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

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 aims to strengthen 24 primary healthcare facilities and schools so they can better withstand the growing impacts of climate change.

Funding for the project comes from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). UNICEF is implementing the work in Charanchi, Mai’adua, Mani and Dutsi Local Government Areas.

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

Lawal noted that the first implementation phase will focus only on the four local government areas where the 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 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 safeguarding children’s education and access to healthcare.

Lawal further revealed 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 additional work will continue in Jigawa, while 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.