Climate change is a global crisis demanding urgent action at all levels. In Nigeria, Climate Change Desk Officers play a crucial role in translating international agreements and national policies into effective on-the-ground initiatives. Recognizing the importance of empowering these key actors, Nurses Across the Borders (NABHI) facilitated a critical training workshop for desk officers from all 36 states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
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Held from April 13th-14th, 2023, at Jemmyland Hotels, Maraca Nassarawa, the training focused on consolidating the key takeaways from the first 27 UNFCCC COP agreements. This comprehensive two-day program equipped participants with the knowledge, resources, and skills to strengthen their capacity in areas crucial for climate resilience:
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Understanding the UNFCCC Framework: The training provided a thorough overview of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), ensuring participants had a deep understanding of the global context, obligations, and opportunities related to climate action.
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Consolidating COP Agreements: The core of the workshop revolved around analyzing and synthesizing the key outcomes of COP1 through COP27. Desk officers examined past successes, persistent challenges, and emerging trends in climate change policy and action, developing a clear understanding of how to translate these insights into concrete local actions.
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Policy Development and Implementation: Recognizing the link between policy and implementation, the training empowered desk officers to effectively navigate climate change policy formulation, integrating both local needs and global frameworks into state-level action plans.
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Building a Network of Climate Action Leaders: Beyond skill-building, the workshop fostered a sense of community among the Climate Change Desk Officers from across Nigeria. Creating a space for dialogue, shared learning, and collaboration enabled these key individuals to learn from each other’s experiences and work together to strengthen Nigeria’s response to climate change.
NABHI’s commitment to addressing the interconnected crises of climate change and public health requires ongoing education and capacity building, especially among health workers and policy influencers. The successful training of these desk officers strengthens climate action in Nigeria. By providing up-to-date information and strategic tools, NABHI empowers local actors to translate global agreements into impactful on-the-ground solutions for healthier and more resilient communities.
