UK Govt Announces £19M Funding for Climate Resilience, Health Devt in Nigeria
The United Kingdom, UK Government has announced a £19M funding commitment to develop Climate Resilient, health and education facilities in Nigeria
The announcement was made at a joint inauguration by the UK Government, Federal Ministry of Health, the Governments of Kano and Jigawa States and UNICEF, of 84 climate-resilient schools and health care facilities under the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS) initiative.
CRIBS is a pioneering and innovative new approach to protect essential health and education services from the growing threats of climate change
This was developed through a partnership which included: UK government, Government of Nigeria, State Governments and international and local organisations including: UNICEF, World Bank, WHO, JigSaw, Fab Inc, Crown Agents UK Lafiya Programme and Sextant Foundation
Nigeria ranks second globally in climate-related risks to children, with millions affected annually by floods, droughts, and extreme heat
In response, the CRIBS approach has been developed to assess and strengthen Health and Education facilities. So far, 84 facilities, 39 primary healthcare centres and 45 schools in Kano and Jigawa, have been renovated through targeted climate adaptation measures
The inauguration of these facilities marks a significant milestone in demonstrating low cost, scalable, community owned solutions to climate vulnerability that can be adopted by the Federal and state governments
The events included ribbon-cutting ceremonies, site visits and media engagements, showcasing how climate-resilient infrastructure can protect essential health and education services which save lives and support children’s education
The head of development cooperation, British High Commission Abuja, Cynthia Rowe said “The UK Government is proud to support the Government of Nigeria through this £19m commitment to the CRIBS programme. This work has been developed through a partnership of organisations and experts including the Federal Government of Nigeria, the UK Government, UNICEF, World Bank, World Health Organization, Sextant Foundation, JigSaw, Fab Inc, Crown Agent and UK Lafiya Programme
“CRIBS demonstrates how climate-resilient infrastructure can improve access to basic services for vulnerable populations. We hope this model inspires broader replication across Nigeria.”
The UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Sawed said “This initiative is a testament to what strong partnerships can achieve,” added “By investing in climate-smart infrastructure, we are not only protecting services but also empowering communities to safeguard their children’s future. CRIBS is a model for how we can build resilience where it matters most, at the frontline of service delivery.”
The inauguration aligns with national and state priorities in climate action, health, and education, and reflects the UK’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to mitigate climate risks and improve service delivery.
Launched in April 2024, CRIBS is funded by FCDO, the UK Government and developed through a partnership approach from a range of Nigeria Government and international organisations and expert with UNICEF as the main implementing partner
CRIBS is a comprehensive and systematic approach to developing affordable, high impact and scalable models of climate-resilient infrastructure for basic services, with a focus on vulnerable communities
Based on the successful implementation of the approach in Kano and Jigawa States, the initiative is being expanded to include Bauchi, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna and Katsina states.
