The Africa Nature Investors Foundation, a non-governmental organization, has taken a significant step towards achieving food security by empowering 1,500 women in agribusiness and training an additional 3,000 women from the Toungo Local Government Area in Adamawa State.
According to Mr. Nadia Geoffrey, Country Manager of the foundation, “Empowering women in national parks communities is a strategic way to protect the parks from poaching.”
He emphasized that the goal of training and empowering women and men is to provide them with alternative sources of income, ensuring the safety of the parks.
Geoffrey noted, “Managing parks is not just about armed protection, but about investing in community members so they see the benefits of the parks and protect them in their own interest.”
He further explained that the foundation’s work with park communities aims to make the parks a hub of development, improving the lives of surrounding communities through their intervention.
“Globally, the shocks that we are facing now is the issue of climate change, so we need to develop community resilience for climate change, before we do that we need to understand what is the vision of the community and their current practices, “ she stressed.
Gaman added, “Identifying the gaps is very important, the gaps in knowledge, resource gaps, so that we can design a programme that can be benefiting to them.”
The Africa Nature Investors Foundation has empowered 1,500 women in agribusiness and trained 3,000 more in Adamawa State, promoting food security. Country Manager Nadia Geoffrey explained that empowering women in national parks communities deters poaching.
He stated, “We provide alternative income sources to ensure park safety.” Geoffrey emphasized, “Park management isn’t just about armed protection, but about investing in communities so they benefit from and protect the parks.”
He added that the foundation’s goal is to make parks a development hub, improving surrounding communities’ lives.
“When farmers have alternative livelihood, there will be no encroachment on the parks,” she said.
During the training, ANI Manager Mr. David Peter addressed the participants, outlining the workshop’s primary goals: to create innovative, sustainable solutions that address the community’s needs and realities.
He emphasized that the training aims to promote diverse perspectives, stimulate innovative ideas, and encourage creative solutions.
By engaging participants in problem-solving processes, the training seeks to empower them and enhance their capacity to drive positive change.
