POWERING PEACE THROUGH CLIMATE ACTION: A Project from Angel Support Foundation

The Author, Emmanuella Ikomon, is the Head of Programmes at Angel Support Foundation (ASF).

ASF is a non-governmental organisation from Nigeria with special consultative status within the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) and observer status to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Located in Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria, they are a nonprofit, non-religious, non-partisan and non-racial organisation created to encourage people and societies to foster and advocate for environmental sustainability, with a particular focus on women, children and young people.

Introduction

The climate crisis represents one of the most complex challenges of our millennium. The consequences of climate change, such as resource scarcity, extreme weather conditions, droughts, land degradation and more, often fuel or spark conflicts within and between communities, increasing the level of insecurity and violence and threatening peace. Young climate and peace activists are at the forefront of initiatives and activities aimed to address these challenges in their communities. By ideating and implementing bottom-up approaches to increase dialogue and mutual understanding and to raise awareness about environmental protection they are actively contributing to build more peaceful and sustainable societies. 

Here is one example of such initiatives from Angel Support Foundation, UNOY Member from Nigeria. 

The project: Powering Peace through Climate Action

Currently, with funding from International Alert through Irish Aid, the organisation is implementing the “Powering Peace through Climate Action Project” in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State.

The project seeks to pioneer approaches to build peace through inclusive and intersectional climate action in Local Government Areas of Benue State which is one of the States of implementation. This idea was birthed as a result of the adverse impacts of climate change in communities and livelihoods; Benue State is often referred to as the “Food Basket of the Nation” and most of the inhabitants especially in rural areas are subsistence farmers.

Over five Local Government Areas in Benue State have been plagued with recurring crises such as farmers-herders conflicts, boundary clashes or insurgencies to mention a few causes. The crisis situation resulted in thousands of rural community members losing their homes and farmlands, in essence their source of livelihood; even those who are yet to relocate to the Internally Displaced Persons Camp, live in fear for their lives and almost abject poverty.

The people living in these territories are not very far from food insecurity due to poor farm yields, little or no fertile farm lands and, most importantly, the scramble over the little resource available which often results in conflict. 

In Agatu, farmers are experiencing drought, little or no rain, which has resulted in poor farm yields, making the crop available very expensive and unaffordable for the community members. Continuous cropping has also resulted in land desertification.

What did we do

One of the first activities carried out in relation to the above-mentioned project was Community Dialogues, held in Agatu Local Government Area With Ologba and Egba communities to identify their peculiar climate related challenges. These communities are currently in conflict over the ownership of a fish pond and this situation has increased the level of insecurity in their areas. Thanks to the dialogue sessions, Ologba and Egba communities were able to separately identify the same challenges and agree that they represented a key factor contributing to the ongoing conflict between their communities.

Thanks to the dialogue sessions, Ologba and Egba communities were able to separately identify the same challenges and agree that they represented a key factor contributing to the ongoing conflict between their communities.

The second activity was a Participatory Rural Appraisal, held with both communities and moderated by trained consultants, aimed at developing a Community Local Peace Adaptation Plan. A Participatory Rural Appraisal is a strategy used to take the expertise and viewpoints of rural residents into account while designing and running development initiatives and activities; it commenced with a general session in which all participants were educated on the importance of peace in both communities.

This was followed by Focused Group Discussions with elders, women and youths, aimed at fostering dialogue for peace and deducing the best strategies to combat climate action.

In addition, a Community Needs Assessment and an open ballot election among 60 participants were conducted to identify needs which can support their livelihood. The following were identified: skills acquisition, fish drying kiln, irrigation pumps and accessories for dry season farming, tree crops planting (crop seedling) and market stall construction.

Following that, occurred the “Peace and Climate Adaptation Committee” (P&CAC), which consisted of forming committees and subcommittees through a selection process guided by consultants and included participants from both communities. The committee was established to manage the implementation of the LPAP and ensure sustainability of the project.

Conclusion

Angel Support Foundation (ASF) through the Powering Peace Through Climate Action has succeed in bringing together the Ologba and Egba communities to jointly produce a Local Peace Adaptation Plan (LPAP) which comprises of development plans that can foster peace within the communities by meaningfully engaging young people in either entrepreneurial skills or life skills to reduce idling around. We also hope that the Local Peace Adaptation Plan can be used to further access suitable funding which will aid mitigation and adaptation to climate change effects within those communities while fostering peace.

Do you want to know more about Angel Support Foundation?

Website: https://www.angelsupportfoundation.org.ng

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelSupportFoundation

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelsupportfoundation/?hl=fr

Twitter: https://twitter.com/angelfoundatn?lang=fr

Authors:

Emmanuella Ikomon (Angel Support Foundation Head, Programmes)

Ilaria Blasi (UNOY Communications Officer)