The Grassroots Researchers Association (GRA) has called for stronger collaboration among traditional rulers, youth leaders, religious leaders and government representatives to address climate-related conflicts and promote peace in Plateau State.
The call was made on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, during a sensitisation workshop for traditional rulers and youth leaders held at John Grand Hotel, Plateau State, under the project “Empowering Women for Climate Resilience and Conflict Prevention in Plateau State, Nigeria.” The project is funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) and implemented by GRA, with a component sub-granted to Peace Initiative.
Speaking at the workshop, GRA Executive Director, Friday Bitrus, explained that climate change had increased pressure on land, water and other natural resources, contributing to disputes among community members, particularly farmers and herders.
Bitrus noted that changing rainfall patterns, flooding, drought and declining availability of grazing land could intensify competition for resources, thereby increasing the risk of communal conflicts. He stressed that traditional rulers, religious leaders and youth representatives were critical to preventing and resolving such disputes because of their influence and positions within their communities.
He said the workshop was designed to strengthen the capacity of community stakeholders to identify climate-related risks, prevent conflicts and promote peaceful resolution of disputes.
Providing an overview of the project, Project Manager Deborah Insano Shedrach said the initiative would run for 24 months, from July 2026 to June 2028, targeting women and community structures in Jos North and Jos South Local Government Areas.
According to her, the project aims to empower 200 women across four communities: Angwan Rogo and Farin Gada in Jos North, and Bukuru and Anglo-Jos in Jos South, with 50 women targeted in each community. An additional component focuses on sensitising 100 traditional rulers, religious leaders, ward councillors and youth representatives, with 25 participants drawn from each community.
Shedrach explained that women were particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and conflict, alongside children, older persons and people living with disabilities. She said equipping women with knowledge of climate resilience, conflict prevention and early warning systems would help communities better prepare for and respond to environmental and security challenges.
She further emphasised the need for greater participation of women in customary and community leadership structures, noting that gender-responsive governance would enable women to contribute to decisions affecting their lives and livelihoods.
In his presentation on the multi-stakeholder mandate for peace, GRA Technical Consultant Timothy Yohanna highlighted the roles of traditional institutions, religious leaders, local government representatives and youth groups in building sustainable peace.
He explained that traditional rulers played important roles in customary justice, land allocation and informal dispute resolution, while religious leaders could promote peaceful coexistence through dialogue and moral guidance. He also noted that local government officials could connect community agreements with government policies, while youth leaders could support early warning and incident reporting.
Yohanna stressed that cooperation among the different stakeholders was essential, saying no single group could achieve lasting peace in isolation.
Also speaking, a community leader from Bukuru, Da Bitrus Pam, expressed hope that the initiative would strengthen community capacity and improve opportunities for women. He observed that population growth had changed community dynamics and increased pressure on available resources, making it necessary to develop strategies that would ensure safer and more peaceful communities.
The workshop featured sessions on local climate risks and resource security, customary law, justice and gender inclusion, early warning protocols and monitoring, as well as the drafting of Community-Based Adaptation Plans (CBAPs) and an action pledge ceremony.
The initiative seeks to strengthen community-led approaches to climate resilience, gender inclusion and conflict prevention across the targeted communities in Plateau State.
