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Read the Declaration
In 2024, Surge Africa convened the Flagship Northwest Commissioners Summit by bringing together representatives of the seven Northwestern states of Nigeria to deliberate on the common ground of addressing the climate, environmental security and energy crises in the region.
This marked the first ever convening of regional political leaders in Nigeria to collectively address climate change, which closed with the signing of the Kano Declaration on Climate Change and Environment, a seven-point decree that outlines strategic pathways for the region to address climate change and financing gaps.
Following this, Surge Africa carried out numerous consultations, and began developing the Northwest Climate Compact, building on the momentum of the declaration, and at the request of the seven regional governments of Northwest Nigeria - Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi States.
Why A Northwest Climate Compact?Northwest Nigeria faces acute climate vulnerabilities, including rising temperatures, soil degradation, and water scarcity. Shifting rainfall patterns undermine food security, public health, and economic growth, while intensifying conflict and insecurity across the region.
Addressing these risks requires proactive and integrated adaptation measures that cut across governance levels, public and industrial sectors. North West Climate Compact seeks to strengthen resilience in Northwest Nigeria by developing state-level Climate innovation tools that promotes adaptation and resilience. These tool will mainstream adaptation into policy and development planning, ensuring coordinated action across seven key sectors: Land and Forestry Management, Urban Resilience & Cooling, Climate Security, Waste Management, Food & Agriculture, Disaster Preparedness, and Power.
❋ Digital & Data tools to strenghten ResilienceConduct vulnerability assessments and design actionable strategies tailored to each state, with a focus on the seven critical sectors of resilience as highlighted; Land and Forestry Management, Urban Resilience & Cooling, Climate Security, Waste Management, Food & Agriculture, Disaster Preparedness, and Power.
❋ Strengthen Institutional CapacityBuild a cohort of responsible institutions that are well equipped to analyze social, political, economic, financial and ecological risks of the climate crisis, and are competent enough to design and develop policies and interventions that serve the long-term interest of the people.
❋ Field BuildingCurate a data base of best-practices, policy planning and technical exchanges that will be beneficial for both short-term and long term design for resilient development.
❋ Innovative Financial Structures This platform has the potential to unlock financial support and investment opportunities to implement state-level vision for resilient development, and to advance sustainable livelihoods.