The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $50 million loan for the Yobe State Environmental and Climate Change Action Project (ECCAP) to enhance climate change resilience and improve food security in northeast Nigeria.
The funding aims to benefit over 3.5 million people in the region.
The ECCAP project has a total funding of $101.34 million, with AfDB contributing $50 million, complemented by a $30 million co-financing from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). Additionally, the Yobe State Government commits $4.52 million in counterpart funding, and project beneficiaries contribute $16.82 million.
Yobe State faces severe threats from climate change, with 72% of its population living below the poverty line. The ECCAP project will focus on combating droughts and desertification, empowering women, and supporting the development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) by providing small ruminants and efficient cooking stoves.
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The project will also support the preparation of Yobe State’s Gender Policy and implement a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme to incentivize maintaining 2 million regenerated trees on farms and support planting and maintaining 20 million drought-resistant trees.
AfDB’s ongoing commitment to Nigeria includes 50 operations valued at $4.6 billion, aimed at achieving strategic priorities and supporting sustainable development. AfDB President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, emphasized the project’s importance in building resilient livelihoods and addressing insecurity and vulnerability.