Abbas Nazil
In a bold move to combat the escalating climate and development crises in Kaduna State, Bridge That Gap Hope for Africa Initiative (BTG), in collaboration with the Network of Civil Society in Environment (NCSE), has launched a transformative project titled Women Empowerment and Climate Resilience Initiative.
The initiative, backed by the Strategic Opportunity Fund under the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)-funded Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE) Programme, is focused on three critical Local Government Areas: Zaria, Chikun, and Zango Kataf.
These LGAs have been plagued by alarming levels of environmental degradation, food insecurity, and low female participation in policy and governance.
The six-month intervention seeks to empower women with skills in policy advocacy, distribute energy-efficient cookstoves, and formulate inclusive climate action plans aligned with the Kaduna State Climate Change Policy.
Women, although central to community life through their roles in resource management, agriculture, and local economies, remain largely excluded from decisions shaping their environment.
The project aims to reverse this trend by building women-led coalitions, improving access to resources, and fostering collaboration between civil society, policymakers, and private sector actors.
Kaduna State’s environmental crisis is complex and worsening.
A 2023 report by Global Forest Watch revealed that the state lost over 5,400 hectares of natural forest in a single year, translating into 1.94 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions.
This deforestation has intensified poverty and triggered eco-anxiety, particularly among women and vulnerable groups.
In Zaria LGA, massive vegetation loss is attributed to overdependence on fuelwood, which constitutes nearly 40% of deforestation.
Satellite data from 1973 to 2014 indicates that more than 80% of vegetation in Zaria has been degraded.
In Zango Kataf, women and displaced populations face the brunt of erratic rainfall, land degradation, and water shortages caused by harmful agricultural practices.
Chikun LGA, especially areas like Kakau Daji, suffers from environmental decline due to firewood dependence and industrial pollution from petrochemical plants, leading to biodiversity loss and soil erosion.
BTG’s project also targets the planting of 15,000 trees across the selected LGAs, with 3,000 trees already planted in Chikun and an additional 6,000 slated for planting under the current initiative.
Additionally, journalists in Kaduna will receive training to strengthen their capacity for climate reporting.
The PACE Programme supports local coalitions that influence state-level policies, promote domestic revenue generation, and integrate climate action into public planning and budgeting.
It operates in Kaduna, Kano, and Jigawa, driving inclusive governance and environmental resilience.
BTG, a key consortium partner, continues to champion community-based solutions and equity in environmental policy.