Yaounde: Niger Basin states seek self-funding sources.

Minteyene John Briand, the National Coordinator of the Integrated Programme for Development & Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin, PIDACC, who spoke to reporters, said donor partners are increasingly becoming weary when it comes to providing funds to run the activities of the body.

He stated that the adverse effects of climate change within the Basin are placing heavier financial demands on management, which has made it absolutely necessary to approach governments of member states and other possible contributors to create awareness on the need for more funds.

Minteyene harped on the fact that donor partners are pressing on the Authority to be self-reliant, especially in terms of sourcing for its own funds, both locally and internationally. The National Coordinator unveiled worries of the management to the public, announcing that the Niger Basin is undergoing drastic negative changes that are increasingly showing the vulnerability of the Basin to climate change.

According to the official, the drastic negative changes have given rise to persistent food shortages that aggravate food insecurity within the sub region. John Briand also said environmental degradation is equally leading to drastic and accelerated changes in the entire ecosystem of the Niger Basin.

This implies that if the natural resources of the Basin are to be protected from extinction and conserved on a sustainable basis for future generations, member countries must take concerted action and work in synergy and solidarity.

More than ever before, governments must agree to support the creation of a sub-regional fund for the adaptation of the Basin to Climate Change; Regional Adaptation Fund for Climate Change known by the French acronym FRACC.

The meeting in Yaounde is to make recommendations and take decisions on how to replenish this fund on a regular basis and how to manage it on a day-to-day basis.

The technical experts are asking for the putting in place first of all, of an ad hoc committee to operationalise the fund-raising process; the payment mechanism; appointment of a tentative president of the ad hoc committee; and choosing a competent representative of the Niger Basin Authority in the ad hoc committee.