From Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
The Social Protection Systems TWG OGP Kaduna with support from LAFIYA-Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has designed a Community Engagement Framework for Climate Change-Related Shocks-Responsive Social Protection in Kaduna State
Speaking during the commencement of the Two Days engagement in Kaduna the Co-chair, Strengthening Social Protection Systems TWG OGP Kaduna / Lead, Society for Equitable Development & Unity, Sumayya Abdullahi Hussaini, Said the development of the community engagement framework is an important milestone of the Kaduna State Action Plan 3 OGP Kaduna.
According to her, the journey to design the framework started in 2024, with a series of engagements, consultations, and technical sessions aimed at ensuring that the approach to climate-related shocks is rooted in community realities and practical solutions.
“ Some of you have been with us from the beginning, while others joined along the way, bringing valuable perspectives that have strengthened this process.
“In November 2024, we reached a significant milestone when this draft framework was developed in Zaria with the support of Lafiya & PACE FCDO. Now, we are here to validate this framework to ensure it is not just a document but a tool that truly works for our communities.
What makes this framework outstanding, she opined, is that it’s about the community and its realities. As we engage in discussions over the next two days, let us remain committed to ensuring that this framework is practical, inclusive, and responsive to the challenges faced by our communities.
“I am confident that we will all engage actively to ensure that at the end of this session, we will not only have a document, but one that is truly applicable, effective, and impactful for Kaduna State.” She concluded
In his Goodwill massage the State monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Coordinator (SMEL) LAFIYA programme Kaduna State Chanan Solomon said that Community Engagement Framework for Climate Change-Related Shocks-Responsive Social Protection Peculiar needs of community ravaged by climate change.
He said LAFIYA Project would continue to support Governor Uba Sani to deliver inclusive social protection programmes that leaves no one behind and fight against climate change menace.
Chanan Solomon appreciated everyone that contributed to the validation
In his remarks, the Special Assistant on Climate Change to Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani,Hon Yusuf Idris Amoke, applauded LAFIYA-FCDO for supporting the Technical session to design the framework because for every action of government; there must be a policy around it.
He added that the Community Engagement Framework for Climate Change-Related Shocks-Responsive Social Protection would serve as a tool to guide the actions of the government on people in the communities that bear the brunt of the climate crisis.
“It is a recognition that people in the community are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. Hence the policy is coming up.
“These policies come in stages, and this is the final stage of validation where stakeholders come together – people from government, community, CSOs, and private sector; all stakeholders come together to see that they validate the document from their perspectives to see that the draft documents suites the subject matter.
‘These policies are the documents that guide what to do or not to do because you will be able to measure impact, failure, or success though the policy. Once there is no policy, it’s very difficult for government to take action on certain things.
“It is a recognition that people in the community are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. Hence the policy is coming up”, he stated.
In his remarks, the Civil Society Advisor for Open Government Partnership (OGP) Kaduna and Lead Facilitator, Development of Community Engagement Framework on Climate-Related Shocks and Social Protection System Danjuma Abbas Dangiwa, explained that the engagement framework connects the people to the government and the government to the people in the delivery of program interventions and responses to the needs of people.
He observed that it will also address pov ty, which can also be multiplied by the impact of climate change, saying People are only responding to poverty within their capabilities and abilities. They’re also doing that because other institutions that need to equip them with information and improve their capacities around resilience are lacking.
He opined that the TWG will produce an engagement framework that easily connects the people to the government and the government to the people in the delivery of program interventions and responses to the needs of people. Addressing poverty, which can also be multiplied by the impact of climate change.
The Head of the Coalition of Association for Leadership, Peace Empowerment and Development (CALPED), Mr Yusuf Isiyaku Goje, has said that human activity is the primary driver of the Climate change being experienced in Kaduna State.
He asserted this during a two days Technical Session for validation of The Community Engagement Framework for Climate-Related Shocks responsive social protection supported by LAFIYA in Kaduna today.
According to him, logging and development have led to the widespread destruction of forests, wetlands, and other carbon sinks—natural resources that store carbon dioxide and prevent it from being released into the atmosphere.
He lamented that the most worrisome is the Charcoal business that has become rampant in some parts of the State.
Goje, however, agreed that people are only responding to poverty within their capabilities and abilities, saying they’re doing that because other institutions that need to equip them with information and improve their capacities around resilience are lacking.
“So, the forms have happened over the years, things have changed in how people and government are engaging. We just want to see that based on current existing reforms in Kaduna State.
“We have an engagement framework that easily connects the people to the government and government to the people in the delivery of program interventions and responses to the needs of people around addressing poverty, which can also be multiplied by the impact of climate change”, he stated.
