UNICEF Begins Climate Resilience Initiative in 24 Schools and Health Facilities in Katsina

Francis Sardauna in Katsina

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched a Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS II) project in Katsina State. The initiative will strengthen 24 primary healthcare facilities and schools so they can better withstand the growing impacts of climate change.

The project is funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and is being implemented by UNICEF in the Charanchi, Mai’adua, Mani and Dutsi Local Government Areas of the state.

At the CRIBS II state‑level inception meeting in Katsina on Tuesday, Uba Lawal, UNICEF Kano Field Office Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist, explained that the project is designed to retrofit the facilities to address climate‑related risks.

Lawal said that the initial implementation phase will focus only on the four local government areas where the selected 24 schools and primary healthcare facilities are located.

He added that the climate‑resilience intervention will help ensure that essential health and educational services remain uninterrupted even during climate‑related emergencies in the chosen local governments.

The project will upgrade water and sanitation facilities in the selected schools and primary healthcare centres, making them more resilient to climate hazards while protecting children’s education and access to healthcare.

Lawal noted that the project has already been implemented in Kano and Jigawa States, where 84 facilities benefited during the first phase – 55 in Kano and 29 in Jigawa.

He said that while additional work will continue in Jigawa State, Katsina is now joining the programme as part of its expansion strategy to accommodate more healthcare and educational facilities.

He stated: “This project is about retrofitting and rehabilitating water and sanitation facilities so that schools can continue to provide learning opportunities and healthcare facilities can continue to deliver essential services, even in the event of floods, heat stress, drought or windstorms.”

“As part of the implementation strategy, contractors and supervisors will work closely with government officials, while detailed renovation plans will be displayed in every participating school and healthcare facility to facilitate effective monitoring and accountability,” he added.

The WASH specialist emphasized the need for communities and governments to adopt adaptation measures and innovative solutions to build resilience against the realities of climate change.