The work of Sustainable and Fair World (SF World) NGO is taking root in Benin and beyond its national borders. Alongside activities already carried out on the ground, and in line with its vision, several communities have benefited from its work through the organisation's representative in northern Benin.
Holder of a Master's degree in Climatology and an environmental communicator (media consultant), Darius CHABI — for it is indeed him — first equipped young people in Parakou during the citizens' conference on climate and biodiversity in June 2022. He showed that women are 14 times more likely to die from an extreme climate event (floods, heatwaves, drought…) than men, with rural women particularly affected, as they provide 60 to 80% of Benin's agricultural workforce.
Then, from 16 to 20 August, in the town of Défalé, Doufelgou prefecture in Togo, from the podium of Week-Eco 2022 — an international scientific forum held ahead of COP27 in Egypt, bringing together 150 young people from Europe and Africa — the dynamic, brilliant and deeply committed young scientist once again built young people's capacity on climate change. “Green transition and sustainable employment opportunities for young people in Africa” was the main theme of his talk.
Panellist Darius CHABI, of SF World NGO, clarified all the key concepts — ecological transition, climate and ecological crisis, climate change. He then examined in detail the manifestations, causes and consequences of the climate and ecological crisis, the importance of green transitions, innovative approaches linked to these transitions, and climate resilience that can help young people create income-generating activities with modest capital. He also outlined the stakes of climate change negotiations to participants.
Darius CHABI pointed out that Africa is the continent most vulnerable to climate change, a situation worsened by the interaction of “multiple constraints” (widespread poverty, low adaptive capacity…). Climate change manifests in many ways: sharp temperature rises, rising sea levels, changing weather patterns and other extremes, all with harmful effects on human health and natural ecosystems, and serious environmental, social and economic impacts. Yet, backed by concrete examples, the speaker also showed that climate and ecological crises can be a source of opportunity. At the end of his talk, in a friendly atmosphere, he worked through exercises with the young people linked to his theme and to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Back in Parakou in early September, he also gave a talk on the theme “Exploitation of territorial natural resources and biodiversity protection: procedures and administrative constraints”, as part of Benin's National Seminar for Young Mayors (SENAJEMB).