ENHANCING HEALTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA; ITALY AND CONCERNED COUNTRIES' ROLES

ABSTRACT

This paper reviews Italian development assistance for African countries. It analyses strategies and roles of the both involved parties in adopting policies to strengthen the existing partnership between them and gain more than they had.

Italy is a net contributor to the European Union budget (either third or fourth contributor depending on the different EU budget approved every 5 years).

Surely, Italy cannot compete alone with the global giants either in size of funding or in impact on continent. Yet as a founding member of the EU, it can certainly contribute significantly to forging EU policy and strategy beyond the Mediterranean, and indeed it is fulfilling the role quite effectively.

The partnership with Africa outlines present and future scenarios for the African continent and the role Italy can play in pursuing its national interest while genuinely contributing to the further development and well-being of African states and societies.

Concrete examples of Italian engagement with Africa can be provided; investing in training and education; Italy's participation in international missions in Africa such as the European Union Training Mission (EUTM) and European Union Capacity building mission (EUCAP) in Somalia; encouraging local growth and development.

This highlights some specific thematic priorities out of: peace; security; human rights development cooperation; commercial, cultural and environmental collaboration.

BACKGROUND

This paper defines its action by focusing on interventions on health care system and economy which interprets: peace keeping, good governance and respect for human rights.

Italy's contribution to global health goes beyond official development aid. A key form of Italy's development strategy is to contribute to global health by strengthening the fight against inequalities in terms of right to health ( poorest countries, rural areas, minorities and vulnerable groups).

System of governance in Africa neglect and underfund several sectors making them suffer from several challenges. Some of these challenges are but not limited to the following; poor health care system owing to lack of human resources; and malnutrition owing to Poor economy.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), 57 countries globally have less than 23 health workers per 10,000 people with sub-saharan Africa accounting for 63 percent of these countries. The onus lies on the government when insufficient funding for education is put in place. This in turn would make the doctor-patient ratio higher than normal, thereby, worsen the health care system.

Malnutrition - lack of sufficient nutrients in the body. This occurs when the body doesn't get enough nutrients. Its causes include digestive conditions but majorly poor diet. When starvation sets into a nation, it begets malnutrition by default.

IMPROVED PERFORMANCES

Increasing budgetary allocation; better collaboration; creating more job opportunities; and subsidizing cost of food items would not only correct but proffer the right solutions to the severe challenges being faced by various sectors.

The responsibility of making enough, limited human resources, lies on the government to increase funding for education to put in place requisite facilities to train more students in the health sector rather than having a low quota for medical students due to unavailability of requisite facilities. This in turn would increase the number of applicants being admitted to study medical courses and reduce doctor - patient ratio to normal.

 When starvation sets into a nation, it begets malnutrition by default. Say more jobs are created, unemployment rate would be reduced. When a person is gainfully employed, he in turn, feed 2 or 3 people connected to him. This is where school feeding program gets it wrong - it is not enough to give the children food at school as it would only cover one-third meal. But parents being gainfully employed would not only cater for whole but during weekends and holidays.

Cost of items should be made affordable. When cost of things exceeds the income of a person, malnutrition is inevitable because the victim would eat anything just to meet his daily bread. The government should step in and subsidize the cost of things in the markets thereby making food items affordable.

BENEFITS AND EFFECTS

Having implemented, these policies, would not only foster the nation's economy and enable progress towards universal health coverage by improving effective service coverage and financial protection but also provide employment, decrease in mortality rate, increase in man power and decrease in criminal rate.

Despite the benefits, the intended action of this paper may not be a total perfect approach. Its effects are but not limited to these; increase in tax rate which patients and citizens would be charged with; lowering the level of competition which has always fostered the rate of efficiency and excellence when quota for medical students and job opportunities are made more unlimited than before.

POLICY RECOMMENDATION

The dynamics for present days' competition for medical school admission, job securement and survival; and strong demand for medical attention, human resources, improved economy call for strict policies towards the concerned sectors rather than the already existing lax policies. The following recommendations outline how the action of this paper could be achieved.

A.

1. Increase in human resources thereby enhancing good health care system by:
2. enforcing laws to cater for provisions of requisite materials for institutions.
3. increasing admission quota for medical students.

iii. providing more incentives for health workers to encourage more to develop interest in the profession.

