A non-governmental organisation, Care Nigeria has launched a project to strengthen the Protection of Services and Resilience in Northeast Nigeria.
The 19-month Strengthening Protection Services and Resilience project will be implemented in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
The Project will cover Jere and Bama Local Government Areas in Borno State, Yola North Local Government Area in Adamawa State and Potiskum and Gujba Local Government Areas in Yobe State.
It is targeted to cater to 37,500 women, children, and marginalised groups, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and communities disproportionately affected by the years of violent conflict.
Speaking at the simultaneous launch of the project in the three States, CARE Nigeria’s Country Director, Dr. Hussaini Abdu appealed for support to ensure the success of the project.
“I am here to elicit your support and cooperation in ensuring a successful implementation of this project”, he said.
Abdu also expressed his appreciation to the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and commended them for funding the project.
“I commend the FCDO for its long-standing commitment and support to the communities affected by the over a decade-long conflict in the Northeast”. Abdu added.
Acting Team Leader, Humanitarian and Resilience Team, Ms. Sarah Maynard speaking on behalf of FCDO expressed FCDO’s commitment to this important work in Northeast Nigeria.
“The humanitarian crisis in the North East matters deeply to the UK and we are very proud to be a leading Humanitarian donor supporting people in need,” she said.
Maynard added that in 2022, the FCDO provided 37 million pounds in life-saving support to the humanitarian response as a demonstration of the United Kingdom’s commitment.
The project aims to strengthen the delivery of protection and health services for targeted groups and increase women’s voice and participation in humanitarian response while enhancing the resilience of communities in conflict-affected states.
It will also provide a coordinated and integrated response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), address negative gender and social norms that create barriers to women’s access to quality protection services; and build the capacity of women-led civil society organizations that support the protection needs of women and girls.
The Project which will be implemented in partnership with NEEM Foundation, Nigeria INGO Forum (NIF), and Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) will be implemented by CARE Nigeria from a grant of £4,559,570 received from the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development (FCDO).
Present at the FCDO-HARP project launch were key stakeholders and Partners from UNFPA (GBV Sub-sector), Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs, Justice, Health and Women Affairs. The States Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Commissioners of Police, States Emergency Management Agency, Local Government Chairman of Yola-North, Women-Led Network Chairperson, NEEM Foundation, Nigeria INGO Forum (NIF), and Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) were also represented.
The launch provided stakeholders from the pilot states and host communities with a platform to engage and ensure the collective buy-in and ownership of the project.
Dominica Nwabufo
