The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched a Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS II) project in Katsina State aimed at strengthening 24 primary healthcare centres and schools to withstand the growing impacts of climate change.
The project, funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is being implemented across selected communities in Charanchi, Mai’adua, Mani, and Dutsi Local Government Areas.
According to UNICEF officials, the initiative is designed to upgrade and retrofit basic service facilities so that schools and healthcare centres can continue functioning even during extreme weather events such as floods, heatwaves, droughts, and storms.
Speaking at the CRIBS II state-level inception meeting in Katsina, UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist, Uba Lawal, explained that the project focuses on improving water and sanitation infrastructure in selected schools and health facilities.
He noted that the intervention is part of a broader effort to ensure uninterrupted access to education and healthcare services, especially in climate-vulnerable communities.
The first phase of the programme is currently being implemented in four local government areas of Katsina State, covering 24 selected facilities.
Lawal further disclosed that similar interventions have already been carried out in other northern states, including Kano State and Jigawa State, where 84 facilities benefited in total during the initial phase.
He added that the expansion into Katsina marks a continuation of the project’s regional rollout, with more facilities expected to benefit in subsequent phases.
He explained that contractors and supervisors will work closely with government officials, while renovation plans will be displayed in participating schools and healthcare centres to ensure transparency and accountability.
Lawal also emphasized the importance of community participation and government support in adopting climate adaptation strategies to strengthen resilience against environmental challenges.
The initiative highlights growing global efforts to protect essential services in vulnerable regions as climate change continues to affect education and healthcare delivery systems.
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