2. Enable sufficient job opportunities for job seekers, thereby decreasing poverty rate by making available more investments.
3. Foster the rate of healthy nutrition by reducing subsidies from cost items like cars and adding more to food items. Thereby, making food available for everyone and improve their health status.
4. The ministry of health should see to the need of educating people more on their health status, what they need to improve on and should avoid by organizing public symposia and having more sensitization teams.

B.

 The republic of Italy should embrace more policies on investing more than before on training and education in Africa. Missions enhancing local growth and development should be formed and implemented.

CREDIT

This policy paper is a part of the highlights of the first EUAFRICA connect summer school which was held in the University of Lagos and it was written by Ahmad El-Mubeen Mas'ud who is a student of University of Lagos under the supervision of the facilitators.

The opinions expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the institution nor the summer school programme.

By

AHMAD E. MAS’UD

POLICY DOCUMENTATION

MALTA PARTNERSHIP WITH AFRICA

PURPOSE

The major purpose of this documentation is to enhance quality education in Africa. To improve the quality of research making especially amongst the youths which will to put an end to child labor in Africa.

SCOPE

This policy will apply to all African countries not only the Africa Union but also to all countries that are in partnership with the European union alongside all important stakeholders in Malta.

POLICY

In the next five years, Malta will bridge the gap of poor education in Africa by investing in locally owned schools in Africa. Most especially schools that are government owned because, these schools are the ones that are mostly poorly built. Also, Malta will work with small scale NGOs to ensure even contribution and impact in all rural areas. This will bridge the gap of child labor in Africa. For research, equipping young adults and proper enlightenment on how research should be done will be our utmost priority. Indigenes of Africa will have the eligibility to come on scholarship to Malta for proper education and learning research methods to foster trade and economic growth in Africa.

RESPONSIBILITY

• It shall be the responsibility of Malta stakeholders to properly supervise and oversee all directives of communication and bursary dispensation between Africa and Malta.
• African stakeholders (governments and NGOs) will be held accountable for all misconduct or any of such that happens during this period.
• All Africans that leaves Africa for Malta will strictly adhere to all rules and regulations biding the country and will be held accountable for any form of misconduct.
• Africans in Malta for studies are to contribute to Malta economic development within their first eight month of stay in Malta.

By

DAUDA MARYAM

THE IMPACT OF INSECURITY ON UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

The insecurity Nigeria faces has gone past the issue of Boko Haram. We now have other terrorists “branded and unbranded” ranging from banditry, farm herding clashes, kidnapping, livestock rustling among others. This has brought forth an estimated increase in unemployment and inflation at 33%.

Thousands of Nigerians are kidnapped every year by bandits. In fact, for interstate trips, transportation by air is now preferred due to the dear of kidnapping at strategic areas on a road trip. Over the last five years, it is estimated that over five billion dollars have been for ransom.

According to the 2022 global terrorism index, Nigeria ranks the third most terrorized sub-Saharan African country and 6^th in the world. There have terrorist attacks like the Kaduna airport attack, the Kaduna bound train on the Abuja-Kaduna rail and the attacks on citizens in the south east for violation of the sit at home rule.

The inability of the security forces to curb this has therefore led to more societal problems and an incessant increase in terrorism.

The economic growth of Nigeria is tightly knitted with it’s security as the agricultural sector which stands to be the largest employer of labor and largest Economic sector ( 25.9% of the 2021 GDP) of the country is being threatened.

Agricultural produce also serve as input for manufacturing firms and it is estimated that since the surge of insecurity, inflation rate of food items stood at 17.2 %. Some farmers are no longer able to Access their farmlands due to terrorist attacks and some of them have to pay to work on their own farms. Some of these red areas have nice tourist attractions but due to the insecurity, they have lost a large number of visitors making a lot of people lose their jobs.

The insecurity has also led to a decline in foreign investors confidence in the country. Also, many tend to flee from the country to seek asylum from both the insecurity and raging unemployment. Some rush to the areas with less attacks and then cause overpopulation in those areas thereby causing excess pressure on public resources.

In 2021, according to UNICEF’s record, 11,500 schools were forced to shut down due to the rampant kidnapping of students in the red areas. This also has a circular effect since this out of school children could proof further threat to security in the nearest future.

The impact of insecurity on ensuring economic growth can therefore not be overemphasized.

Policy recommendations

1. The government should prioritize security for achieve good governance by investing more in forces for the fight against terrorism by training, better ammunitions and foreign security know how to handle these cases.
2. The security forces and those in authority should be all inclusive as regards demographic factors.

