The German Government, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP), has launched a €20 million project aimed at boosting resilience and improving livelihoods in communities across Borno and Yobe States in northeast Nigeria.
The intervention, which is part of the second phase of a broader humanitarian and development initiative, is being funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW Development Bank. It will directly benefit over 200,000 vulnerable people, including children, women, and persons living with disabilities, who have been affected by years of insecurity and economic hardship in the region.
Speaking during the launch held in Maiduguri, Borno State, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria, Rownak Khan, said the initiative was designed to build on the achievements of the first phase, which saw over 150,000 people gain access to essential services, 40,000 out-of-school children return to classrooms, and more than 300,000 people access safe drinking water.
“We are here today because we believe that resilience is not just a concept — it is a right. And peace is not a goal, it is a necessity for every child, every woman, and every household in northeast Nigeria,” Khan said.
She added that the initiative would further support adolescent girls, female-headed households, and people with disabilities, noting that the launch signals a “call to action for deeper partnerships, shared accountability, coordinated planning, increased state financing, and sustained community engagement.”
The second phase of the project, which is titled “Joint Resilience and Social Cohesion in North-East Nigeria (Phase 2),” will cover four additional local government areas: Bama and Konduga in Borno State, and Potiskum and Jakusko in Yobe State.
WFP Country Director in Nigeria, David Stevenson, stated that the ongoing conflict in the region, worsened by climate change and economic challenges, has displaced thousands of families, destroyed farmlands, and left many communities facing food shortages and high levels of malnutrition.
“Years of armed conflict in Northeast Nigeria have taken a devastating toll on livelihoods, social cohesion, and the well-being of children and women. Insecurity and climate change have wiped out agricultural systems, which are the backbone of the region’s economy,” Stevenson said.
He added that the German-funded initiative is playing a critical role in restoring hope and improving nutrition by supporting climate-adaptive food systems, and ensuring that gains from Phase 1 are extended to more communities.
“The program is helping to rebuild lives by increasing access to food, basic services, and peacebuilding programmes in Borno and Yobe. Through this support, we are seeing revitalized local economies and improved nutrition outcomes,” he said.
The joint UNICEF-WFP project is being implemented in collaboration with the governments of Borno and Yobe states. The two states have been severely impacted by over a decade of Boko Haram insurgency, which has displaced millions and destroyed infrastructure, including schools, health centres, and farmlands.
Officials say the resilience project is focused not just on emergency relief, but on sustainable development. It includes peacebuilding initiatives, nutrition support, access to education, safe water, and women empowerment programmes.
By combining humanitarian aid with long-term development strategies, the project aims to foster social cohesion, rebuild communities, and lay a foundation for lasting peace in the region.
As the programme rolls out in the coming months, stakeholders hope it will serve as a model for integrated response to conflict, food insecurity, and climate vulnerability in other parts of Nigeria and West Africa.
