In an effort to mitigate the impact of climate change, an NGO, Save the Slum Initiative (STSI), said it has developed a Local Adaptation Plan for Action (LAPA) to improve resilience for vulnerable communities.
Samuel Adeyinka, Executive Director of the NGO, made this known on Friday, December 6, 2024, at a one-day dialogue to co-create LAPA in Kaduna.
Adeyinka explained that Save the Slum Initiative under the coordination of YaddyTech, Mscrissar Foundation with support from Nigeria Youth SDGs and the German Mission in Nigeria is engaging with community to dialogue on climate policy and action.
According to him, the aim of the dialogue forum is to share insights on community-driven adaptation measures needed to address vulnerabilities identified during earlier community dialogues.
He said the forum provided an inclusive platform for refining the first draft of LAPA, while fostering collaboration on actionable climate adaptation strategies.
Adeyinka said priority actions were being identified based on urgency, resource availability and impact potential as participants develope clear timeline for implementation and assigning leadership roles to specific stakeholders.
“Another critical component of the forum is the development of a monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure transparency and accountability,” he said.
The executive director said stakeholders would outline strategies for sharing the final LAPA draft with communities, government bodies and other partners.
“They also defined measurable indicators to track progress, proposed actionable recommendations for various stakeholder groups, including state ministries, CSOs, youth, and community leaders.
“This inclusive process reflects the unique challenges and opportunities within Kaduna State, making the plan more relevant and impactful for local communities.
“As the forum concluded, stakeholders expressed their commitment to implementing community-driven solutions to mitigate climate risks and improve resilience,” Adeyinka noted.
He said the LAPA initiative had positioned Kaduna State as a leader in developing inclusive, replicable frameworks for local climate action in Nigeria.
“With the combined efforts of organisers, stakeholders and supporting partners, this dialogue forum marks a milestone in Kaduna’s journey toward sustainable development and climate resilience,” he assumed.
Participants at the event included representatives from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), government officials, community leaders, and other key actors.
By Ezra Musa