That is, the composition of the security forces should be balance when it comes to age, religion and ethnicity for better representation during decision making

3. People in such areas Should be taught self defense. The forces may not be readily available all the time to help protect those in this red areas so they have to be able to defend themselves from some to his attacks . Camouflage techniques and martial arts Could be inculcated .
4. The government should provide basic facilities (food and housing)to the affected victims.
5. Orientation and rehabilitation should be provided for victims in affected areas.

BY

EFOSA O. JEGEDE

ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA FOR SUBSTANTIAL BENEFIT

1. BACKGROUND

With the full understanding backed up by statistics including the European Union, the United Nations Environmental Programme and the World Meteorological Organisation, on the discourse of climate action and climate change, Africa is one continent that doesn’t contribute largely to the climate change at 3.8% emission as at 2020 according to the CDP Africa Report but is at the top of the list of the countries affected by climate change due to its susceptibility and vulnerability. For this reason, the EU-Africa strategy need be streamlined to cover more on the climate adaptation and mitigation in the African continent vis-à-vis the members of the European Union while working smartly on the European Green Deal.

This is necessary for due to the minute contribution of the African countries for reasons of economic development and commercialization, deforestation is on the increase with no regard to afforestation whatsoever. This is cited because although it is in line with agricultural processes, the number of emissions from animal husbandry, deforestation and land use charge globally rates about 13% to 15%. Agriculture, according to African Development Bank, accounts for about 18% of the greenhouse gas emissions in Africa following fossil fuels and industrial wastes. In line with the practicality of this, as observed in the Latvian economy towards its adaptation to the climate action which is people centered and with regard to the economy and the general welfare of the people most especially healthwise, adaptation becomes a viable option.

This policy is geared towards the legislative and judicial arm of the African union together with the independent countries following which will be the executive arm in the drafting of a law for the necessary taxing of the contributions as to deforestation and the due follow up on land use charges. Also, there is need to go back to the supply of water being at the helms of the government or at least maximally controlled by the government. In a situation where it is not ultimately controlled, the usage should be recorded and failure to act as directed shall attract penalties which when resisted shall be enforced by the court of law.

2. REASONS

This policy is proposed for the following reasons in a bid to be a middle ground for both members of the European Union with Latvia at the forefront and the African continent with more emphasis on the sub-Saharan Africa

1. The International Monetary Fund has posited that the absence of any valuable and quantifiable action towards climate action in the sub-Saharan African countries will further push the region into poverty at the number of 39.7 million people.
2. Currently, the low rate of contribution to the effect of climate change is shifting the region to a period of inadequate health care with respect to the health issues that these climate actions cause.
3. Economically, the countries use generated revenue to further resist the overwhelming intrusion of climate actions hence remaining stagnant and in he long run falls in its revenue generation when considering other sectors.
4. With the prediction that the effect of climate change on Africa will worsen by the year 2032, it is safe to say that this will also affect the agricultural produce hence limit the e\business exchange between the continents.

3. EFFECTS

The complete actualization of the highlighted actions as proposed in this towards the African climate as it will in turn affect the European Union are as follows;

1. A shift from the endless climate mitigation strategy to the substantial climate adaptation seeing as there is little mitigation to be done as opposed to the increased need for due adaptation in order to combat the effects of climate change in the African society.
2. The allowance of community scale development due to the inclusion of traditional methods in the steps to adaptation and the consideration of traditional and relative status quo in the draft of the novel rules and additional rules.
3. An evidential based result with respect to eventual adaptation in the cities of Africa especially those close to the natural bodies including trees and water. This is as a result of the operant conditioning in both positive and negative way as opposed to the former use of reward alone as in the action to recycling (where for every recyclable material made available to the production company, a certain reward is given)
4. The achievement of maximum participation from both the government (that is ministries, departments and agencies), companies and the society at large. Thus, the employment of such approach calls for a thorough change in the order of things in a way that will benefit majority.
5. An available health response to the risks of climate change in the African countries.

