-responsive climate actions and meaningful participation of women and vulnerable groups in climate change processes and leadership.
Director General, National Council on Climate Change, Dr Salisu Dahiru, said the council will continue to create an enabling environment for public and private sectors to contribute towards addressing climate change concerns, as well as encourage organisations and citizens to play their respective roles in responding and harnessing opportunities associated with climate change.
Dahiru, who was represented by the Chief Scientific Officer, Chukwuemeka Okebugwu, assured that the government will continue efforts towards executing commitments, especially as it relates to the Paris agreement and national development.
He said the country needs cooperation at all levels; cross sectoral engagements, international collaboration and support as it makes progress in the implementation of climate change-related action. “This is true when it comes to ensuring that resources, skills and capacities are adequately provided. Central to over efforts will be the promotion and scaling up of cooperation among relevant stakeholders towards implementation of climate actions,” Dahiru said.
In her speech, the Director, Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, said the challenges posed by climate change demand collaborative action through initiatives that will pave the way for a brighter and more sustainable future for all Nigerians.
Abiola-Awe, who was represented by a Senior Scientific Officer, Edidiong Udo, urged participants to seize the opportunity to harness the power of collaboration, creativity, and community engagement.
“Together, we can drive meaningful change, empower marginalised communities, and build a more equitable society,” she added.
