An opportunity for diaspora participation in environmentally friendly programme for improved livelihoods in north-east sahel of nigeria

The purpose of this paper is to showcase and share, at international level, the successes in the collaboration between the North-East Arid Zone Development Programme (NEAZDP) and the Center for Arid Zone Studies (CAZS), University of Maiduguri in research and development inputs.NEAZDP was designed for the improvement of rural sustainable livelihoods, thereby reducing poverty and soil degradation in Yobe and Borno States of Nigeria, with effects of climate change on rural communities.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: NEAZDP was a well-planned socioagricultural livelihood project that had the support of base-line scientifi c data provided by the multi-disciplinary CAZS.Programme management and technical assistance services were provided by the Danish group of consultants (Danagro Adviser A/C and Hannemann A/S) in partnership with a Nigerian company, Diyam Consultants, for the period 1987-1995.An environmental impact assessment, community reconnaissance and needs assessments were all carried out as an initial part of pre-project activities, thereby making the communities more aware and educated about the accruable benefi ts of the projects for sustainable environment and livelihoods.FINDINGS: Yobe and Borno States are the most desertifi cation affected states in Nigeria.In fact, they are part of the country's frontline desert threatened states, constituting more than 40% of the total land mass of Nigeria.This strategic