FENRAD expresses readiness to engage in strategic climate action with UK partnership

Stanley Ihedigbo

Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) has warmly welcomed the recent visit of the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Change (FCDO PACE) to Abia State.

The organization commended Governor Alex Otti for his expressed commitment to advancing climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives.

According to the Executive Director of the group, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, as a civil society organization working at the intersection of environmental justice, human rights, and sustainable development, FENRAD views this development as a significant step forward in promoting a green, inclusive, and climate-resilient Abia.

FENRAD acknowledged the timeliness of this initiative, especially in light of the growing climate vulnerabilities facing Abia State and the wider Southeast region, including gully erosion, flooding, loss of biodiversity, and the socio-economic impact of extreme weather events on marginalized communities.

“We consider the engagement of international partners, such as the FCDO PACE, crucial in supporting subnational governments to access climate finance, build institutional capacity, and adopt climate-smart policies and programs.

“As an active stakeholder, FENRAD expresses its readiness to collaborate on this programme through its core areas of expertise, including environmental policy advocacy, community sensitization, climate education, and research-based monitoring and evaluation. We are particularly interested in contributing to the development of localized climate action plans, enhancing transparency in climate-related expenditures, and ensuring the meaningful inclusion of grassroots voices—especially women, youth, and rural dwellers—in climate decision-making processes.

Given this, they call on the Abia State Government to prioritize openness, civil society participation, and evidence-based planning as it partners with the ( FCDO- PAGE) FENRAD believes that for climate interventions to be sustainable and just, they must be transparent, inclusive, and aligned with both the state’s developmental priorities and global best practices on environmental governance.

The group commended the leadership of Governor Otti for aligning Abia State with international climate priorities and called for sustained multi-stakeholder dialogue to ensure the programme delivers measurable outcomes.

FENRAD reaffirmed its commitment to supporting climate justice and building a greener, safer, and more equitable Abia State for all.