UNICEF Okays Standard Climate Change Curriculum Compilation

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), says the ongoing compilation of a standard climate change curriculum will create awareness and regulate the effects of climate change on existing and future projects in Nigeria.

The Programme Chief, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in the country, Mr Kannan Nadar made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, recently.

According to Nadar, the curriculum is compiled by UNICEF in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Netherlands.

He said inputs were drawn from stakeholders on the draft curriculum just as sectoral reviews were on-going.

Nadar said that the curriculum would enhance the development and maintenance of projects, specifically, those in the water and environment sectors.

“Climate change has been recognised as an issue globally so sectors cannot afford not to take it into consideration so all planning should also take into account climate change adaptation requirement.

“It is also important to mainstream climate change into normal sector programming, and it is important the people who are working in the sector have the knowledge.

“So this climate change curriculum is aimed at developing a curriculum which will address the capacity or the knowledge needs of the sector professionals.

“For example within the country, we have so many water sector professionals working at different levels working at the federal ministry level, the state level and also at the LGA level there are water sanitation officials.

“So by having a standard curriculum, housed in one institution, what we will do is to ensure that there is a regular training programme.

“When you have this kind of training you will have a good pool of people who are aware of climate change and when so once they are aware, they will be able to apply to their activities so this is a start.”

He said that with a ready curriculum, awareness would be enhanced in relation to many project sites in order to mitigate or adapt to the effects of climate change.