UK Government Launches Climate Change Program, Including Funding for Biofortification
07 August 2023, UK: The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, has announced the launch of its Propcom+ program, to support climate and growth by addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges in the country’s food and land-use system.
A £55 million contract and £2.89m grant was announced, as part of the £95m Propcom+ eight-year UK International Climate Finance program aimed at supporting climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture and forestry that benefits people, climate, and nature.
The Propcom+ program aims to support more than 4 million people, 50% of whom will be women, to adopt and scale sustainable agricultural practices that increase productivity and climate resilience while reducing emissions and protecting natural ecosystems.
Through Propcom+ HarvestPlus is implementing a two-year ‘Scaling Climate- and Nutrition- Smart Crops Through Market Systems in North Nigeria’ project with UK aid from the UK government that will enhance the climate, nutrition, and economic resilience of smallholder farming households and consumers. Markets for vitamin A maize, iron pearl millet, and iron and zinc cowpea will be strengthened to work more effectively for poor farmers, women, and small-scale entrepreneurs. In doing so, the Propcom+ funded project will create rural jobs, uplift incomes, enhance climate resilience, and improve access to healthy diets.
Speaking after the event, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery said, “Tackling the effects of climate change and lowering emissions is a key priority for the UK government and we remain committed to building sustainable pro-poor climate-resilient growth in Nigeria through the new Propcom+ program which will address environmental, social and economic challenges in the country’s food and land-use systems.”
In response to the announcement, HarvestPlus’ Director of Policy, Strategy, and the Africa Region, Lynn Brown said, “HarvestPlus is incredibly grateful to the UK government for their support to advance our work protecting and improving the health and livelihoods of vulnerable communities and the climate in northern Nigeria through biofortification.”
The new Propcom+ program reinforces the UK Government’s commitment to working with the Government of Nigeria to increase the depth of investment in the agricultural sector, this time, helping the vulnerable to build resilience and adapt to the effects of climate change.
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