The action points of this policy are as follows

1. A comprehensive charter on environmental rights and duties of the citizens in the exercise of these rights in line with the utilitarian theory of law that calls for maximum enjoyment of rules to serve the public in the case to avoid the adverse effects of otherwise. This charter will be duly explained and described to the members of the Sub-Saharan Africa in order to ensure the necessary partnership that will in turn yield ultimate efficiency in its implementation upon ratification.
2. An amendment on the taxation laws of the Sub-Saharan Africa to include adequate taxes on environmental structures and usage in general. Understanding the need to equalize the EU and Africa, this will be done through the influence of the civil societies and non-governmental organisations in the countries on the la making body in their respective regions. The system of government will also be put into consideration on order to make a building out of the existing order of things available in the region and allow no means or avenue of imposition.
3. Timely awareness of the novel rules to the people and timely trainings on the way to go on such awareness for the personnels including the extension of such plans to the government agencies as it has been recorded that most like actions are carried out by non-governmental organisations and youth-oriented associations.
4. The re-introduction of certain practices after the thorough analysis of formerly obtained practices that were in line with mitigating climate change yet good for the health and economic wise one of which is the supply of water to homes by the government as with that the usage was controlled and the water bodies were less stressed.
5. The interaction with agriculture associations and bodies to allow for proper understanding on the risk management when it comes to be climate wise and adapting to the already changing climate including the effects of such changes on the yields of the farm with respect to subsistence and commercial actions.
6. The precise extension of the jurisdiction of the courts to hear matters on such provided laws; international or domestic on climate actions. The court shall be constituted of experts in the field of environmental laws and knowledgeable in the climate actions and adaptation policies of their regions and Africa at large.
7. The setting up of an emergency response for persons affecting by the climate change in the society as it relates to the health.

BY

FATHIA ABOLORE YUSUF

IMPROVING CZECH-AFRICAN PARTNERSHIP ON HEALTHCARE AND AGRICULTURE

ABSTRACT

Over the past year, the Czech Republic has helped cope with the pandemic to African countries, especially in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. Among the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are majorly economic and social complications.

The Czech Embassies, in cooperation with selected African countries, prepared proposals for ten projects to supply medical facilities to Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia and Zambia. "This investment in aid to Africa is also an opportunity to strengthen the good name of the Czech companies in markets outside Europe and to establish, for example, longer-term business partnerships," according to Tomáš Petříček - Minister of Foreign Affairs, on the details of the Africa Program.

 This policy paper is divided into abstract where what is under each subheading is explained; the introduction, where basic things about the policy as well as the specific focus on certain aspects of interest - health and agriculture; Existing partnership between the Czech Republic and Africa; Special areas of interest: Policy Recommendation and Conclusion.

INTRODUCTION

Also referred to as Czechia, Czech Republic is a country with no direct access to a water body in the heart of Central Europe and very close to various countries of Europe. The Czech Republic shares a border with Germany, Slovakia, Austria and Poland. It is the product of a peaceful dissolution of the country of Czechoslovakia following the Velvet Revolution. It is now a parliamentary representative democracy headed by a Prime Minister. Culturally it has been influenced by the Bohemians, the Roman Empire, the Austrian Hapsburgs and occupation by communist Russia. Czechian economy depends on tourism, scientific innovation, exporting electricity and the manufacture and export of automobiles, buses, trains and other transportation vehicles.

As close neighbours and partners in progress, Europe and Africa have, for years, been engaging in partnership projects which has not been one sided or on a donor-recipient basis, but projects geared towards mutual benefits of the continents in aspects not limited to healthcare, agriculture, education, security, economy and climate change. This paper, however, seeks to give a clear analysis of Czech-African partnership and recommend policies/strategies to enhance a better partnership in areas limited to healthcare and agriculture. Subsequent parts of this paper give details.

EXISTING PARTNERSHIP

The basis of the relationship between Czech Republic and Africa can be traced to the ties formed before it was broken out of Czechoslovakia. Mutual relations are friendly and open. African countries perceive Europe as a friend without a colonial past, and as an EU partner who understands their economic and security needs.

Czech Republic takes an active approach to Africa's security, economic, political, social and human rights challenges.

Mutual trade is in the rise. The country is having increasingly strong investment presence on the continent benefits from Africa's economic opportunities and lower production costs. Czech project implementers are gaining experience with working in Africa.

In 2020, when COVID-19 was engulfing Africa, the Czech Republic didn't only help the Sahel region of Africa but also the Horn of Africa (HoA) where the conditions and the effects of the infection were alarming. Czech Republic partnered with African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia, Morocco and Ethiopia in a project aimed at providing these countries with healthcare facilities.

Czech Republic has also helped fight child malnutrition in Mali and Niger by supporting a nonprofit organization with an amount of money. The Czech Republic also gave out an amount of 5 million Czech crowns in the name of helping those affected by floods in Sudan.

