The Save the Children Initiative (STCI), under its Resilience, Engagement and Conflict Prevention for At-Risk Population Protection (RECAP) Project, has organised a community roundtable discussion on Natural Resource Management (NRM) and sustainable conflict-sensitive livelihood models in Sokoto North and Sokoto South Local Government Areas of Sokoto State.
The programme, held at the Sokoto North and South Local Government Secretariat, brought together farmers, pastoralists, traditional and religious leaders, vigilante groups, youth and women associations, and persons living with disabilities. Participants discussed issues surrounding access to natural resources and strategies to prevent conflicts within communities.
Speaking at the event, RECAP Project Officer Esther Oluwapemi said the engagement provided an opportunity for participants to identify available natural resources in their communities, the challenges affecting access to them, and practical solutions for peaceful coexistence and sustainable livelihoods.
She explained that the RECAP Project is a new intervention being implemented in 10 selected local government areas of the state, including Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Tambuwal, and Dange Shuni, among others.
Another facilitator from STCI, Admin and Communications Officer Rukayya Ibrahim, emphasized the importance of dialogue and community participation in addressing disputes related to natural resources and promoting sustainable development.
She stated that the project aims to promote peaceful coexistence among communities across the state through dialogue, inclusion, and conflict prevention initiatives.
Also speaking, Sarkin Yakin Gagi, Sani Umar Jabbi, called on community leaders and residents to embrace tolerance, mutual understanding, and peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms to prevent clashes and maintain stability.
Participants at the roundtable stressed the need for stronger collaboration between community leaders, civil society organizations, and government institutions to address farmer-herder conflicts, gender-based violence, and other security challenges in the state.
The stakeholders pledged to continue engaging residents at the grassroots level to promote peacebuilding initiatives and strengthen social cohesion across the affected local government areas.
The project is funded by the European Union, in collaboration with International Alert and Action Against Hunger, to strengthen resilience and conflict prevention mechanisms among vulnerable communities in Sokoto State.
