UNICEF Launches Climate Resilience Project in 24 Katsina Schools, Health Facilities

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has initiated a project in Nigeria's Katsina State to bolster the resilience of 24 primary healthcare facilities and schools against the escalating effects of climate change. The Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS II) project, supported by funding from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is being implemented in the Charanchi, Mai’adua, Mani, and Dutsi Local Government Areas.

Uba Lawal, UNICEF Kano Field Office's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist, stated at a meeting in Katsina that the project's core objective is to retrofit these facilities to better withstand climate change. The initial phase will concentrate on the 24 selected sites within the four local government areas. The intervention is designed to guarantee that critical health and educational services remain accessible even during climate-related emergencies.

The project specifically targets the upgrading of water and sanitation infrastructure in these schools and health centers. This enhancement aims to make them more robust against climate hazards, thereby safeguarding children's education and access to healthcare. Lawal noted that a similar project, CRIBS I, had previously benefited 84 facilities across Kano (55) and Jigawa (29) states. Katsina is now being incorporated as part of an expansion strategy.

"This project is about retrofitting and rehabilitating water and sanitation facilities so that schools can continue to provide learning opportunities and healthcare facilities can continue to deliver essential services, even in the event of floods, heat stress, drought or windstorms," Lawal explained. He emphasized the importance of adaptation measures and innovative solutions for communities and governments to build resilience against climate change realities. Implementation will involve close collaboration with government officials and public display of renovation plans for accountability.

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This project is about retrofitting and rehabilitating water and sanitation facilities so that schools can continue to provide learning opportunities and healthcare facilities can continue to deliver essential services, even in the event of floods, heat stress, drought or windstorms.