GAINS AND PAINS

Czech project implementers are gaining experience with working in Africa. Czech NGOs and a number of universities already have very good local knowledge. Czech companies and project implementers have a good name and expertise in sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, food industry, water management, transport and infrastructure, geological surveys, and in mineral extraction and processing including the building of local capacities and use of environmentally friendly technologies. The Czech Republic's comparative advantage is that the country's solutions, services and products are recognized for their quality and affordability. Czech security cooperation has a very good name in Africa. The security activities of Czech in the Sahel have done much to raise our profile in recent years. Czech cooperate with African countries in combating terrorism and (most recently) also cyber-crime. African countries are very keen to cooperate in education and science, and these sectors can mean a lot for the development of our relations. Africa is a young people's continent and the Czech Republic sees this as an opportunity. It is the young generation who makes change happen, who demands prosperity and improvements in governance, education, security, health care, infrastructure, standards of living and public health, and mobility. Africa has a great potential to develop its own private sector (start-ups) and create jobs for the young generation. It looks for innovations and modern and digital technologies. Its growing population urgently needs to address the questions of food self-sufficiency and resilience to climate change. This again opens up space for economic and development cooperation. Africa's middle class is growing and so is the purchasing power of Africans. Africa is interested in modern economic trends such as circular economy. Africa is the beneficiary of many development interventions from developed countries. This is an opportunity to interlink our national projects with the international ones and use them to advance our priorities. The Czech Republic would realize that the need to assist African partners to promote its interests in international fora, is quite obvious.

PARTNERSHIP ON HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

Africa's prosperity, sustainable development and economic and social stability depend on the health of Africa's population and this has been perfectly described by the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020. Despite the fact that Africa had lower infection rates than Europe; however, the impact on its development was profound in many important areas. Following the outbreak of the pandemic, Africa's overall economic growth dropped adversely. Obviously, Africa can be a stable partner and neighbour to the EU only if it makes its people and healthcare systems resilient to its health challenges. As the pandemic began to spread in Africa, the Czech Republic, along with other developed countries, responded by helping reinforce local healthcare capacities. Healthcare and medical supplies were delivered ranging from vaccines to intensive care unit equipment, to hospitals across the continent. Czechia

joined the Team Europe Initiative supporting public health institutes in Sub-Saharan Africa, and our engagement in this area will continue in the coming years. To help improve the health resilience of African countries, leading Czech medical equipment manufacturers and healthcare will be brought to Africa. Czech Republic can make use of the country's prowess in science and academics, as well as experience with development cooperation projects. By this, African partners are provided with comprehensive healthcare solutions and quality healthcare is made accessible to all.

BOOSTING AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Agriculture is the strength of Africa's economy. Due to the impact of the Russian aggression against Ukraine on the food security of the continent, it is clear that support of agricultural development will play a key role in Africa's economic, social and security stabilization. In sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of the population work in agriculture. Nevertheless, the sector generates only 14 per cent of this region's GDP. This is due to several factors: heavy dependence on weather (erratic rainfall), poor road network, low productivity (predominance of subsistence farming), failure to develop efficient and environmentally friendly farming methods, low or poor machinery, and unsustainable use of land leading to land degradation. As a result, Africa does not make progress in eradicating chronic malnutrition in some regions, and remains at risk of food insecurity and dependence on external food assistance. Agricultural development is hampered by poorly functioning market and a lack of value chains, and by limited access to technologies, energy sources, skill development opportunities and financial services. Inefficient water management is a major obstacle to North Africa's agricultural development. Access to modern technologies and well-targeted investments may help overcome the challenges of the harsh climate. The activities of the Czech Republic and other developed countries (namely the EU Member States) can build on the economic, social and environmental pillars of sustainable development and on relevant EU and UN programmes. The Czech Republic can promote comprehensive approaches designed to increase agricultural productivity and diversification, and to improve access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food for all groups of the population. The aim is to help stabilize the rural population, reduce chronic poverty and close social gaps.

