This implementation draws from lessons from the UNEP project “Supporting coherent policy implementation to catalyze food & livelihood security in Africa”. UNEP project involves ground action being undertaken to integrate climate action solutions into food systems towards unlocking multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to in inform pro-SDG policies in various countries. It is against this backdrop that such a workshop was held in Nigeria and was facilitated by UNEP and other state and non-state actors in the country.

Nigeria UNSDCF National Steering Committee meeting was convened by the Nigeria RC, UNCT team and the Ministry of Budgets and planning toward adopting the new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022/2027. As part of strengthening UN reforms and delivery as one, UNEP has been engaging with the UNCT in implementing solutions on Sustainable and Inclusive Growth and Development, and outcomes on Environmental Sustainability & Food Security. This implementation draws from lessons from the UNEP project “Supporting coherent policy implementation to catalyze food & livelihood security in Africa”. UNEP project involves ground action being undertaken to integrate climate action solutions into food systems towards unlocking multiple SDGs and generate data for informing pro-SDGs policy implementation in the country. Accordingly, the Steering Committee meeting noted that implementing the 2018-2022 Cooperation Framework that is now elapsing leveraged lessons from UNEP work to deliver climate solutions to food systems and engage youth and the informal sector to unlock SDGs.

This aligns with the country’s National Development Plan objectives. Accordingly, these lessons are critical to the new UNSDCF 2022/27, which aligns with the National Development Plan 2021 – 2025 that focuses on reconciling rural and urban development. Enhancing sustainable consumption and production patterns in food systems to cut postharvest losses was a key focus area. For this, UNEP’s work in addressing the triple planetary crises triggered by unsustainable production and consumption patterns came to the fore as a key to unlocking the SDGs. Therefore, it was resolved that the work that UNEP is doing in integrating climate action solutions to climate proof and maximize productivity of food systems in Nigeria will be built upon in the upcoming United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). This new 2022/2027 UNSDCF adopted by the meeting builds up from the expiring one with critical updates being in the outcomes & indicators of achievement, to carry forward the successes of the 2018/22 version, which highly leveraged on UNEP’s work in the country. Consequently, the relevance of UNEP’s work in this new framework already endorsed by the Nigeria’s minister of planning who is part of the steering committee.

Three sites were visited where ongoing work by youth and informal sector to integrate climate action solutions from an enterprise dimension was ongoing. These are solutions of affordable solar dryers and clean cooking fuel briquettes applied to cut postharvest losses in key-value chains of Nigeria and minimize biodiversity loss driven by fuelwood harvesting. These sites are operated through the local governance structure for accountability and traceability of progress. Young people have been trained to develop and decentralize these climate solitons and engage informal sector actors for their uptake. Nigeria is the largest producer of cassava globally, and the sites visited are among the leading areas where it is traded and processed. This was at the invitation of the local government administration of the Emir of Shabu, which hosts the largest cassava trading market in Nasarawa State. The office of the Shabu emir mobilized local communities who trade in cassava. They were guided by using the climate action solution of solar dryers, a climate action solution, and the benefits this presents over the use of open air and sun-drying – which includes compliance with national standards.

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