CJRF Project

Environment and Social Change Foundation secured funding from Climate Justice Resilience Fund to implement a project titled “Empowering Smallholder Women and Youth Farmers on Forest Conservation and Resilient Agricultural Livelihood Through Capacity Building”. The project is a capacity-building initiative aimed at providing practical and tailored climate-resilient and sustainable forest management for smallholder farmers, comprising women and youths. The project is commencing in Eluama-Lodu, and Nkalunta communities in Bende and Ikwuano LGAs respectively on climate-resilient agriculture and forest conservation.
Bende and Ikwuano Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Abia State are currently facing high environmental and economic risks due to the impacts of climate change and deforestation. A majority of the rural population in the LGAs relies heavily on agricultural and forest resources for food and livelihoods. With declining yields, irregular rainfall, soil degradation, and rising temperatures smallholder farmers face high climate change risk in the communities.

Through practical training in sustainable farming techniques, the 4 month project hopes to empower women and youth in the 2 communities to have improved understanding of key practices and implement new techniques on their farms and incorporate greater community dialogue with active involvement of the women and youth on climate issues.