UNDP in partnership with Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small grants programme held a one-day workshop, on Thursday, August 29, 2019 to formally close its project on the implementation of the Moringa Oleifera for food security and climate change in Akinyele LGA, Oyo State.

The goal of the workshop was to share research, lessons learned and reflect on development that will continue to impact the lives of the community members in Ijaiye Orile.

The project commenced in 2017, and through research findings, the grantee was able to maximize the use of fluids from stems of Moringa Oleifera to produce Moringa bio-gel as an alternative source of energy for household cooking and also to reduce the carbon di-oxide generated from burning firewood.

Under the project, 100 Moringa farmers were trained on climate change as well as the dangers of fossil fuel, bio-gel and clean-cook stove usage. Production and purchase of the clean-cook stoves by willing households was encouraged and a 26 weeks episode of radio education climate change and fossil fuel use reduction was intensified. 

According to Mrs. Ibironke Olubamise, National Coordinator of the GEF Small Grants Nigeria Programme, the project involved the utilization of moringa plant to create awareness on climate change, address land degradation, empower community beneficiaries to plant and sell the moringa plant as a livelihood alternative and carry out several researches to enhance the moringa plant and use it to address the myriad challenges of climate change.

Speaking at the workshop, she said:“I am particularly thrilled by the effort of the grantee who collaborated with over 16 relevant academic and research institutions and government agencies to achieve the current results. I am sure this project will continue to achieve great results as the promoters are out to help humanity to address the issues of environment and to build capacity of all that are connected to it”.

She further stated that the project has recorded over 850 direct and over 850,000 indirect beneficiaries. Several hectares of land have been recovered from degradation through the planting of moringa. The ethanol produced from the moringa is best for cooking and portends a great future for clean cooking as against use of fossil fuel.

The workshop was complemented by group working sessions as well as structured and informal discussions. The participants assured the project officials of their commitment to planting of Moringa along backyard and farm boundaries. Overall, there was an agreement of the need towards enhanced collaboration and adaptation action.

Some useful suggestions were made to ensure the benefits of the project is shared globally. Key among the recommendations was the advocacy for strengthening of leadership in global agricultural development and practices; unleash the power of human resources for technology development to raise productivity while conserving natural resources; build capacity of CSOs to support community initiatives, translate these efforts to economic improvement for the communities and mostly importantly, invest in women.

The project which recorded great success was implemented by UNDP, thanks to a $50,000 dollars  grant from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) and was executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) on behalf of the GEF partnership.