Communities face threats and vulnerabilities occasioned by challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, food insecurity, political instability, lack of social cohesion and poor community information flow. The development potential of these communities is pegged on their ability to stay resilient to the shocks relating the above vulnerabilities, their ability to cope and adjust, and to build their capacity to cope with future occurrence or reoccurrence of these social, political and economic shocks.

Climate change has far-reaching consequences for the poor and marginalized, majority of whom depend on subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods and have a lower capacity to adapt. Other notable effects of global warming include reduction in the land suitable for agriculture; reduction in the length of cropping seasons and yield potential from rain-fed agriculture; worsening water stress; and destructive flooding. The weak capacity of citizens, their institutions, and the government to mount effective adaptive mechanisms further compounds these effects.

Discovery of new mineral wealth also brings with it a mixed bag of benefits and problems, largely attributed to environmental impact of these extractives. However, local communities rarely benefit from such mining and generally remain some of the poorest communities, often afflicted with poor social amenities, health among other challenges.

Under this strategic goal, the key interventions will include: