UNICEF, UK launch climate-resilient project in Katsina

The United Nations Children’s Fund with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, on Tuesday, commenced the implementation of a Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services project in Katsina State.

The project aimed at strengthening water and sanitation facilities in schools and primary healthcare centres against the effects of climate change.

Speaking during an inception meeting in Katsina, UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Specialist in Kano Field Office, Uba Lawal, said the project would involve the retrofitting and rehabilitation of facilities to enable them withstand climate-related hazards such as floods, droughts, heat stress and windstorms.

Lawal explained that the initiative seeks to ensure the continuity of learning and healthcare services even during adverse weather conditions.

“We are here in Katsina to conduct an inception meeting of a project that is being funded by the British government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. It is called CRIBS, which stands for Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services.

“At the moment in Katsina, we are looking at about 24 locations that will have this intervention, both in schools and primary healthcare facilities,” he stated.

Lawal noted that the project had earlier commenced in Kano and Jigawa states under its first phase, during which 84 facilities were upgraded, comprising 55 in Kano and 29 in Jigawa.

“The project is taking off now in Katsina, but previously it had already started last year in Kano and Jigawa. Because of the size and quantum of work done in Kano, we are expanding additional works in Jigawa under phase two, while phase two is also starting in Katsina,” Lawal said.

The UNICEF official described the impact of climate change in Katsina as severe, citing declining rainfall, rising temperatures and increasing desertification.

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“The rains are becoming scarce, temperatures are getting higher and vegetation is getting more and more sparse. Wells are drying and farming is becoming difficult because of poor rainfall. So it is a dire situation,” he said.

However, he noted that the government was aware of the challenges and was taking steps to promote adaptation and resilience.

“The beauty of it is that the relevant authorities are aware of this and efforts are underway to see how this can be ameliorated. Climate change is with us and the quicker we adapt and become more resilient to it, the better,” he added.

Lawal stressed that the success and sustainability of the project would depend largely on government ownership and community participation.

“We are only doing a bit of modelling here. If this looks good, going forward, the intention is for the government to scale up and reach more facilities. The government has to mostly lead the process.

“We intend to create awareness on the project, introduce contractors and supervisors, and establish a framework for monitoring and accountability.

“We want as much government participation as possible. We will leave behind in every school and healthcare facility exactly what renovations and retrofitting will be done so that whoever comes to monitor will understand the responsibilities involved,” he explained.

Thus, he reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to continued collaboration with partners to address the impacts of climate change, particularly as it affects children and vulnerable communities.