GEF-SGP UNDP Enjema Project
Addressing Land Degradation and Climate Change Through Sustainable and Climate Smart Agriculture in Coal Mining Communities in Enjema District, Ankpa LGA Kogi State – Implemented by CSDevNet under the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP).
Project Location:
Enjema Communities, Ankpa LGA, Kogi State, Nigeria
Project Date: October, 2025 – June, 2026
About GEF-SGP
The GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) embodies the idea of ‘thinking globally, acting locally which was established at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. They provide up to $50,000 in grants to local communities, supporting initiatives that conserve and restore the environment while improving people’s well-being.
From restoring endangered species’ habitats to pioneering climate change solutions, our mission is clear: empower local communities for a sustainable future.
As part of their mission, they believe by investing in people, they can achieve long lasting change. Their work aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and addresses critical environmental challenges, including biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and land degradation.
Project Overview
The Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet), a leading civil society organization with extensive experience in biodiversity conservation, land restoration, and climate-smart agriculture across Nigeria, is one of 39 grantees selected under the GEF SGP Operational Phase 7 (OP7) for 2025. This project, titled “Addressing Land Degradation and Climate Change Through Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture in Coal Mining Communities in Enjema District, Ankpa LGA, Kogi State,” introduces sustainable agricultural practices to combat environmental degradation and enhance community resilience.
Project Context
Enjema District, home to over 119,000 people, relies heavily on artisanal coal mining, crop farming, and petty trading. Decades of coal mining have caused severe land degradation, environmental pollution, declining agricultural yields, and worsening food insecurity. Climate change exacerbates these challenges, threatening livelihoods and deepening poverty.
Project Intervention
The project focuses on climate-smart and sustainable agricultural practices to restore degraded land and improve food security. Planned interventions included capacity-building workshops, environmental awareness campaigns, establishment of two farmers’ cooperatives with Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), and the provision of quality farm inputs. Key deliverables were 10 tarpaulin fish ponds with 5,000 juveniles, 2,000 economic trees planted, 300,000 cassava stem cuttings, 900 kg of maize seed, 300 tonnes of organic fertilizer, and one solar-powered borehole serving 200 households.
Through these measures, the project will reduce land degradation, strengthen food systems, promote sustainable coal mining alternatives, and improve resilience of farming households in Enjema community.