Table of Contents
- Social Implications of Flooding
- Town Hall Meeting Insights
- Attachment to Ancestral Lands
- Understanding Knowledge Management
- Stakeholder Engagement and Solutions
- Importance of Knowledge Sharing
- Structured Approach to Social Protection
Humanitarian and development professionals, along with scholars, have highlighted the social consequences of flooding, particularly regarding the management of flood-prone communities, with the aim of establishing effective safety nets for residents.
At a town hall meeting in Yola, primarily attended by officials from various ministries, departments, and agencies of the Adamawa State Government, the scholars examined a Knowledge Management and Learning (KML) tool designed for such challenges and discussed how its application could enhance social protection for communities.
They pointed out that attachment to ancestral lands is a significant reason why residents of low-lying areas choose to remain in their birthplace, often preferring death over leaving what they consider their original comfort zones.
The resource persons, along with some technocrats who provided real-life examples to support their claims, emphasized that these residents remain in place regardless of any incentives offered by the government, as they perceive these motivations as tactics to entice them away from their heritage.
The experts defined knowledge management and learning as the strategic process an organization employs to document and share insights gained from experience, including effective and ineffective problem-solving approaches.
They stated that documenting both successful and unsuccessful strategies would, if utilized in the future, assist contemporary managers in addressing similar challenges.
These conclusions were drawn following a Knowledge Management, Stakeholder Engagement, and Social Protection Landscape Mapping conducted in Yola, aimed at Supporting Sustainable Social Protection, Participation, and Economic Resilience in Northeast Nigeria (SEPIN-SUSI) Programme, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development and co-funded by the European Union (EU).
During the presentation, Drs. Obinna Anah, Thankgod Okosun, Iorwakwagh Apera, and Obinna Anah expressed concern that Nigerians generally tend to avoid sharing knowledge, stating, “In various sectors, we could achieve remarkable progress as a society if we would only embrace the practice of passing down our knowledge so that future generations won’t have to constantly reinvent the wheel.”
Additionally, Ana Vinambres, Head of Programme for SEPIN-SUSI, represented by Ezekiel Msugh, mentioned that SEPIN-SUSI is striving to transition Social Protection in Adamawa State from temporary interventions to a structured, policy-driven approach that aims to integrate humanitarian and development efforts for more lasting impacts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the social implications of flooding for communities?
Flooding can lead to displacement, loss of livelihood, and emotional distress, particularly for residents attached to their ancestral lands. It is crucial to develop safety nets to protect these communities.
How does Knowledge Management help in addressing community challenges?
Knowledge Management facilitates the documentation and sharing of experiences, which helps organizations learn from both successes and failures, improving their ability to tackle similar issues in the future.
What is the goal of the SEPIN-SUSI programme?
The SEPIN-SUSI programme aims to create a structured, policy-driven approach to Social Protection in Adamawa State, integrating humanitarian and development efforts for lasting results.
