The German government has teamed up with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) to provide support for over 500,000 conflict-affected persons in North-East region of the country.
The support is a new humanitarian and development package aimed at enhancing peace, increasing livelihood opportunities and providing education, health, nutrition, child protection, and sanitation support to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable populations in Borno and Yobe States.
Funded by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development through German Development Bank, KfW, children 0-23 months, pregnant women, school-age children, adolescent girls, female-headed households, and people with disability will be targeted under the Resilience and Social Cohesion project to be implemented for three years by the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF.
The multi-year project will leverage ongoing humanitarian support in Bade Local Government Area (LGA) of Yobe State and Shani LGA of Borno State, while also providing multi-sectoral interventions to address drivers of conflict and fragility.
The project will support the strengthening of local governance structures to promote social cohesion through community-based processes and the capacity building of Government partners.
UNICEF Representative in Nigeria Peter Hawkins said the project is a pathway to peace and sustainable development, in the region.
“Children and other vulnerable groups will have a lifeline, and an opportunity to survive and thrive in communities where livelihood and peace building activities are present’’
“Conflict in any region is potential instability in the rest of the world. UNICEF is grateful to the German Government for supporting pathways to child survival and peace in north-east Nigeria,’’ Peter Hawkins added.
The Deputy Country Director and Officer in Charge, World Food Programme Country Office, Nigeria, Ms. Simone Parchment, said WFP welcomes this timely and generous support from the Government and people of Germany.
“This project will support people and communities facing the peril of conflict and hunger in northeast Nigeria, especially in Borno and Yobe states.
“In these affected states, persistent conflict, climate shocks, high food prices and reduced household purchasing power undermine people’s ability to feed themselves and sustain their livelihoods. This contribution from the Government of Germany will go a long way in building resilience, social cohesion and peace in the affected communities.”
The Resilience and Social Cohesion programme will contribute to seven Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of poverty eradication, zero hunger, access to quality education, gender equality, good health and wellbeing, climate action, peace, justice and strong institutions as well as partnership for goals.
The new programme which will focus on peace building, governance capacity strengthening, sustainable livelihood creation, restoration of infrastructures, and provision of life-saving services to 156,888 direct beneficiaries and 362,307 indirect beneficiaries in both LGAs.
