Road to COP28: PACJA builds Capacity of National Designated Platform in Nigeria and Burkina Faso

PACJA builds Capacity of National Designated Platform in Nigeria and Burkina Faso

Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance continues to build the capacity of National Designated Platforms (NDPs) on issues related to advocacy for COP 28. The capacity building follows the extensive dissemination of the 2023 Advocacy strategy, which will guide the advocacy processes toward COP28.

From 28 to 2nd April PACJA secretariat, spearheaded by the Executive Director, Dr. Mithika Mwenda, facilitated the National Consultative Workshop on 2023 Advocacy Strategy on COP28 in the Republic of Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

During the dissemination session Philip Kilonzo, the Head of Advocacy, Policy, and Communication, informed the DNP Coordinators that the advocacy would be a guiding document for them to translate in the context of each country.

In Nigeria, Dr. Mithika said that the strategy would be fully implemented if there was cohesion at the national platform level. He noted that diversity, inclusion, and transparency.

are part of the ideal DNP that can address climate justice and advocacy issues at the national level.

He gave an example of the recent IPCC Report, which stressed the need to address global emission reduction to keep global warming at 1.5 degrees. Dr. Mithika said that the advocacy would require strong governance.

“However, there is the possibility to change the challenges into opportunities. This will only be possible if we empower youth to drive climate action at the community level because the change we want will not come from outside Africa or at the National level but from the community level. CSDevNet is the appropriate platform for us, and we want you to drive change and make the change indicated Dr. Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director, PACJA.

In Burkina Faso, PACJA led discussions on the domestication of the 2023 strategy on COP28 during the one-day workshop held in Burkina Faso. Speaking to participants, Mr. Charles Mwangi, Head of Research and programs, PACJA, says Burkina Faso is a growing platform with a increasing capacity for implementing the advocacy processes at the country level.

PACJA Burkina Faso was established in 2016. It has got membership from different areas of interventions. According to Mamoudou Ouedraogo from PACJA Burkina Faso, PACJA has earned recognition within the community and in the government due to intervention and advocacy processes engagement at the community and national levels.

Charles Mwangi said that the secretariat will always be happy to support and build the capacity of the National countries in all matters about climate justice and climate change. We know that apart from being a new platform, you are doing great work at the country level.

In the governance chart of PACJA, national platforms are key constitutional national entities driving change at the country level. It is a network that subscribes to the mission and vision of PACJA. DNP presents a bold national climate policy agenda – advancing social, economic, racial, climate, and environmental justice goals.