A high-level team from the World Bank recently visited the Kwali communities of Dafa and Pukafa in the Federal Capital Territory to engage with the Early Warning Early Response (EWER) committees on the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Initiative.

The team, led by Audrey Sacks, Senior Development Specialist with the World Bank, included Vinay, Senior Programme Lead at the World Bank’s Nigeria Country Office; Ms. Zara-Binta Goni, Senior Social Development Specialist; Ugonne Wuni, Programme Specialist; and Andrews Seglah, Community Resilience Specialist.

They were accompanied by officials from the FCT Administration and FCT ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Mrs. Caroline Opara. The first port of call of the team was the palace of the Etsu of Kwali, His Royal Highness Luka Ayedo Nizassan, where they paid homage.

Introducing the team, Mrs. Opara informed the Etsu that the World Bank team was in Kwali to engage directly with community members and assess the progress made in peacebuilding and conflict resolution initiatives being promoted by the ACReSAL Project.. Mrs. Opara stated, “Over the past few months, our team from the FCT Project Office has organized a series of trainings on peacebuilding and conflict resolution initiatives. We are pleased to showcase the progress made by our communities in embracing these practices.” She expressed gratitude for the support of the World Bank, adding, “Our goal is to enhance the livelihoods of our communities and we believe that community cohesion through peacebuilding is essential to achieving the objectives of the ACReSAL Project.”

The Mandate Secretary of the Agriculture & Rural Development Secretariat, Lawan Kolo Geidam, represented by Umar Malamiyo, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, praised the World Bank for the ACReSAL Project, noting its significant impact in the FCT since its inception. He added that the project complements the FCT Administration’s efforts in mitigating environmental damage caused by deforestation and infrastructural development.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Ms. Zara-Binta Goni commended the Etsu for his unwavering support and highlighted the indispensable role of traditional institutions in fostering sustainable peace and progress within communities. She emphasized that the ACReSAL project’s strategy to promote peace is intricately linked to its core objective of enhancing livelihoods in the communities.

Responding, the Etsu of Kwali expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the visit, acknowledging the positive impact of the ACReSAL Project interventions on the Kwali Chiefdom. He highlighted the significant progress made in fostering peace and community cohesion, thanks to the project’s initiatives.

As a symbol of appreciation, he adorned members of the team with traditional Kwali attire and presented them with gifts.

The entourage then proceeded to the Dafa and Pukafa communities for the engagement proper.

During the engagement, team leader Audrey Sacks facilitated interactions that involved questions and answers, where the Early Warning Early Response (EWER) Committee members were tested on their understanding of the initiative. Members were given the opportunity to express themselves freely during interactive sessions, sharing their perspectives and putting forward their requests.

The World Bank team inquired about specific areas where the ACReSAL project could improve to ensure the effective implementation of the Early Warning Early Response (EWER) agenda. In response, the community members requested additional training to better equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to sustain the initiative.

The community chiefs expressed gratitude to the World Bank for its interventions and promised to apply the knowledge gained from the initiative.

Highpoint of the visit was drama presentations by the communites, which vividly depicted scenarios that could potentially lead to conflicts and showcased proactive measures to resolve them.

The interactive sessions reinforced the peacebuilding and conflict resolution skills imparted during the breaking by the FCT ACReSAL Project.