Nigeria hosted the 13th International “Cracking the Nut” conference organized by Conexus Corporation to address the pressing issue of climate change and its impact on agriculture and food security.
The two-day event, held in Abuja on October 7 and 8, 2024, attracted 150 participants from 14 countries.
Themed “Preparing for Accelerating Climate Change,” the conference will focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture, promoting climate adaptation, and building food system resilience in the face of worsening environmental conditions. focused on strategies.
Connexus CEO Anita Campion opened the conference by noting the increasing frequency of extreme weather events that disrupt agricultural markets and food systems around the world.
Melissa Jones, Mission Director, United States Agency for International Development Nigeria, introduced the theme of the conference by highlighting the far-reaching impacts of climate change in Nigeria.
Touching on the recent floods in Borno State, she expressed empathy for those affected, called climate change “one of the greatest disruptors of our time,” and called for partnership in advancing climate action. emphasized the important role of
In his keynote address, Dr. Rufus Idris, AGRA Nigeria Country Director, outlined the steps needed to “transform Africa’s food systems" as the impacts of climate change accelerate.
He emphasized the need for public-private partnerships to overcome obstacles to climate-smart agricultural practices.
He emphasized the need to scale up finance, risk mitigation tools and incentives to attract private sector investments that benefit rural smallholder farmers, women and youth.
Mr. Sule James, former Coordinator of Nigeria’s Ministry of Environment’s Green Bond Program, discussed the use of Nigeria’s sovereign green bond investments to support climate mitigation efforts, primarily renewable energy.
He provided a roadmap to leverage patient capital to issue green bonds for climate adaptation and support investments in climate-smart agriculture and resilient food systems.
In addition to the plenary session, the conference hosted 18 competitively selected participatory breakout sessions.
To foster global knowledge exchange, key lessons from these sessions will be compiled and shared with the public in early 2025.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Campion recognized conference sponsors including USAID/Nigeria, DAI, Catholic Relief Services, Chemonics International, Presola Design, Abt Global, ACDI/VOCA, Winrock International, and UC Davis. He expressed his gratitude for his efforts in this conference. Critical conversations about climate change.
Connexus is a small, woman-owned company based in Virginia, USA. Founded in 2008, the company provides technical services to international bilateral and multilateral donors, financial institutions, and the private sector.