The Czech Republic can focus on supporting small and middle-scale African farmers. The promotion of

an integrated farming approach combining crop and livestock production can also be ensured. These activities will help

improve the knowledge of resilient and sustainable agricultural practices, and encourage technological development (mechanization), smart farming solutions contributing to climate adaptation, and the building of local value chains for agriculture and food production. Increasing the capacity and effectiveness of agricultural consultancy is an idea that can also be adopted. Promotion of public-private partnerships and cooperation, as well as the farmers' cooperation with other stakeholders involved in the production, processing and trade chain, in agribusiness and in financial and consultancy services. Efforts to help increase Africa's agricultural productivity will not limit address on the

climate change. This, however, prompts a partnership to improve access to water (irrigation technologies) and water

management including wastewater treatment. Plans for sustainable land and landscape management principles and promotion of ecosystem-friendliness should not be excluded. Appropriate landscape mitigation methods (including afforestation) will be supported to protect the soil and enhance the water retention capacity of the landscape. These activities will help create livelihood opportunities for all groups of the population, and they will take into account the need for economic empowerment of women and girls.

Africa has significant natural resources: mineral wealth as well as large areas of land suitable for agricultural production. It has every opportunity to develop local value chains; however, it continues to export mainly unprocessed raw materials. Africa is keen on technology transfers, and it has a great potential for green energy and digitization (namely in mobile networks and services). The creative industry grows rapidly. The EU Member states should offer them comprehensive solutions in this area. And the relationship is not burdened with colonial past.

STRATEGIES

Developing the Czech Republic's public diplomacy in Africa by portraying the country as one ready to invest its competence in various aspects (e.g. health, economy, security, etc) in the partnership with Africa.

Promoting a comprehensive Africa Studies through which knowledge of African image will be acquired in the Czech Republic

Deliberating about coordination of activities in Africa across institutions in the Czech Republic for concerted strategy designing before implementation

CONCLUSION

Africa has got geopolitical, strategic, security and economic edge. This enables African countries and their groups to take a more active role.The EU's security is tightly interwoven with Africa's, as a result of the closeness of the continents. They share an interest in stability in the Mediterranean and beyond.

Africa has the high level of vulnerability to the infections and disease outbreak forced by by poor healthcare system. African countries are in need of international partnerships to ensure there is an improvement in the health sector of the continent.

Many African countries have yet to reap the full benefits of their raw materials wealth - producers of timbers but importers of toothpicks. Active raw materials diplomacy in Africa may help Czech Republic and other European countries diversify these huge resources and improve our raw materials security.

By

MUHAMMAD E. MAS’UD

MONITORING MIGRATION PLANS PROGRESS THROUGH CREATION OF AN AGENCY

MESSAGE

 Due to the brain drain that is currently affecting developing and underdeveloped countries in Africa  without due plan in place yet to curb the effects. Although there has been some modification of  current policies on return and re-admission of migrants but this doesn’t guarantee sustainability of these plans.

OBJECTIVE

 The main objective of this policy proposed is to monitor the progress of the policies modified earlier as stated in the EU comprehensive strategy for Africa. To ensure that these returns policies are active and even before then also make sure that through this agency created , migrants are fully accountable for their entry and exit into various countries.  

RECOMMENDATION/SOLUTION

 I recommend the creation of an agency by the coming together of both EU  and AU countries to form this agency with each country having a branch. This agency will be charged with the responsible of keeping record of immigrants and their activities during their stay in the country and their expected time of return and departure. This agency can also provide immigrants with information of countries with opportunities for whatever their reason of travelling may be, study, job opportunities or medical attention. i.e recommending Luxembourg for vacations or permanent residence due to the low population there, Finland for scholarship opportunities as they are known for the worlds best education system ETC. Hereby controlling migration into various countries . This body will also be charged with the responsibility of proper regulation of foreign earnings remittance by migrants on work permit hence making up for a part of brain drain damages. With the record of travelers stored by this agency, the agency can also compare the data over the past years to see if the agency has efficiently  and successfully performed its stated duties and responsibilities of controlling migration in relation to economic development in the EU comprehensive strategy for Africa. 

OUTLINE

• Creation of an agency
• Coming together of EU and AU countries to form the agency
• Duties and responsibility of the agency
• Control on brain drain
• Migrants accountable on their travel history
• Increased foreign return earnings 
• Regulation  of migrants into feasible countries with possible opportunities 

By

SULIYAT A. ADENIKE

POLICY RESEARCH & ANALYSIS ON CLIMATE CHANGE  

CLIMATE CHANGE & MITIGATION

Climate Change- is a long-term shift in temperature & weather patterns caused predominantly by burning fossil fuels which add heat-trapping gases to Earth's atmosphere and its impact is growing on the African continent, hitting the most vulnerable hardest and contributing to good insecurity & population displacement. Increasing climate variability in Nigeria is causing more intense & untimely rainfall leading to land degradation, flash floods, landslides & gully erosion. It is also putting great stress on the water resources. The 2022 floods described by experts as the worst Nigeria has experienced since 2012, have destroyed crops in over 500000 hectares of farmlands belonging to thousands of smallholder and commercial farmers across the country. Sea levels have also been riding along the coast of Nigeria causing coastal erosion & some villages to be lost (e.g. Erstwhile village in Delta State).

