Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Radda, on Monday launched a €5.1 million European Union-funded Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response, and Resilience (CPCRR) project aimed at strengthening peace, stability, and socio-economic recovery in the state. The 18-month initiative covers eight local government areas in Katsina and two in neighbouring Zamfara State, building on a previous programme that benefited more than 95,000 residents.
Describing the project as a “new era of hope, partnership, and collective action,” Governor Radda highlighted its focus on empowering communities, particularly women, youth, and vulnerable groups. “This project will help communities transition from trauma to recovery, fear to safety, and despair to hope,” he said, emphasising its holistic approach to peacebuilding and development.
At the launch, Radda also inaugurated the Katsina State CPCRR Project Steering Committee, tasked with coordinating, monitoring, and ensuring transparency across all project activities. The programme will concentrate on three core areas: peacebuilding and conflict mitigation, livelihood support and economic recovery, and governance with institutional strengthening.
EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Grantier Migrot, reiterated the Union’s commitment to the state. “This project builds on our previous successes in poverty alleviation, education, renewable energy, and environmental sustainability,” he said. Migrot also stressed the importance of dialogue, education, and empowerment, particularly for women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
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The initiative targets internally displaced persons, host communities, and other vulnerable groups, offering vocational training, climate-smart agriculture, and improved market access. New activities include establishing community peace structures, strengthening early warning systems, conducting media campaigns for peace, and implementing 20 quick-impact projects to foster immediate benefits.
Mustapha Shehu, Executive Secretary of Development and Partners in Katsina State, said the project aims to ensure that at least 60 percent of beneficiaries are youth, creating opportunities for the state’s younger population.
The CPCRR project will be implemented through partnerships with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), and Mercy Corps, combining local knowledge with international expertise to ensure sustainable impact and measurable outcomes for communities across Katsina and Zamfara States.