Germany has renewed its commitment to Northeast Nigeria recovery efforts through a donation of 20 million euros to its sponsored United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Food Programme (WFP) Resilience Programme
The programme, which is the second phase funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW Development Bank, followed a successful first phase that supported over 150,000 beneficiaries, including under-five children, pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls, out-of-school children, and food-insecure households in Northeast Nigeria.
The launch of the second phase of the resilience and peacebuilding project in the region has been announced.
A statement on Thursday by UNICEF and WFP, said the joint project, focusing on resilience and peacebuilding, is being implemented by UNICEF and WFP in partnership with the governments of Borno and Yobe states
According to the statement, the second phase will expand the achievements of the first intervention by increasing access to essential services, food security and peacebuilding initiatives, reaching more than 200,000 people. To broaden its impact, the project will extend into four additional local government areas: Bama and Konduga in Borno State and Potiskum and Jakusko in Yobe State.
The statement noted that years of armed conflict in Northeast Nigeria have taken a devastating toll on livelihood opportunities, social cohesion and the well-being of children and women. Insecurity, combined with the escalating effects of climate change, has displaced families, destroyed agricultural livelihoods—the region’s economic mainstay—and contributed to growing food insecurity among vulnerable households and acute malnutrition among children.
It added that: “The protracted conflict has also deepened mistrust within communities, making resettlement and peacebuilding efforts difficult. Despite the efforts of government authorities and security forces to restore stability, rebuilding trust and economic opportunities remains a gradual process.”
It assured that the project will deliver a range of essential services and resilience-building interventions, including child protection, food security, safe water supply, nutrition, improved access to education and vocational skills for out-of-school children, promotion of locally produced nutritious foods, strengthened food systems, conditional cash transfers, livelihood opportunities, environmental regreening efforts, and the establishment of peace clubs in schools.
WFP Country Director in Nigeria, David Stevenson said: “Food insecurity in Northeast Nigeria remains one of the most critical challenges, exacerbated by climate and economic hardship. Thanks to the support of the German government, climate-adaptive food systems have been revitalised, improving nutrition and economic outcomes for the most vulnerable. Phase II will ensure these gains are extended to additional communities in Borno and Yobe states.”
UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Cristian Munduate, said : “Nigeria’s Northeast region remains one of the toughest places to be a child or a woman. This is why UNICEF is excited that the impact of phase one of the joint project is improving the wellbeing and resilience at the household level, one child and woman at a time. UNICEF appreciates the German government for the continued investment to support the protection of children and the most vulnerable populations in Borno and Yobe states.’’
Head of Development Cooperation, German Embassy, Dr. Karin Jansen, said: “The German government is proud to support long-term, community-led recovery in Northeast Nigeria. By working with trusted partners like WFP and UNICEF, we are helping build resilience against conflict and climate-related challenges, especially for children and women.”
The statement revealed that since inception, the project has delivered tangible results: over 60 solar-powered boreholes and 18 hand pump boreholes have been constructed or rehabilitated, providing safe water to nearly 300,000 people. Nearly 40,000 out-of-school children have regained access to education through formal and informal learning centres.
It has additionally supported year-round food production for over 6,000 smallholder farmers, supplied drought-resistant seeds and solar-powered irrigation pumps. The project has led to increased crop yields, improved household consumption of nutritious food, and higher household incomes.
It stated that sustained collaboration and investment hold the potential to shift the trajectory from crisis to recovery, and from survival to self-reliance, thereby securing a resilient and dignified future for communities in Northeast Nigeria.
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