The Sixth Framework Programme for Research (FP6) by European Union (EU) in 2002, commenced with the intention of providing an understanding of environmental change and sustainable development. Its sub-theme, "Global Change and Ecosystems" (GCE), comprises of international partners from around the world in some 280 projects. In 2004, the Global Change and Ecosystems priority was extended to support the Commission's Action Plans regarding Environmental technologies and Environment and Health with two new funding instruments, the Networks of Excellence (NoE) and the Integrated Projects (IP), these instruments encourage collaboration among Europeans researchers from institutes, companies or universities. In addition, the mandate extended ongoing projects to include "Third Country partners". These calls have generated high interest within the scientific community of the European Union and also from many Third Countries which were motivated to participate in the environmental research of the Community. Scientific reports also show that the African region though the least emitters of gaseous green house gasses suffer more consequences of climate change and have the least capability to cope with them. In Nigeria, for instance the phenomenon of global change is a new issue and according to NAN, forty of the world's leading climate scientists have signed an open letter, demanding bolder action against climate change by leaders. There is still more that needs to be done globally in terms of research to get on top of the situation with climate change in Nigeria. Among several issues that need to be addressed to assist developing countries apart from adaptation and funding, is capacity building. Internationally, the Kyoto protocol and the United Nations climate change (UNCC) convention have put in place obligations on the developed Nations as well as the developing owners. However research reveals that there is definitely handicap in capacity building for most developing nations with regards to handling global change phenomena, trend and management. It is on this premise that suggestions are proffered leaning on previous experience of the critical role of women in achieving high productivity in any sector of a nation when given the opportunity. If women can exert more influence over priorities, policies and programs, get good research mandate in climate issues, then cooping with the effect of frequent drought and other impacts of climate change will be a reality in the near future.

Keyword:Kyoto protocol, Climate change, Women, Third countries, Global warming

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