Additionally, desertification has been occurring in Nigeria with desert condition ls moving southward. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report has warmed that unless governments everywhere reassess their energy policies, the world will become uninhabitable. So, from Sea level rising, to oceans becoming warmer, to more intense droughts threatening crops, wildlife & freshwater supplies, our planet's diversity of life is at risk from changing climate.

WHY IS CLIMATE CHANGE A PROBLEM?

At the First World Bio Summit (2022) which took place in Seoul (South Korea), President Mohammed Buhari made reference to flooding in different parts of Nigeria as well as encroaching desertification and drought from the northern part of the country as the negative fallouts of climate change.

• Heat waves, heavy downpour & sea level rise pose increasing challenges to sectors like infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, forestry... Also, changes in the timing of peak flows in rivers & streams are also reducing water supplies and worsening competing demand for water among aquatic organisms and
• Extreme heat causes drought, disease outbreak, drying up of rivers & seas thereby leading to shortage of fish and Extreme heat will have negative effect health, energy, agriculture, forestry...
• Decreased water availability will have economic and environmental impact. Heavy downpour & flooding affects transportation's, water quality, infrastructure, health, ..

Other Major Negative Impact of Climate Change Include;

• Low Crop Yield- In Nigeria, crop production depends on location & climatic conditions. Some crops in the South need abundant rainfall while those in the north don't. Excess rain & drought associated with climate change affects this natural distribution of crops and reduces their production in large quantities to meet the population's demand leading to food scarcity.
• Insecurity Problem- In 2009, an estimated 6000 gullies were destroying roads, highways, pipelines & houses across rural and urban Nigeria. Many Nigerians lived in fear & despair due to these unpredictable and uncontrollable extreme weather events.
• Displacement of Aquatic Life & Humans- Each aquatic organism has a level of salinity, temperature & current/ waves it can tolerate and when climatic change occurs, they have to migrate y another habitat or die. Spawning is also greatly affected by varying climate. Flood, drought, famine, global warming can influence the decision of man to migrate to a place with better climatic conditions which will have effect on the nation's economy & labour force.
• Decreased Hydroelectric Power Supply- Nigeria generates a significant amount of power from its hydro power plants. Climate change causes unpredictable rainfall and drought pattern that reduce or increase the water level in Kanji Dam & others. During drought, the amount of hydro-power generated declines and it affects power distribution Nationwide. This affects the industrial activities which depend on constant power supply to run their plants. Also, if it dramatically increases as seen in the year 2022, it causes severe flooding arouy its neighboring communities.
• Loss of Shelter, Road Networks & Employment- Rural areas suffer the negative impact of flooding most. It has been estimated that a 1m rise in sea level could cause 75% of the land in the Niger Delta to be lost. During flooding, some houses in rural communities collapse & rural dwellers can't commute because water obliterates the road networks. Furthermore, people in sectors like agriculture, forestry, fisheries & others lose their means of livelihood due to climate change damage.
•  Health Crisis- Climate change has been known to increase the rate of diseases outbreak in Nigeria (especially Malaria). During the period of heavy rainfall, mosquitoes breed on stagnant waters and they spread to cause Malaria through bites (most common among children under 5 according to Whole Health Organization) while during drought period, wildfires & dust storms occur causing respiratory illnesses in many individuals. Climate Change increases the number of diseases and causes preventable death s among Nigerians if left unchecked.

WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?

Climate Change poses a fundamental threat to the places, species and peopi livelihood. To adequately address this issue, we must urgently reduce Carbon pollution and prepare for the consequences of global warming that we are already facing. Ireland which is the country I represented during the EU-Africa Summer School programme has put in place a lot of national policies and legislation to address the climate change problem through mitigation and adaptation. I believe some these measures can be adopted by the Nigerian government or we could work hand in hand with Ireland to fight this global threat.

