RCE Zaria - 2018

Unfreezing Sustainability Challenges Through Multi-stakeholder local and International Collaboration: Lessons from the ‘Bagega Hope Rising Project’ Anka – Nigeria
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Unfreezing Sustainability Challenges Through Multi-stakeholder local and International Collaboration: Lessons from the ‘Bagega Hope Rising Project’ Anka – Nigeria
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Zaria
Contributing organization(s) : 
Ahmadu Bello University Students Enactus Association; Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University; Ministry of Environment Zamfara State; Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Nigeria ; Temple University USA.
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
RCE Zaria
Organizational Affiliation: 
c/o Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Centre for Spatial Information Science
Format of project: 
PowerPoint
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Update
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
Environmental Conservation; Sustainable Natural Resource Exploitation
At what level is the policy operating?: 
Subnational
Environmental Conservation; Sustainable Natural Resource Exploitation
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Africa and Middle East
Country: 
Nigeria
Location(s): 
Bagega, Anka Local Government – Zamfara State
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Ecosystem(s):
Dryland
Target Audience:
Community
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Zamfara State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. It has a population of 3,278,873 (2006 estimates) and covers 39, 762 km2. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy and employs nearly 70% of the population. The state has large mineral deposits (Gold, lead and Iron ore) most of which is mined informally. The region is located in the dry lands of Nigeria, with a tropically warm temperature often rising to 38oC. The rainy season is short (5 months) lasting between May and September, and there is very low vegetation cover which is mostly deciduous plant species.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
A major sustainable challenge of the region is low rainfall receipt and desertification. Environmental degradation has also recently become extensive resulting from large scale artisanal mining activity. The region also, has a low and declining agricultural productivity including loss of biodiversity from large scale forest exploitation.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
March, 2017
Rationale: 
Bagega is one of the seven communities worst hit by lead poising from activities of artisanal informal miners. In 2010, Doctors without Borders estimated that over 400 children had died from polluted water sources (surface and ground) with about 1, 500 under intensive care. Strip mining also exposed the soil and destroyed the vegetation cover, thus making farming unsustainable. The rationale for the project was to restore livelihood and the environment; but to do so on a multi layered cooperation framework, using shared understanding of ESD practices and solutions that defy thematic and geographic boundaries. The multilayered framework is intended to ensure sustainability of the project and for shared learning.
Objectives: 
The goal of the project is to develop/adapt existing new technologies while integrating with traditional knowledge to achieve the following objectives:
i. Increase access to portable clean water
ii. Promote cleaner and better ways of practicing agriculture
iii. Reduce effects of lead contamination
iv. Restore the environment
Activities and/or practices employed: 
The primary activities involve the design and development of a Biotech filter distributed to households for water purification; and development of an aquapionics system to simultaneously grow fresh fish indoors with plant cultivation (tomatoes, cucumber, pepper etc.) using nutrient rich solution. A community water harvesting/purification system is also established.
Size of academic audience: 
A total of 1, 050 people
Results: 
The primary results achieved included:
- The pilot project has directly impacted 485 and indirectly 1,050 persons
- Farm output (fish and vegetables) achieved – valued at approximately USD 1,500
- Clean portable water supplied to the community
- Collaborative framework of Local, Traditional, State and Federal Government, NGO’s, and recently International (Temple University, USA) created to provide support and guarantee sustainability for the project.
Lessons learned: 
i. Finding and cultivating the required stakeholders across thematic and geographic boundaries is challenging but necessary.
ii. Shared ESD practices across geographic space and thematic areas has provided valuable knowledge and resources for scaling up of the project to additional 7 communities.
Funding: 
Funding assurances have been received from:
Federal Ministry of Agriculture - $7,000
Zamfara State Government - $64,000
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages 
Direct
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Indirect
SDG 8 - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all 
Direct
SDG 9 - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation 
Indirect
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Indirect
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Indirect
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Direct
Theme
Disaster Risk Reduction 
Direct
Traditional Knowledge  
Indirect
Agriculture 
Direct
Forests/Trees 
Indirect
Plants & Animals 
Indirect
Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development – Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 4 - Empowering and mobilizing youth 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
Direct
Update: 
Yes