Uche Isieke Profile

My viewpoint of building resilience is that the poor and vulnerable need to regain the confidence to sustainably manage their natural resources.

But what confidence does the vulnerable and marginalized possess, when they could not afford shelter, healthcare, stable land to grow food, water, and sanitation, access to quality roads, and income creation ability? 

 In the face of emerging global health crises and the ravaging climate change, they are more vulnerable than ever before, to both social, economic, and environmental catastrophes, hence the need to design a holistic mitigation and adaptation framework, infuse capacities to predict, prevent and manage occurrences as well as speed up recovery of the affected, during disasters.

The first port of action to building the resilience of such victims will be towards ensuring shelters over their heads, making water resources accessible to enhanced agriculture and hygiene health, and creating avenues healthy enough to make them creators of wealth and robust managers of their natural resources. 

It is making the basic social, economic, and ecological infrastructures accessible to the vulnerable, hungry, and marginalized. 

The return on such investment is huge, with lasting impacts on the economy of any nation whose priorities center on strengthening the resilience of its citizens especially the majority rural poor. 

I see it as a one-time investment, and sustainable financing for accelerated rural development with multiple opportunities benefits on sectors and scales. 

As many countries get set to review their Nationally Determined Contributions ( NDCs) in 2021,  governments should have a holistic, multi-sectoral, and integrated approach to climate action with conscious efforts implement.

The rhetoric around poverty and its eradication has to change and be given a considerable place for action. It is a working tool to accelerating climate solutions that could emissions reduction-focused strategies that could improve security,  create employment, facilitate transportation, restore land, stop hunger, control pollution while reducing land degradation, enhance healthcare and biodiversity.

My organization, Rural Watch Africa Initiative recognizes the importance of the above-highlighted issues, with its aim of strengthening the resilience of vulnerable and marginalized rural communities whose lives and livelihoods are affected by natural and land resources degradation, amplified by climate change. 

Since 2016, the organization's work has affected over 10 communities in Nigeria, with its direct and indirect impacts on more than 15,000 rural women, girls, youth, men, and disabled groups.

 This is in line with our focus on promoting initiatives towards reducing poverty, enhancing food security and sustainable land management, water and sanitation, livelihood opportunities, and introducing climate-resilient skills. An integrated approach for improved soil health, agriculture, water, and capacities for rural income creation.

To learn more  about how Rural Watch Africa Initiative activities are contributing to these issues, and how you could become a partner for change visit https://www.ruralwatchafrica.org/our-solutions.html