Stakeholders Collaborate On Conflict Sensitivity And Climate Adaptation Mitigation.

Speaking in Abuja at an Inaugural Stakeholders meeting to brainstorm and address approaches, opportunities and ways to mitigate the increasing challenges of conflict and the resultant impact of climate change in Nigeria, and launching of the Nigeria Conflict Sensitivity and Adaptation Facility (NC-SAF) convened by International Alert a non Governmental Organisation.

He added that actors in the global community also have a role to play , to ensure that the government, working with all the different key stakeholders, put forth strategies, initiatives and interventions that could mitigate the impact of climate change.

“Government is not leading from the back in this instance, government is leading from the front. What government is trying to do is bring together all the critical stakeholders, bring together all the key strategies and ideas that are required, then be able to provide the resources that are required for implementation. This is exactly what Mr. President has been doing.” He explained.

Oyewole noted that low-intensity conflicts, often driven by deep-rooted, and sometimes historical grievances, economic insecurity, religious or ethnic differences, or the impact of climate change; destabilise communities, divide societies, impoverish economies and delay the much sought after golden fleece of development, thereby hampering progress.

Therefore, we must embrace peace as the very foundation upon which sustainable development, economic growth, and social harmony must be built.” Oyewole added.

Country Director of International Alert Dr Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima speaking stated that it was a convergence of a range of stakeholders across the peace-building, humanitarian and development space, to discuss the existential issues of insecurity faced in Nigeria,some of the key drivers and the impacts of climate change on communities,productivity and food security.

“These are stakeholders operating in different phases, in different aspects of the spectrum of what we are discussing, we expect that it helps us to pull the threads together. Most conflicts in Nigeria are resource-based conflicts and we need to look at the issue of conflict and insecurity from a climate lens because if we fail to do that, then the very drivers of the insecurity that we see will continue to fester,“ he said.

He urged participants to drive engagement round conflict-sensitive policymaking that recognises the drivers of conflict and response to them, noting that the intensity of increased competition between occupational groups, such as headers and farmers is heightening conflicts in different parts of the country.

All these voices coming together to define a pathway for how we address this existential issue of climate change and conflict across the country is very critical.” Nyulaku-Bemshima added.

In her remark, the Peace and Development Advisor, Office of the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator, Nigeria, Dr. Kimaris Toogood said the UN recognizes the strong intersection between climate peace and security, and the role that a conflict sensitive approach to the work of climate peace and security plays as reflected in the number of transition initiatives around cooperation framework in 2023 to help various member states achieve Agenda 2030 through the pathway of addressing climate change and resilience.

“The root of addressing and responding to climate change and conflict that is induced by climate change comes from understanding the root causes and a conflict sensitive facility. It’s only if we diagnose or understand the conflict correctly that our response will be able to be accurate, sustainable, and resilient.” Toogood said.

The resultant impacts of climate change on Security has been evident on food, water and energy supplies, leading to increased competition over natural resources, loss of livelihoods, climate related disasters, forced migration and displacement.

Participants, in their contributions cutting across panel conversations, called for  mechanised collaborations to address the existential challenge through climate financing, government budgeting for constituency upscaling and cascading, adequate funding and policy implementations.

They also demanded for increased dialogue and advocacy, capacity building for the formal sector, gender sensitivity and inclusivity and proper coordination of humanitarian assistance by Civil and nongovernmental organizations to promote peace and not exacerbate further conflicts, amongst others.

The project supported by Irish Aid and implemented through the Powering Peace Through Climate Actions, aims to increase knowledge and understanding among stakeholders, foster dialogue on addressing the adverse effects of climate change, strengthen coordination between humanitarian, development, environment, and peacebuilding actors and sharing best practices, models, and opportunities that could contribute to upscaling initiatives on humanitarian development peacebuilding nexus using climate lens.

 Participants