After 20 months of implementing activities aimed at addressing information and coordination gaps for recovery in Borno State, the project, mostly funded by the European Union Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), implemented by UNDP concluded its activities on 30 March.  

The initiative contributed to improving the effectiveness of the international crisis response by establishing and availing systematic and critical information on key areas necessary for coordinated early recovery interventions for North-East Nigeria to Humanitarian and Early Recovery actors in the State. The database uses Global Information System (GIS) technology to identify locations where recovery interventions have been undertaken. In addition, UNDP supported the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement critical information technology equipment to facilitate effective recovery coordination, data analysis and management of information. The recovery database is now informing recovery planning and monitoring in Borno State and has facilitated and strengthened coherence of humanitarian interventions and recovery planning.

The crisis in North-East Nigeria, now in its tenth year has spilled into the Lake Chad region, with 7.1 million people in Nigeria in need of humanitarian assistance. Prolonged development deficit in the region exposed millions to different kinds of vulnerabilities even before the crisis started. With 1.8 million people still internally displaced in the three most affected states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, finding sources of livelihood remains a huge challenge for hundreds of households as they continue to rely on humanitarian support for survival.

Under the project, five boreholes that feed water from Gumsuri to Damboa, a town that is host to over 20, 000 IDPs in Southern Borno were rehabilitated or drilled.  The entire water network in Damboa, was also rehabilitated and pipes extended to four IDP camps in Damboa.  This intervention helped address water challenges in the camps; IDPs now have access to safe and portable water for domestic use.

Over 70 Senior Managers, Field Area Managers as well as technical staff from Borno State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) were trained skills needed for efficient and effective management water networks across the state. The training of close to thirty community members from Damboa will strengthen community ownership and contribute to facility monitoring and maintenance efforts – this is key in fostering sustainability of intervention.

With many lacking means of survival due to reduced economic activities in the crisis affected communities, the establishment of “Village Savings and Loan Associations” (VSLAs) under the project as community-based social safety nets mechanism helped in promote recovery and strengthened resilience of ten conflict-affected communities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. This initiative was key in reducing dependence on humanitarian assistant by affected communities. Under this scheme, over 4,000 association members, who are IDPs, were able to access affordable loans to support their small businesses, especially in agriculture-related activities.

The joint social fund in which UNDP invested N80m (approx. $220K) while communities contributed over N11m (approx. $30K) was utilized by VSLAs for community projects such as rehabilitation and drilling of boreholes, clinics and drainages as well as setting up vocational training centres and supporting community school projects. So far, the VSLA mechanism has recorded an aggregate of over 80% loan repayment rate.

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For more information:
Eno Jonathan (eno.jonathan@undp.org; Tel: +234 812 944 5688).

Project closure ceremony in pictures