Restoring the Land, Rebuilding Lives | ACReSAL Project Baseline Documentary - Yobe State, Nigeria

The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project is a six-year World Bank-supported initiative (Project ID: P170735) implemented by the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with State Governments across 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory. The project became effective in June 2022 and runs through 2028. This documentary captures the progress of ACReSAL interventions in Yobe State, northeast Nigeria, one of the most environmentally vulnerable states in the country. Situated entirely within the semi-arid Sahel agro-ecological zone, Yobe faces severe desertification, active sand dune migration, water scarcity, recurrent drought, and the long-term contraction of the Lake Chad Basin. These environmental pressures directly undermine agricultural productivity, food security, and household livelihoods across the state. Through three core components — Dryland Watershed Management, Community Climate Resilience, and Institutional Strengthening and Project Management — ACReSAL is delivering transformative investments across nine Local Government Areas in Yobe State: Geidam, Damaturu, Gujba, Tarmuwa, Fika, Nangere, Nguru, Karasuwa, and Yusufari. Key interventions documented in this video include: Sand dune stabilisation and shelterbelt establishment Soil and water conservation measures Gully erosion control and flood management Farmer-led irrigation development (FLID) Rehabilitation of the Kumadugu Yobe River and degraded wetlands Solar borehole installation for rural water access Community Interest Group (CIG) and Community Revolving Fund (CRF) formation Rangeland restoration and sustainable land management (SLM) Dry season farming support In February 2026, Innovate Solutions Ltd, led by Prof. Dauda Bawa, conducted a rigorous Socio-Economic Baseline and Impact Assessment Survey across 36 communities, 18 wards, and 1,080 households spanning the three senatorial zones of Yobe State. The study employs a quasi-experimental design, combining quantitative household surveys with qualitative Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and is structured to support Propensity Score Matching and Difference-in-Differences impact evaluation at project endline. This video documents the field realities, community voices, and on-the-ground progress of the ACReSAL Project in Yobe State ahead of the project's Mid-Term Review. ACReSAL aligns with Nigeria's Nationally Determined Contributions under the UNFCCC and directly supports Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land). Implementing Partners: Federal Ministry of Environment | Federal Ministry of Water Resources | Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development | Yobe State Project Management Unit (SPMU) | Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU) | World Bank Consultants: Innovate Solutions Ltd | Lead Consultant: Prof. Dauda Bawa