NAN-AE-4
Project
By Vivian Emoni
Abuja, Dec. 21, 2016 (NAN) Ibironke Olubamise, the National Coordinator of Environmental Facility-Small Grant Programme (GEF/SGP), says the programme has effectively addressed more than 40 climate change mitigation projects in three years.
Olubamise said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
She said that the programme was the largest fund provider of the environmental initiatives in the world, which also provided grants for projects related to biodiversity and climate change.
Olubamise said that United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) was implementing such projects.
She said that other focal areas of its projects were international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer and Persistent Organic Pollutants.
The coordinator explained that GEF worked with countries to produce global environmental benefits in a manner that was country-driven and based on national priorities for sustainable development.
Olubamise explained that GEF operated in a cycle of four years referred to as replenishment cycle, adding that Nigeria was operating in the 6th cycle.
According to her, GEF/SGP is committed to ensuring that projects, especially in the rural communities are supported effectively.
“The GEF/SGP supports the funding of such projects, they monitor and evaluates the projects with some Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs), in the country.
“GEF/SGP creates awareness in various communities and teaches simple techniques such as rain water harvesting to reduce stress of water and impact of drought, pitcher irrigation technology to reduce pressure of irrigation of farm lands.
“We also encourage tree planting to generate forests, which act as sink for carbon dioxide (Co2) and teach them how to reduce consumption of fuel wood.’’
She said that the programme had also supported projects in several states to addressing erosion, loss of farm lands and boost food production capacity for model farming techniques.
The coordinator said that GEF/SGP projects had supported alternative livelihood activities that had assisted to reduce pressure on the environment.
Olubamise explained that GEF/SGP had enhanced the quality of lives of the target communities, especially, widows, youths and aged.
She said that the GEF/SGP had delivered sustainable corporate social responsibility on environmental issues, adding that the effort had assisted government to meet international convention obligations.
The coordinator said that some of the GEF/SGP projects had established bye-laws which had helped to protect the environment and enforcement of environmental conservation principles through traditional arrangement.
She explained that GEF/SGP provided grants, technical and management support to poor and marginalised communities through non-governmental/Community Based Organisations (CBOs).
She said the grants was to implement local environmental initiatives that also enhance the livelihood of beneficiaries. (NAN)
VOE/DS/MO
=========Edited by Morayo Omolade