Nigeria: New UN resilience project paves ‘pathway to peace and sustainable development’ – African Business

Over 500,000 conflict-affected people in northeast Nigeria will be tossed “a lifeline,” thanks to a new UN humanitarian and development package, launched on Thursday.

The Resilience and Social Cohesion project, launched by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEFOpens in new window) and World Food Programme (WFPOpens in new window), will enhance peace, increase livelihood opportunities, and provide education, health, nutrition, child protection, and sanitation support to vulnerable populations in Borno and Yobe states.

“This is a pathway to peace and sustainable development,’’ saidOpens in new window the UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins.

Targeting the vulnerable

Funded to the tune of €40 million from the German Government, the three-year humanitarian package targets children from birth up to two years of age, pregnant women, school-age children, adolescent girls, female-headed households, and people with disabilities.

While continuing humanitarian support will be provided in Bade Local Government Area, Yobe state, and Shani LGA, Borno state respectively, UN lead agencies can also provide interventions to address drivers and fragility in various sectors.

The project will strengthen local governance, foster community-based social cohesion, and build government partnerships.

“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,” the UNICEF Representative spelled out.

Conflict is a constant

Now in its thirteenth year, armed conflict in the volatile northeast Nigeria – where the extremist militant group Boko Haram first surfaced – has levelled communities, destroyed livelihoods, and disrupted essential services for children and adults.

Protracted insecurity, high food costs and COVID-19Opens in new window lockdowns have left more than four million people in need of food assistance.

The accompanying effects of violence and unrest have led to mental health, education, and child protection concerns.

According to the UN agencies, 1.14 million children across the region are acutely malnourished, on a scale not seen since 2018.

“Conflict in any region is potential instability in the rest of the world,’’ said Mr. Hawkins. “UNICEF is grateful to the German Government for supporting pathways to child survival and peace in northeast Nigeria”.

Stimulating the global goals

The programme will also help seven other charities Sustainable Development GoalsOpens in new window (SDGsOpens in new window), namely, poverty eradication (SDG-1Opens in new window), zero hunger (SDG-2Opens in new window), good health and wellbeing (SDG-3Opens in new windowAccess to quality educationSDG-4Opens in new window), gender equality (SDG-5Opens in new window), climate action (SDG-13Opens in new window), peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG-16Opens in new window) as well as partnership for the goals (SDG-17Opens in new window).

It is hoped that over 157,000 people directly and 362,000 indirectly will be benefited by the LGAs’ focus on building peace, strengthening government, restoring infrastructures, improving governance, and providing life-saving service.

German support

Giving thanks for the “timely and generous support” from Germany, the WFP Deputy Country Director in Nigeria, Simone Parchment, hailed the value of the project for those “facing the peril of conflict and hunger in northeast Nigeria”.

“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,” she said.

Against this backdrop, Germany’s contribution will “go a long way in building resilience, social cohesion and peace in the affected communities”.

Distributed by APO Group for United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG).