NEWMAP Presents Implementation Report

Recently the Federal Project Unit of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project hosted the Special Due Diligence Mission of the World Bank (WB), European Investment Bank (EIB), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) where it presented a project wide report of implementation progress.
The report shows that NEWMAP has been responding to erosion and watershed problems over the past 5 years. Investments made have resulted to positive impacts within and outside the affected communities. This therefore means that the Project is very much on track. In addition, the Increasing demand by States to join the project attests to the project’s great performance and impacts. However more funding is required.
The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) is financed by IDA credit of $500 million in addition to fully blended grants of $3.96 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and $4.63 million from the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF). Effectiveness date is 16th September, 2013;
Additional Financing of $400 million approved by IDA on 27th June 2018; plus $200 million from EIB;
The Project Development Objective is to reduce vulnerability to soil erosion in targeted sub-watersheds.

Component 1:
20 sites have been stabilized and reduced in severity, 30 sites as Project target in Year 2020;
2 sites in Enugu State have been commissioned, other States are focused on commissioning completed sites; Additional works are ongoing especially in old sites while in the Northern States, afforestation activities and tree planting have progressed especially in Kano, Sokoto and Gombe States; 7,314,731 direct and indirect Project beneficiaries;

Component 2:
NEWMAP is supporting the installation of Automated Early Flood Warning Systems (AFEWS) as well as Hydrological and Meteorological Stations. Progress for this activity is at 79%, Project target is 80% by 2020. States continue to collaborate with respective MDAs and Local Government Authorities when embarking on activities, towards ensuring sustainability.
Component 3:
Distribution of Clean Cook stoves has continued; 5,700 distributed across 7 old States;
Consultancy on Development of Framework for Adoption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as Low Carbon Alternative to Firewood and Kerosene nearing completion; It is aimed at reducing desertification and promoting job creation. NEWMAP is supporting Nigeria’s Sovereign Green Bonds; Activities for the 2nd issuance (of N100 Billion slated for November 2018) are in top gear;
Component 4:
Counterpart funding: N9,176,293,496 released.
Disbursements: $409,261,137.87 disbursed, representing 90.68%; $41,931,819.06 undisbursed.
Advances have been made within New States in areas of clearance of Needs Assessment and other Studies; these States have stepped up activities in providing sensitization and awareness to members of the community and stakeholders within the State Government.
1,408.8 Hectares reclaimed as a result of civil works, bio-engineering and other measures, 702 Hectares reported in June 2018. Increase due to rehabilitation of degraded land in Kano, Sokoto and Gombe States. Implementation of civil works and bio-remediation has reduced and eliminated severity within sites. Leading to the reduction in loss of lives and infrastructure. And this improved access to economic activities and social services, especially with the availability of road networks.