BNRCC Project Backgrounder - Building Nigeria's Response To ...

PAGE 6BNRCC Activities to DateBNRCC officially started in February 2007 with extended consultations with the project’s implementingpartners and stakeholders. Among the inception activities undertaken was the formationof four key Working Groups (WGs) , each led by a chairperson who undertook to draftimplementation options for the following: Adaptation Research, Community‐Based PilotProjects, Adaptation Policy and Outreach/Networking. The four working group reports werereviewed in a mini‐workshop in September 2007. A consultant was also hired to develop aGender Equality Strategy Report for the project.On October 10 th 2007, a National Stakeholders Workshop was convened in Abuja to discussand refine the expected results of the project, develop a workable project plan or design, andimportantly, to engage partners and build ownership for the project. The National StakeholdersWorkshop led to the development of a Project Implementation Plan (PIP). Also within the period,a BNRCC Project Steering Committee was established; it gave official approval to the PIPat its inaugural meeting in Abuja on November 27, 2007. A First Annual Work Plan (November2007–March 2008) of BNRCC was also drafted and endorsed by the PSC. The activities implementedfrom the First Annual Work Plan include:Improving the capacity of the local implementing partner:This involved recruiting more staff and consultants to head BNRCC activity desks and improvingNEST’s infrastructure.Constituting the advisory groups for Research and Pilot component:The early technical phase of BRCC started with Research and Pilot Project components. AdvisoryGroups were constituted to assist in the decision‐making and delivery of the project activitiesin these two areas.Early engagement of the key groups/persons in the Legislature and Ministries:Meetings were arranged and held with federal legislators and the Ministry of Environment,Housing and Urban Development (particularly the Special Climate Change Unit) to develop aplatform for the collaboration and the integration of climate change adaptation into nationalpolicies. These meetings were held in January and February 2008.Developing the project website:A key facility for outreach and communications of BNRCC is the project website which was developedin February 2008. The website provides information about the project, Climate Changein Nigeria, links to agencies involved in Climate Change activities, and more. Visit the websitetoday at www.nigeriaclimatechange.org.Engaging project partners for Research and Pilot project components:Expressions of Interest (EOI) have been advertised and partners are being engaged for the Researchand Pilot Projects components. These will design and implement Climate Change adaptationprojects.Official Launch:The BNRCC Project was officially launched by the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry ofEnvironment, Housing and Urban Development, on May 27 th , 2008 at Abuja’s Rockview Hotel.The launch event provided an opportunity to extend the reach and ownership, as well as toshare information about the project. The Federal Government of Nigeria used the occasion tostate its commitment to realizing the project goals and to address the Climate Change problem.The occasion was also an opportunity to officially present the project’s website to the public.