Livelihoods Support

A Beneficiary, Seed to Wealth, On Her Farm During A Harvest

Improving the welfare of vulnerable rural inhabitants affected by ecological issues can be strengthened, either through the enhancement of existing livelihoods or the promotion of alternative ones. The diversification of income for the rural poor is vital to reducing the risks of cropping from marginal lands and environmental pressure on erodible (degraded) lands towards more sustainable levels.

A Beneficiary, Skill Acquisition, Now Training Five Youth in His Shoe Factory

Alternative livelihoods have minimal dependence on land primary productivity for producing subsistence products; do not impair the provision of other services rural ecosystems; generate income per investment from local natural resources, compared with the traditional, and biological production -dependent livelihoods, therefore, must be central to approaches adapted for reversing the downward poverty environmental degradation.

Beneficiaries, During Training On Confectionaries

Their biodiversity resources. The focus on developing alternative livelihoods for the vulnerable communities is a smart way to reduce stress on natural systems while improving human well-being and reducing poverty in these communities. Our efforts in this regard are helping vulnerable rural communities in diversifying their income, reducing poverty, generating employment for the women, men, youth, and disabled. It is also a veritable tool for the reduction of pressure on land resources and land degradation, enhancement of rural economy as well as curbing social unrest and forced migration.

Sustainable Bio-Beekeeping Training in Abia State

RUWAI is assisting the vulnerable communities with relevant adaptation skills to enable them to curb climate change impact enhance their production capacity to manage land resources for sustainability.

Bee Hive Installation For Some Beneficiaries, Sustainable Bio-Beekeeping Project

Young Beneficiaries, Sustainable Bio-Beekeeping in a Demonstration After Training and Empowering Them With Tools

Value Addition: The Ruwai Sustainable Bio-Beekeeping Walk Through Beneficiaries Into Harvesting And Processing Pure Honey For Market And Home Use.

Some Bottles of Honey Carefully Processed and Packaged For Marketing, By a Beneficiary

CLIMATE CHANGE AND LAND RECLAMATION

The dryland region of Africa is facing serious climate variability including frequent droughts compounded by poorly managed land and water resources that have resulted in the degradation of natural resources.

Due to increasing and combined pressures of agricultural and livestock production, urbanization, deforestation, and extreme weather events, more than 3% of the total forest cover alone was lost between 1990 and 2010 (FAO, 2010).

Land degradation moreover affects approximately 500 million hectares of the 1.3 billion hectares cultivated annually.

This development could reduce global food productivity by as much as 12% over the next 25 years, leading to a 30% increase in world food prices (UNCCD, 2013). Nigeria has one of the highest rates of deforestation, averaging 350,000-400,000 hectares or 3.5% per year. Up to 80% of the country’s original forests have already disappeared, and the remaining forest covers as little as 4% of the landmass (FAN, 2016).

A Degraded Land Site In Dankwngi Before It Was Restored

A Previously Degraded 5hc Land Site In Dankwangi, Restored

Forest plays an important role in the water cycle regulation and carbon sequestering, also as a genetic bank and source of food. They stimulate rainfall, protect soils from erosion and regulates the flow of river and stream water.

RUWAI through the collaborative efforts of members, volunteers, public and private partners is working concertedly with any affected areas, towards achieving a land degradation-neutral world” by 2030, through the implementation of a Holistic system of Restoration and Management programs.

Distribution of Economic Trees to the Benefiting Households

Inspiring Young Volunteers to Participate In Climate Action Through Innovative Tree Planting

500 Tree Planting Activity In Partnership With Climate Action Group

SUSTAINABLE (CLIMATE SMART) AGRICULTURE

Despite natural endowments of approximately 84 million hectares of arable land, water resources, availability of labor, and a large domestic market, Nigeria is not self-sufficient in agriculture.

On the contrary, Nigeria imports over 45% of its food needs, and several regions are plagued with food insecurity.

The Nigerian agricultural landscape is significantly dominated by smallholder farmers (between 80 - 85% of farmers) who still practice subsistence agriculture using archaic tools, poor recycled seeds, and crop protection products, and depend on rain-fed agriculture.

TThe organization in collaboration with members and volunteers have carrying-out capacity building programs through education, provision of inputs, and training rural dwellers, especially the women, youth, and disabled groups in affected communities on sustainable agricultural and land management practices to enable them to manage their land sustainably and enhance soil production while creating employment and economic opportunities to vulnerable poor communities.

A Beneficiary, Seed To Wealth Project, On Her Farm During The Ruwai Monitoring Visit To The Organic Vegetable Garden In Imo State

The Ruwai Seed To Wealth Train And Empower Beneficiaries Who Are Largely Women And Girls With Alternative Skill In Agriculture And Crafts. With The Provision Improve Crop Seed, Livestock And Other Inputs, Beneficiaries Are Able To Manage And Grow Both Their Farms And Livestock While Enriching The Soil.

Inspiring Volunteers Beyond Nigeria, Who Provide Foods To Orphanages From Their Farm, As They Are Provided With Training Opportunities

A PASSIONATE VOLUNTEER, CELEBRATING A REWARDING HARVEST

COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Nigeria suffers from environmental problems typical to many developing countries: overgrazing, erosive plowing, and over-cultivation have resulted in the loss of soil health; the dumping of wastewater and sewage have caused water and soil contamination; and the exploitation and processing of natural resources such as oil, have brought about environmental pollution.

Yadai Community, Jigawa

Moreover, Nigeria has one of the highest rates of deforestation, averaging 350,000-400,000 hectares or 3.5% per year. Up to 80% of the country’s original forests have already disappeared, and the remaining forest covers as little as 4% of the landmass (FAN, 2016).

Dankwanki Community, Kano State

The success of any program or project implementation depends on a concrete strategy for a public awareness campaign, embedded with clear campaign messages and a plan of action for dissemination. Again, high priority is accorded to community participation in the project from its conception onwards. It is a measurable fact, active involvement of the local communities in the design, preparation, implementation, and evaluation of projects has become the predominant factors in poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Dapa Community, Kwali Fct

The Rural Watch Africa Initiative has relentlessly embarked on community Town Hall meetings on climate change education, land degradation, and other environmental issues, through the engagement of vulnerable communities. These collaborative efforts with the local community serve as a platform to instill responsiveness and volunteerism for community development.

Dapa Community, Kwali Fct

Slump Located At Lugbe, Fct

Advocay Education On Recycling, Sauka Community, Fct

A Visit to Recycling Site In Tudun Wada Area, Fct

Engagement With The Oka People, Imo State, Towards The Sutbc Project

Idima Abam Community, Arochukwu,Abia State

GOVERNANCE

The promotion of inclusiveness and sustainable grass-roots participation in governance has a significant impact through investment in social and economic infrastructure which enables the people to address their basic needs while engaging in economic activities.

The State Of The Oka Community Road Before 2017

Average investment in social infrastructure such as roads portable water, markets, local Agra-processing centers, etc, can play a significant role towards rural poverty reduction.

As part of our advocacy on governance and inclusion, RUWAI is collaborating with indigenous communities in achieving sustainable development. As of 2017, major lands and road networks in Oka were degraded as a result of gully erosion.

Construction Work On Oka Road Commenced

This adversely affected agriculture and social-economic life in the community as the locals could not farm or convey their produce to the market. This aggravated the poverty and economic hardship on the lives and livelihoods of the people. Rural Watch Africa Initiative in collaboration with Odi Nma Oka Foundation and SUTBC, decided to step in and help to pressure the government and the elected, to tackle the gully erosion and access roads problems.

A Drainage System Under Construction