Country Office 504232 OXFAM GB - Nigeria Climate change impacts have remained a major source of concern to communities and national governments across the world. Its threaton the physical, social, cultural, economic, and environmental structures is being felt in different parts of the world. Nigerian communities are not left out of this emerging crisis.  The northern parts, particularly States like Zamfara and Katsina due to their location, suffer a great part of the climate change crunch. Their communities are devastated by its manifestationsin the form of increasing heat waves; reduction in the frequency, quality, quantity and duration of rainfall; droughts; wind and thunderstorms; and other forms of environmental degradation. From the OISWA sponsored earlier study carried out, it was foundthat heat weaves, wind and thunderstorms are the major expressions of climate change as communicated by different communities. The impacts of these changes in climate are numerous and varied, but cut across social, economic and environmental ramifications affecting their livelihood with no adequate adaptation measures.

Climate-sensitive and dependent activities suffer the most impact of the change. First among these is its impact on agriculture and food security. Rising ambient temperature and decrease in rainfall duration, quantity and quality; depletion of soil and other factors driven by climate variability have lowered crop yields. This corroborates the report by Sul (2015) on the complex impact of climatic events on agricultural yield and productivity in Northern Nigeria. These climatic events have resulted to food shortages and attendant malnutrition in the different communities, especially resource-poor households. Due to rainfallshortages experienced in the study areas, several episodes of droughts occurred that resulted to food shortages and famines. Therefore, Katsina and Zamfara State face complex social, economic and environmental problems that resist swift and simple solutions. Thisis because in their struggle to survive, people are unable to balance immediate short-term needs with sound resource use and subsequently keep living in poverty and suffering from extreme hunger and deprivation. In this light,   the overall goal is to improve thelivelihoods of the communities in Katsina and Zamfara States while simultaneously securing sustainable adaptation strategies. The vision is to build a platform for these communities to thrive and prosper.

Project overall goal:
The overall project goal is improved sustainable livelihood of 10,000 households, enhanced coping strategies to climate shocks and food security (including nutrition) in Katsina and Zamfara State.

Specific Objectives:
# Strengthened resilience of vulnerable communities to climate change
# Enhancedlivelihood capacitiesof 7,000 vulnerable households in Katsina and Zamfara States
# Improved nutrition status of 3,000 malnourishedvulnerable households in Katsina and Zamfara States
# Enhance government response to food security and climate change resilience needs of target communities in Zamfara and Katsina States
# Strengthened coordination, project management and knowledge sharing among target communities and other stakeholders on ecosystem based livelihood adaptation strategies in Zamfara and Katsina States
Estimated project results:
# Increased adoption and mitigation practices to climate change impact and vulnerability.
# Increased food and nutrition security among 3000 vulnerable and poor populations in Katsina and Zamfara State.
# Improved watershed management capacitiesof 7,000 households
# Improved access and utilization of renewable energy solutions among 10,000 households in Zamfara and Katsina States.
# Increased diversification of livelihood opportunities for 7,000 households in Katsina and Zamfara States
# Katsina and Zamfara State Governments develop and implement policies on climate change and food security.
# Increased awareness and knowledge of vulnerable and poor populations in Katsina and Zamfara State on ecosystem based approaches of mitigating climate change impacts and addressing food and nutrition security
# Increased capacities of communities, public officials and other key stakeholders on ecosystembased approaches to mitigation of climate change impact and food security