Don Seeks Gender-Inclusive Policies To Address Climate Displacement

A national security and governance expert at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, Dr Folahanmi Aina, has called for integrated and gender-responsive policies to address the growing challenge of climate-induced displacement and insecurity across northern Nigeria.

Aina made the call during a hybrid multi-stakeholder workshop held in Abuja, with the theme, “Invisible Frontlines: Gender, Climate Stress and Forced Displacement in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings in Northern Nigeria.”

The workshop brought together civil society leaders, policy experts, community leaders, development partners, academics, representatives of international organisations, security stakeholders and women leaders for what organisers described as a high-level, evidence-based policy dialogue.

Speaking at the event, Aina said the humanitarian crisis in the North-East, North-West and North-Central regions had evolved from a temporary emergency into a deeper structural problem driven by violent conflict, climate change, economic hardship and weak governance.

He said millions of people had been displaced, with women and children bearing a disproportionate share of the burden.

“The humanitarian crisis unfolding across northern Nigeria is no longer temporary. Displacement has become increasingly cyclical and structural, particularly within fragile communities already affected by poverty and environmental stress,” Aina said.

According to him, climate-related pressures such as desertification, flooding, irregular rainfall, shrinking grazing routes and resource scarcity are intensifying local grievances and creating opportunities for armed groups and criminal networks to exploit vulnerable communities.

Drawing from field evidence gathered in Borno, Zamfara, Katsina, Benue, Plateau and Kaduna states, he said women often become primary household providers during displacement while contending with insecurity, inflation, food shortages and social exclusion.

“Women and girls are disproportionately affected through loss of livelihoods, exposure to gender-based violence, limited access to healthcare and education, and exclusion from decision-making spaces,” he said.

Aina explained that the initiative seeks to translate existing research on conflict, climate change, migration and state fragility into practical policy interventions through sustained stakeholder engagement.

He added that recommendations from the workshop would contribute to the development of a gender-responsive and climate-sensitive policy framework focusing on climate adaptation, livelihood recovery, early warning systems, conflict prevention, protection of displaced persons and stronger coordination among security, humanitarian and development actors.

Also speaking, executive director of Illmi Children’s Fund (ICF), Maryam Ali, urged government authorities to recognise teachers as first responders in conflict-affected communities.

Presenting a paper titled, “The Invisible Frontline: Reimagining the Role of Teachers in Trauma Response Across Fragile and Conflict-Affected Settings,” Ali said many children in northern Nigeria arrive in classrooms carrying the effects of armed conflict, displacement, climate shocks and food insecurity.

She noted that teachers routinely identify abuse, comfort traumatised children, support displaced learners and help prevent school dropouts, yet receive little training in psychosocial support.

“Learning cannot occur where survival dominates,” she said, calling for trauma-informed teacher training, school wellbeing systems and stronger collaboration between schools, health institutions and child protection agencies.

Participants at the workshop said discussions on gender, resilience, livelihoods, community protection, climate vulnerability and displacement governance were aimed at developing practical responses to climate-induced displacement and fragility in northern Nigeria.