Donor Brief: Nigeria Climate Project

Executive Summary

The Nigeria Climate Adaptation - Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB) represents a critical intervention addressing severe environmental degradation and climate vulnerability in Nigeria. Building on the successful completion of the World Bank-funded NEWMAP Phase 1 (2013-2022), this European Investment Bank-assisted initiative targets urgent erosion control and watershed management needs across multiple states, with Abia State as a key implementation area.

This brief highlights the demonstrated success of NEWMAP interventions in Abia State, outlines the urgent needs being addressed by the current NEWMAP-EIB project, and presents a compelling case for expanded donor support to scale up these proven climate adaptation approaches.

NEWMAP Phase 1: Demonstrated Success in Abia State (2013-2022)

The World Bank-funded NEWMAP Phase 1, concluded in June 2022, delivered significant measurable results in Abia State:

Key Achievements:

Complete remediation of 5 gully erosion sites
Reclamation of 50.66 hectares of land across the 5 sites
Compensation provided to 324 project-affected persons to enable civil works, slope stabilization, and bioremediation
Capacity building and livelihood training for 1,466 persons (primarily women) within project communities
Construction of 45.664 kilometers of road linking previously severed communities, reestablishing trade and social connections
Direct benefits to 1,890 households with multiplier effects and co-benefits of jobs and economic enhancement (impacting at least 7,560 individuals based on average household size)

Climate Mitigation Co-Benefits:

Increased carbon sequestration through bioremediation and increased land cover across remediated sites
Emissions reduction through installation of:
- 3hp solar-powered water boreholes in 3 project communities
- 9 solar-powered street lights along a reclaimed gully corridor
- Solar-powered drier chamber for agro-processing in Amuda Isuochi
- Additional 9 solar-powered street lights in another project community

These interventions demonstrate the effectiveness of NEWMAP's integrated approach to addressing erosion while delivering multiple co-benefits for communities and climate.

NEWMAP-EIB: Addressing Urgent Climate Adaptation Needs (2024-2029)

The European Investment Bank-assisted Nigeria Climate Adaptation-Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB) builds on the success of Phase 1 with an initial 5-year implementation period (January 2024 - January 2029). Key features include:

Total funding envelope: EUR 175 million
Implementation partner: United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Abia State participation: Secured through fulfillment of all conditions precedent for disbursement, including:
- Provision of substantial Government Counterpart funding (initial 500 million Naira)
- Additional funding in pipeline for release as needed
- Compliance with Subsidiary Loan Agreements (SLA) ensuring site bankability

Scale of the Challenge in Abia State:

The first phase of NEWMAP remediated only a fraction of what remains a severe environmental crisis. The current NEWMAP-EIB project has:

Documented approximately 80 erosion sites (78 at last count) across 14 out of 17 Local Government Councils in Abia State
Identified more than 50 sites as urgent, severe, very active and ravaging
Classified remaining sites as moderately severe but still requiring intervention

This represents a significant scaling up of the project scope and highlights the urgent need for expanded support to address the full scale of the erosion crisis.

Implementation Leadership

The Abia State Project Management Unit (SPMU) is led by Mr. Ikechukwu Ukaegbu, who serves as:

State Project Coordinator
Abia State's sole delegate to the SB62/Pre-COP meeting
Member of the Nigerian Delegation to the conference

The SPMU represents the front line of shovel-ready climate response at the sub-national level, where ground-zero for the erosion and flood crises exists. The National Climate Change Council serves as the Nigerian focal point for the project.

Investment Opportunity

The NEWMAP-EIB project presents a compelling investment opportunity for climate finance partners:

Why Invest:

Proven Track Record: NEWMAP Phase 1 demonstrated measurable success in addressing erosion while delivering multiple co-benefits
Shovel-Ready Projects: 78 documented sites with 50+ classified as urgent and severe
Strong Governance: Established implementation structures at national and state levels
Government Commitment: Substantial counterpart funding already secured
Multiple Benefits: Interventions deliver adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development outcomes

Funding Needs:

While the current EUR 175 million funding envelope is significant, it remains insufficient to address the full scale of the erosion crisis in participating states. Additional funding would enable:

Expanded Site Coverage: Addressing more of the 78 documented sites in Abia State alone
Enhanced Interventions: Incorporating more renewable energy components and nature-based solutions
Livelihood Components: Scaling up successful community engagement and livelihood enhancement approaches
Knowledge Management: Documenting and disseminating best practices for replication

Alignment with Global Climate Frameworks

NEWMAP-EIB directly contributes to multiple global climate and development frameworks:

Paris Agreement: Implements concrete adaptation measures while delivering mitigation co-benefits
Global Goal on Adaptation: Demonstrates measurable progress in reducing vulnerability to climate impacts
Sustainable Development Goals: Addresses multiple SDGs including 13 (Climate Action), 15 (Life on Land), 6 (Clean Water), and 1 (No Poverty)
Sendai Framework: Reduces disaster risk through preventive infrastructure and community resilience

Conclusion

The NEWMAP-EIB project represents a strategic opportunity to invest in proven climate adaptation approaches with demonstrated success. Building on the achievements of NEWMAP Phase 1 in Abia State, the current project is poised to deliver significant climate resilience benefits while addressing urgent environmental degradation.

We invite climate finance partners to engage with the project team during the SB62/Pre-COP meeting to explore opportunities for expanded support and collaboration in scaling up these critical interventions.

Contact Information:
Mr. Ikechukwu Ukaegbu
State Project Coordinator, NEWMAP-EIB Abia State
Member, Nigerian Delegation to SB62/Pre-COP
(Contact details available upon request or during meeting)

National Climate Change Council
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Website: https://nccc.gov.ng/