FCDO-PACE Boosts CSOs’ Capacity To Drive Climate Governance, Resilience in Kaduna

By; ALEX UANGBAOJE, Kaduna

Concerned about weak coordination and limited analytical capacity among Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) engaging in climate and governance reforms, the Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PACE), a programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has organized a training on Political-Economy Intelligence for Governance, Climate Adaptation, and Resilience in Northern Nigeria.

The training, facilitated by the Integrity Organization, was designed to equip CSOs with practical tools to understand power dynamics, identify reform champions, and engage more strategically with government and private sector actors in addressing climate and development issues.

Speaking during the session in Kaduna, Emmanuel Bosah, Director of Programmes at Integrity Organization, said the initiative responds to a pressing need for CSOs to move beyond activism into evidence-based, politically smart engagement that can deliver lasting change.

“The purpose of this training is to catalyze the work of CSOs who work in coalition with government, helping them identify the right entry points, understand how to engage constructively, and coordinate effectively with other collective action members,” Bosah stated.

He explained that the new Political Economy Analysis (PEA) system introduced under the program will enable the Kaduna State Issues-Based Coalition, funded by PACE, to quickly map stakeholders, assess risks, and design strategic interventions that align with the realities of the political and institutional environment.

Bosah added that the system functions much like advanced learning models such as ChatGPT, allowing users to generate rapid, data-driven insights on governance and climate sectors to guide engagement and reform planning.

Participants described the training as timely, noting that it would help them better understand the relationships between governance, climate change, and economic resilience in Kaduna State.

They expressed optimism that applying political-economy tools would enhance their advocacy, improve coordination with policymakers, and accelerate progress on climate adaptation goals.

“This training has opened our eyes to the real drivers behind policy decisions. With this knowledge, we can now engage government from a more informed and strategic position,” one participant remarked.

The participants collectively committed to applying the knowledge gained to strengthen collaboration among CSOs, government agencies, and the private sector, ensuring that climate governance initiatives in Kaduna are inclusive, data-driven, and sustainable.

By equipping local coalitions with analytical intelligence and engagement skills, the PACE initiative is expected to significantly enhance Kaduna State’s capacity to design and implement effective climate resilience and governance reforms that respond to citizens’ needs.