Northern Pulse: UNDP backs Katsina on climate-conflict risk assessment

By Abbas Bamalli

The Katsina State Bureau of Statistics, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has commenced the training of 136 enumerators for a climate and conflict risks baseline assessment.

The training organised in Katsina on Thursday, was aimed at strengthening data-driven governance, peace and security, and climate resilience across the state.

Flagging off the exercise Gov. Dikko Radda described the initiative as a significant milestone in efforts to generate credible evidence to guide policy decisions and sustainable development planning.

Represented by the Commissioner for Internal Security, Dr Nasiru Mu’azu, Radda said the assessment would provide critical insights into the complex linkages between climate change, conflict, and human security in the state.

“The partnership reflects a shared understanding that climate change, insecurity, and conflict are interconnected challenges that require coordinated and evidence-based responses,” he said.

He noted that Katsina, like many parts of the North-West and the wider Sahel region, continues to face the adverse effects of climate change, including erratic rainfall, drought, flooding, desertification, land degradation, and increasing pressure on water and other natural resources.

“These challenges have direct implications on livelihoods, particularly agriculture and pastoralism, which form the backbone of the rural economy,” Radda added.

According to him, growing competition over scarce resources, coupled with population pressure and socio-economic vulnerabilities, have the potential to heighten tensions and fuel conflict and insecurity across communities.

Against this backdrop, the governor described the climate and conflict risks baseline assessment as timely and strategic.

“The assessment will generate disaggregated and location-specific data on climate-related hazards, vulnerability patterns, conflict drivers, and community coping mechanisms across the state,” he said.

“Findings from the exercise will inform climate adaptation/resilience programmes, strengthen conflict prevention/early warning systems, improve disaster risk reduction/emergency preparedness, guide policy formulation, development planning, and budget prioritisation.

“The data will also support alignment with national frameworks and international commitments on climate action and peace,” Radda said.

Earlier, the State Statistician-General, Prof. Saifullahi Sani, said the enumerators were carefully selected from across the state to carry out the critical assignment.

According to him, the exercise is designed to generate robust evidence on the nature, drivers, and impacts of climate and conflict risks affecting communities in Katsina.

“It will produce data that x-rays the multidimensional drivers of insecurity, as well as the underlying deprivation factors that often serve as breeding grounds for conflict,” he said.

Sani commended the UNDP for its technical guidance and financial support, as well as other stakeholders who contributed to the successful take-off of the initiative.

NAN