Ireland adopted the National Policy Position on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development in 2014 which established a long-term national mitigation objective of low carbon transition based on aggregate reduction in Carbon dioxide emissions of at least 80% compared to 1990 levels by 2050 across all sectors. This also led to the establishment of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 which also established the National Mitigation Plan (NMP) and National Adaptation Framework (NAF) both of which are designed to address the consequences of climate change in Ireland. The Act also established the Climate Change Advisory Council (CCAC), to provide advice to the government on climate policy & review progress on achievement of targets annually. Ireland's first National Adaptation Framework which was first published in 2018 set a strategy to reduce our vulnerability to the negative effects of climate change and how we could avail of the positive impacts.

Other measures they are trying to enforce include that the Nigerian government could also emulate are;

• Agricultural sectors will be asked to reduce it's emissions by 22%-30%. This calls for improvement in animal breeding & feeding practices, big reduction in use of chemical nitrogen fertilizers.
• Cut in transport emissions of between 42%-50%. Half a million daily journeys will be completed by walking, cycling, using public transport and all buses will be replaced with electric vehicles by 2035.
• Phasing out of fossil fuel heating in homes in favor of carbon neutral options like heat pumps & other low carbon technology. The Irish government is even ready to establish a national retrofit plan to provide loans and grants to those in older homes & buildings.
• All these are in a bid to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases they releasing into the atmosphere. Other options we can also explore include;
• Awareness of Climate Change Risk- There is a need for awareness campaign to make households less vulnerable to climate change risks. In Ireland, 96% of people believe climate change is happening, 85% are worried about it while 91% say it is personally important to them. From a survey done in Port Harcourt (coastal city prone to coastal flooding and erosion because of rising sea levels) from October 2021- February 2022 by randomly selecting & interviewing 310 households in low, medium and high income areas, it was deduced that 88%of respondent believed the climate change had affected them negatively so they were very conscious of climate change impacts because of the frequent flooding in the city. However, citizens who do not live in areas affected yet do not feel the need to be invested in programs that involves climate mitigation and adaptation which wrong. The Nigerian government should make sure no one is left out during the awareness campaign because to have a climate change free environment should be everybody's job.
• Public Trust & Climate Literacy- Nine in ten Irish people trust scientists as a source of information on climate change which reduces risk of misinformation relating to climate change being circulated among the public. Nigerian government & citizens also need to emulate this attitude. We should have complete trust in our climate experts and believe they can do their jobs well & effectively.
• Active Participation of the Government & the Citizens- 79% of Irish people Climate change should be a very high or high priority for government while 90% believe citizens, government and businesses should be doing more to combat climate change & reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also, majority of Irish citizens say they would support spending carbon tax revenue on development of renewable, green infrastructure and climate adaptation programs. The Nigerian government should start implementing policies that are public friendly so that the citizens can trust in their decision-making capability. The government should also start implementing policies that would help the citizens & nature to adapt to the changing climate. The citizens on the other hand should be ready to work with the government and other NGOs to achieve a risk-free climate.

ACHIEVING A RISK-FREE CLIMATE

• From findings, poverty is closely linked to higher climate risk in Poverty drives vulnerability to climate risk in different ways; from increased risk of exposure to extreme events such as floods & storms to lower access to coping mechanisms that can support resilience. The government should take steps to improve the standard of living of it's people because when people have a sustainable source of income, they will not be sentencing be themselves to risk prone areas nor keep on maintaining a lifestyle that would increase the risk of climate change.
• Consequently, the government & civil society groups should find ways to help residents learn about and use climate change adaptation techniques which include building construction in line with the national building codes, protection & restoration of wetlands and tree They can also go further vto create awareness through Radios, Television, Hospitals, Schools...
• State government & federal government, development partners & private sectors can all play their parts by investing in infrastructure, planning effective land use, creating wealth from waste, campaigning to change behavior and reclaiming green
• Citizens' parts are building climate- resilient buildings, take up home insurance, warn or help neighbors at risk and use plants to improve drainage & create more comfortable
• Also just like the Irish government did, the Nigerian government should make advance policies to fight Climate Change. This will show the citizens the government cares about their welfare & might also be the trigger the citizens need to do more in terms of combating climate change
• Conclusively, as the government plans to make laws & policies to stop/reduce carbon emission release into the atmosphere from all sectors, they should also provide better options for the citizens to go about their businesses so they don't run out of jobs by the time Climate neutrality is

All hands must be on deck to achieve a risk/hazard free atmosphere & weather condition.

By

 Babalola Suliyat Iyiola